knowsomething
of
my
sex
.
After
a
year
of
married
life
,
a
woman
has
too
many
cares
and
responsibilities
to
trouble
about
ideas
of
this
kind
,
or
of
any
other
.
”
“
She
strikes
me
as
being
somewhat
persistent
by
nature
,
”
said
Hubert
,
choosing
a
gentler
word
than
obstinate
to
describe
the
quality
in
the
lady
of
his
affections
.
“
Let
her
be
as
persistent
as
she
may
,
it
is
not
possible
for
any
woman
to
resist
the
laws
and
beliefs
of
Society
.
What
can
she
do
against
all
the
world
?
She
ca
n't
escape
from
the
conditions
of
her
epoch
.
Oh
!
she
may
talk
boldly
now
,
for
she
does
not
understand
;
she
is
a
mere
infant
as
regards
knowledge
of
the
world
,
but
once
a
wife
—
”
Henriette
smiled
and
shook
her
head
,
by
way
of
finish
to
her
sentence
.
Hubert
mused
silently
for
some
minutes
.
“
I
could
not
endure
that
there
should
be
any
disturbance
—
any
eccentricity
—
in
our
life
—
”
“
My
dear
boy
,
if
you
do
n't
trust
to
the
teaching
of
experience
to
cure
Hadria
of
these
fantastic
notions
,
rely
upon
the
resistless
persuasions
of
our
social
facts
and
laws
.
Nothing
can
stand
against
them
—
certainly
not
the
fretful
heresies
of
an
inexperienced
girl
,
who
,
remember
,
is
really
good
and
kind
at
heart
.
”
“
Ah
!
yes
,
”
cried
Hubert
;
“
a
fine
nature
,
full
of
good
instincts
,
and
womanly
to
her
finger-tips
.
”
“
Oh
!
if
she
were
not
that
,
I
would
never
encourage
you
to
think
of
her
,
”
cried
Henriette
with
a
shudder
.
“
It
is
on
this
essential
goodness
of
heart
that
I
rely
.
She
would
never
be
able
,
try
as
she
might
,
to
act
in
a
manner
that
would
really
distress
those
who
were
dear
to
her
.
You
may
count
upon
that
securely
.
”
“
Yes
;
I
am
sure
of
it
,
”
said
Hubert
,
“
but
unluckily
”
(
he
shook
his
head
and
sighed
)
“
I
am
not
among
those
who
are
dear
to
her
.
”
He
rose
abruptly
,
and
Henriette
followed
him
.
“
Try
to
win
her
to-night
,
”
she
murmured
,
“
and
be
sure
to
express
no
opposition
to
her
ideas
,
however
wild
they
may
be
.
Ignore
them
,
humour
her
,
plead
your
cause
once
more
on
this
auspicious
day
—
the
last
of
the
old
year
.
Something
tells
me
that
the
new
year
will
begin
joyously
for
you
.
Go
now
,
and
good
luck
to
you
.
”
“
Ah
!
here
you
are
,
”
cried
Mr.
Fullerton
,
“
we
were
wondering
what
had
become
of
you
.
You
said
you
wished
to
see
a
reel
.
Mrs.
McPherson
is
so
good
as
to
play
for
us
.
”
The
kindly
old
Scottish
dame
had
come
,
with
two
nieces
,
from
a
distance
of
ten
miles
.
A
thrill
ran
through
the
company
when
the
strange
old
tune
began
.
Everyone
rushed
for
a
partner
,
and
two
long
rows
of
figures
stood
facing
one
another
,
eager
to
start
.
Temperley
asked
Hadria
to
dance
with
him
.
Algitha
had
Harold
Wilkins
for
a
partner
.
The
two
long
rows
were
soon
stepping
and
twirling
with
zest
and
agility
.
A
new
and
wilder
spirit
began
to
possess
the
whole
party
.
The
northern
blood
took
fire
and
transfigured
the
dancers
.
The
Temperleys
seemed
to
be
fashioned
of
different
clay
;
they
were
able
to
keep
their
heads
.
Several
elderly
people
had
joined
in
the
dance
,
performing
their
steps
with
a
conscientious
dexterity
that
put
some
of
their
juniors
to
shame
.
Mr.
Fullerton
stood
by
,
looking
on
and
applauding
.
“
How
your
father
seems
to
enjoy
the
sight
!
”
said
Temperley
,
as
he
met
his
partner
for
a
moment
.
“
He
likes
nothing
so
well
,
and
his
daughters
take
after
him
.
”
Hadria
's
reels
were
celebrated
,
not
without
reason
.
Some
mad
spirit
seemed
to
possess
her
.
It
would
appear
almost
as
if
she
had
passed
into
a
different
phase
of
character
.
She
lost
caution
and
care
and
the
sense
of
external
events
.
When
the
dance
was
ended
,
Hubert
led
her
from
the
hall
.
She
went
as
if
in
a
dream
.
She
would
not
allow
herself
to
be
taken
beyond
the
sound
of
the
grotesque
old
dance
music
that
was
still
going
on
,
but
otherwise
she
was
unresisting
.
He
sat
down
beside
her
in
a
corner
of
the
dining-room
.
Now
and
then
he
glanced
at
his
companion
,
and
seemed
about
to
speak
.
“
You
seem
fond
of
your
national
music
,
”
he
at
last
remarked
.
“
It
fills
me
with
bewildering
memories
,
”
she
said
in
a
dreamy
tone
.
“
It
seems
to
recall
—
it
eludes
description
—
some
wild
,
primitive
experiences
—
mountains
,
mists
—
I
ca
n't
express
what
northern
mysteries
.
It
seems
almost
as
if
I
had
lived
before
,
among
some
ancient
Celtic
people
,
and
now
,
when
I
hear
their
music
—
or
sometimes
when
I
hear
the
sound
of
wind
among
the
pines
—
whiffs
and
gusts
of
something
intensely
familiar
return
to
me
,
and
I
cannot
grasp
it
.
It
is
very
bewildering
.
”
“
The
only
thing
that
happens
to
me
of
the
kind
is
that
curious
sense
of
having
done
a
thing
before
.
Strange
to
say
,
I
feel
it
now
.
This
moment
is
not
new
to
me
.
”
Hadria
gave
a
startled
glance
at
her
companion
,
and
shuddered
.
“
I
suppose
it
is
all
pre-ordained
,
”
she
said
.
He
was
puzzled
,
but
more
hopeful
than
usual
.
Hadria
might
almost
have
accepted
him
in
sheer
absence
of
mind
.
He
put
the
thought
in
different
terms
.
He
began
to
speak
more
boldly
.
He
gave
his
view
of
life
and
happiness
,
his
philosophy
and
religion
.
Hadria
lazily
agreed
.
She
lay
under
a
singular
spell
.
The
bizarre
old
music
smote
still
upon
the
ear
.
She
felt
as
if
she
were
in
the
thrall
of
some
dream
whose
events
followed
one
another
,
as
the
scenes
of
a
moving
panorama
unfold
themselves
before
the
spectators
.
Temperley
began
to
plead
his
cause
.
Hadria
,
with
a
startled
look
in
her
eyes
,
tried
to
check
him
.
But
her
will
refused
to
issue
a
vigorous
command
.
Even
had
he
been
hateful
to
her
,
which
he
certainly
was
not
,
she
felt
that
she
would
have
been
unable
to
wake
out
of
the
nightmare
,
and
resume
the
conduct
of
affairs
.
The
sense
of
the
importance
of
personal
events
had
entirely
disappeared
.
What
did
it
all
matter
?
“
Over
us
stars
and
under
us
graves
.
”
The
graves
would
put
it
all
right
some
day
.
As
for
attempting
to
direct
one
's
fate
,
and
struggle
out
of
the
highways
of
the
world
—
midsummer
madness
!
It
was
not
only
the
Mrs.
Gordons
,
but
the
Valeria
Du
Prel
who
told
one
so
.
Everybody
said
(
but
in
discreeter
terms
)
,
“
Disguise
from
yourself
the
solitude
by
setting
up
little
screens
of
affections
,
and
little
pompous
affairs
about
which
you
must
go
busily
,
and
with
all
the
solemnity
that
you
can
muster
.
”
The
savage
builds
his
mud
hut
to
shelter
him
from
the
wind
and
the
rain
and
the
terror
of
the
beyond
.
Outside
is
the
wilderness
ready
to
engulf
him
.
Rather
than
be
left
alone
at
the
mercy
of
elemental
things
,
with
no
little
hut
,
warm
and
dark
and
stuffy
,
to
shelter
one
,
a
woman
will
sacrifice
everything
—
liberty
,
ambition
,
health
,
power
,
her
very
dignity
.
There
was
a
letter
in
Hadria
's
pocket
at
this
moment
,
eloquently
protesting
in
favour
of
the
mud
hut
.
Hadria
must
have
been
appearing
to
listen
favourably
to
Temperley
's
pleading
,
for
he
said
eagerly
,
“
Then
I
have
not
spoken
this
time
quite
in
vain
.
I
may
hope
that
perhaps
some
day
—
”
“
Some
day
,
”
repeated
Hadria
,
passing
her
hand
across
her
eyes
.
“
It
does
n't
really
matter
.
I
mean
we
make
too
much
fuss
about
these
trifles
;
do
n't
you
think
so
?
”
She
spoke
dreamily
.
The
music
was
jigging
on
with
strange
merriment
.
“
To
me
it
matters
very
much
indeed
.
I
do
n't
consider
it
a
trifle
,
”
said
Temperley
,
in
some
bewilderment
.
“
Oh
,
not
to
ourselves
.
But
of
what
importance
are
we
?
”
“
None
at
all
,
in
a
certain
sense
,
”
Temperley
admitted
;
“
but
in
another
sense
we
are
all
important
.
I
cannot
help
being
intensely
personal
at
this
moment
.
I
ca
n't
help
grasping
at
the
hope
of
happiness
.
Hadria
,
it
lies
in
your
hand
.
Wo
n't
you
be
generous
?
”
She
gave
a
distressed
gesture
,
and
seemed
to
make
some
vain
effort
,
as
when
the
victim
of
a
nightmare
struggles
to
overcome
the
paralysis
that
holds
him
.
“
Then
I
may
hope
a
little
,
Hadria
—
I
must
hope
.
”
Still
the
trance
seemed
to
hold
her
enthralled
.
The
music
was
diabolically
merry
.
She
could
fancy
evil
spirits
tripping
to
it
in
swarms
around
her
.
They
seemed
to
point
at
her
,
and
wave
their
arms
around
her
,
and
from
them
came
an
influence
,
magnetic
in
its
quality
,
that
forbade
her
to
resist
.
All
had
been
pre-arranged
.
Nothing
could
avert
it
.
She
seemed
to
be
waiting
rather
than
acting
.
Against
her
inner
judgment
,
she
had
allowed
those
accursed
practices
to
go
on
.
Against
her
instinct
,
she
had
permitted
Henriette
to
become
intimate
at
Dunaghee
;
indeed
it
would
have
been
hard
to
avoid
it
,
for
Miss
Temperley
was
not
easy
to
discourage
.
Why
had
she
assured
Hadria
so
pointedly
that
Hubert
would
not
misinterpret
her
consent
to
renew
the
practices
?
Was
it
not
a
sort
of
treachery
?
Had
not
Henriette
,
with
her
larger
knowledge
of
the
world
,
been
perfectly
well
aware
that
whatever
might
be
said
,
the
renewal
of
the
meetings
would
be
regarded
as
encouragement
?
Did
she
not
know
that
Hadria
herself
would
feel
implicated
by
the
concession
?
Temperley
's
long
silence
had
been
misleading
.
The
danger
had
crept
up
insidiously
.
And
had
she
not
been
treacherous
to
herself
?
She
had
longed
for
companionship
,
for
music
,
for
something
to
break
the
strain
of
her
wild
,
lonely
life
.
Knowing
,
or
rather
half-divining
the
risk
,
she
had
allowed
herself
to
accept
the
chance
of
relief
when
it
came
.
Lack
of
experience
had
played
a
large
part
in
the
making
of
to-night
's
dilemma
.
Hadria
's
own
strange
mood
was
another
ally
to
her
lover
,
and
for
that
,
old
Mrs.
McPherson
and
her
reels
were
chiefly
responsible
.
Of
such
flimsy
trifles
is
the
human
fate
often
woven
.
“
Tell
me
,
did
you
ask
your
sister
to
—
?
”
“
No
,
no
,
”
Hubert
interposed
.
“
My
sister
knows
of
my
hopes
,
and
is
anxious
that
I
should
succeed
.
”
“
I
thought
that
she
was
helping
you
.
”
“
She
would
take
any
legitimate
means
to
help
me
,
”
said
Hubert
.
“
You
cannot
resent
that
.
Ah
,
Hadria
,
why
will
you
not
listen
to
me
?
”
He
bent
forward
,
covering
his
face
with
his
hands
in
deep
dejection
.
His
hope
had
begun
to
wane
.
“
You
know
what
I
think
,
”
said
Hadria
.
“
You
know
how
I
should
act
if
I
married
.
Surely
that
ought
to
cure
you
of
all
—
.
”
He
seized
her
hand
.
“
No
,
no
,
nothing
that
you
may
think
could
cure
me
of
the
hope
of
making
you
my
wife
.
I
care
for
what
you
are
,
not
for
what
you
think
.
You
know
how
little
I
cling
to
the
popular
version
of
the
domestic
story
.
I
have
told
you
over
and
over
again
that
it
offends
me
in
a
thousand
ways
.
I
hate
the
bourgeois
element
in
it
.
What
have
we
really
to
disagree
about
?
”
He
managed
to
be
very
convincing
.
He
shewed
that
for
a
woman
,
life
in
her
father
's
house
is
far
less
free
than
in
her
own
home
;
that
existence
could
be
moulded
to
any
shape
she
pleased
.
If
Hadria
hesitated
only
on
this
account
her
last
reason
was
gone
.
It
was
not
fair
to
him
.
He
had
been
patient
.
He
had
kept
silence
for
many
months
.
But
he
could
endure
the
suspense
no
longer
.
He
took
her
hand
.
Then
suddenly
she
rose
.
“
No
,
no.
I
ca
n't
,
I
ca
n't
,
”
she
cried
desperately
.
“
I
will
not
listen
to
denial
,
”
he
said
following
her
.
“
I
cannot
stand
a
second
disappointment
.
You
have
allowed
me
to
hope
.
”
“
How
?
When
?
Never
!
”
she
exclaimed
.
“
Ah
,
yes
,
Hadria
.
I
am
older
than
you
and
I
have
more
experience
.
Do
you
think
a
man
will
cease
to
hope
while
he
continues
to
see
the
woman
he
loves
?
”
Hadria
turned
very
pale
.
“
You
seemed
to
have
forgotten
—
your
sister
assured
me
—
Ah
,
it
was
treacherous
,
it
was
cruel
.
She
took
advantage
of
my
ignorance
,
my
craving
for
companionship
.
”
“
No
,
it
is
you
who
are
cruel
,
Hadria
,
to
make
such
accusations
.
I
do
not
claim
the
slightest
consideration
because
you
permitted
those
practices
.
But
you
cannot
suppose
that
my
feeling
has
not
been
confirmed
and
strengthened
since
I
have
seen
you
again
.
Why
should
you
turn
from
me
?
Why
may
I
not
hope
to
win
you
?
If
you
have
no
repugnance
to
me
,
why
should
not
I
have
a
chance
?
Hadria
,
Hadria
,
answer
me
,
for
heaven
's
sake
.
Oh
,
if
I
could
only
understand
what
is
in
your
mind
!
”
She
would
have
found
it
a
hard
task
to
enlighten
him
.
He
had
succeeded
,
to
some
extent
,
in
lulling
her
fears
,
not
in
banishing
them
,
for
a
sinister
dread
still
muttered
its
warning
beneath
the
surface
thoughts
.
The
strength
of
Temperley
's
emotion
had
stirred
her
.
The
magic
of
personal
influence
had
begun
to
tell
upon
her
.
It
was
so
hard
not
to
believe
when
some
one
insisted
with
such
certainty
,
with
such
obvious
sincerity
,
that
everything
would
be
right
.
He
seemed
so
confident
that
she
could
make
him
happy
,
strange
as
it
appeared
.
Perhaps
after
all
—
?
And
what
a
release
from
the
present
difficulties
.
But
could
one
trust
?
A
confused
mass
of
feeling
struggled
together
.
A
temptation
to
give
the
answer
that
would
cause
pleasure
was
very
strong
,
and
beneath
all
lurked
a
trembling
hope
that
perhaps
this
was
the
way
of
escape
.
In
apparent
contradiction
to
this
,
or
to
any
other
hope
,
lay
a
sense
of
fatality
,
a
sad
indifference
,
interrupted
at
moments
by
flashes
of
very
desperate
caring
,
when
suddenly
the
love
of
life
,
the
desire
for
happiness
and
experience
,
for
the
exercise
of
her
power
,
for
its
use
in
the
service
of
her
generation
,
became
intense
,
and
then
faded
away
again
,
as
obstacles
presented
their
formidable
array
before
the
mind
.
In
the
midst
of
the
confusion
the
thought
of
the
Professor
hovered
vaguely
,
with
a
dim
distressing
sense
of
something
wrong
,
of
something
within
her
lost
and
wretched
and
forlorn
.
Mrs.
Fullerton
passed
through
the
room
on
the
arm
of
Mr.
Gordon
.
How
delighted
her
mother
would
be
if
she
were
to
give
up
this
desperate
attempt
to
hold
out
against
her
appointed
fate
.
What
if
her
mother
and
Mrs.
Gordon
and
all
the
world
were
perfectly
right
and
far-seeing
and
wise
?
Did
it
not
seem
more
likely
,
on
the
face
of
it
,
that
they
should
be
right
,
considering
the
enormous
majority
of
those
who
would
agree
with
them
,
than
that
she
,
Hadria
,
a
solitary
girl
,
unsupported
by
knowledge
of
life
or
by
fellow-believers
,
should
have
chanced
upon
the
truth
?
Had
only
Valeria
been
on
her
side
,
she
would
have
felt
secure
,
but
Valeria
was
dead
against
her
.
“
We
are
not
really
at
variance
,
believe
me
,
”
Temperley
pleaded
.
“
You
state
things
rather
more
strongly
than
I
do
—
a
man
used
to
knocking
about
the
world
—
but
I
do
n't
believe
there
is
any
radical
difference
between
us
.
”
He
worked
himself
up
into
the
belief
that
there
never
were
two
human
beings
so
essentially
at
one
,
on
all
points
,
as
he
and
Hadria
.
“
Do
you
remember
the
debate
that
evening
in
the
garret
?
Do
you
remember
the
sentiments
that
scared
your
sister
so
much
?
”
she
asked
.
Temperley
remembered
.
“
Well
,
I
do
n't
hold
those
sentiments
merely
for
amusement
and
recreation
.
I
mean
them
.
I
should
not
hesitate
a
moment
to
act
upon
them
.
If
things
grew
intolerable
,
according
to
my
view
of
things
,
I
should
simply
go
away
,
though
twenty
marriage-services
had
been
read
over
my
head
.
Neither
Algitha
nor
I
have
any
of
the
notions
that
restrain
women
in
these
matters
.
We
would
brook
no
such
bonds
.
The
usual
claims
and
demands
we
would
neither
make
nor
submit
to
.
You
heard
Algitha
speak
very
plainly
on
the
matter
.
So
you
see
,
we
are
entirely
unsuitable
as
wives
,
except
to
the
impossible
men
who
might
share
our
rebellion
.
Please
let
us
go
back
to
the
hall
.
They
are
just
beginning
to
dance
another
reel
.
”
“
I
cannot
let
you
go
back
.
Oh
,
Hadria
,
you
ca
n't
be
so
unjust
as
to
force
me
to
break
off
in
this
state
of
uncertainty
.
Just
give
me
a
word
of
hope
,
however
slight
,
and
I
will
be
satisfied
.
”
Hadria
looked
astonished
.
“
Have
you
really
taken
in
what
I
have
just
said
?
”
“
Every
word
of
it
.
”
“
And
you
realise
that
I
mean
it
,
mean
it
,
with
every
fibre
of
me
.
”
“
I
understand
;
and
I
repeat
that
I
shall
not
be
happy
until
you
are
my
wife
.
Have
what
ideas
you
please
,
only
be
my
wife
.
”
She
gazed
at
him
in
puzzled
scrutiny
.
“
You
do
n't
think
I
am
really
in
earnest
.
Let
us
go
.
”
“
I
know
you
are
in
earnest
,
”
he
cried
,
eagerly
following
her
,
“
and
still
I
—
”
At
that
moment
Harold
Wilkins
came
up
to
claim
Hadria
for
a
promised
dance
.
Temperley
gave
a
gesture
of
impatience
.
But
Harold
insisted
,
and
Hadria
walked
with
her
partner
into
the
hall
where
Mrs.
Gordon
was
now
playing
a
sentimental
waltz
,
with
considerable
poetic
license
as
to
time
.
As
everyone
said
:
Mrs.
Gordon
played
with
so
much
expression
.
Temperley
stood
about
in
corners
watching
Hadria
.
She
was
flushed
and
silent
,
dancing
with
a
still
gliding
movement
under
the
skilful
guidance
of
her
partner
.
Temperley
tried
to
win
a
glance
as
she
passed
round
,
but
her
eyes
were
resolutely
fixed
on
the
floor
.
Algitha
followed
her
sister
's
movements
uneasily
.
She
had
noticed
her
absence
during
the
last
reel
,
and
observed
that
Temperley
also
was
not
to
be
seen
.
She
felt
anxious
.
She
knew
Hadria
's
emotional
susceptibility
.
She
knew
Temperley
's
convincing
faculty
,
and
also
Hadria
's
uneasy
feeling
that
she
had
done
wrong
in
allowing
the
practices
to
be
resumed
.
Henriette
had
not
failed
to
notice
the
signs
of
the
times
,
and
she
annoyed
Algitha
beyond
endurance
by
her
obviously
sisterly
manner
of
addressing
the
family
.
She
had
taken
to
calling
the
boys
by
their
first
names
.
Fred
shared
his
sister
's
dislike
to
Henriette
.
“
Tact
!
”
he
cried
with
a
snort
,
“
why
a
Temperley
rushes
in
where
a
bull
in
a
china-shop
would
fear
to
tread
!
”
Algitha
saw
that
Hubert
was
again
by
Hadria
's
side
before
the
evening
was
out
.
The
latter
looked
white
,
and
she
avoided
her
sister
's
glance
.
This
last
symptom
seemed
to
Algitha
the
worst
.
“
What
's
the
matter
with
Hadria
?
”
asked
Fred
,
“
she
will
scarcely
speak
to
me
.
I
was
just
telling
her
the
best
joke
I
've
heard
this
year
,
and
,
will
you
believe
me
,
she
did
n't
see
the
point
!
Yes
,
you
may
well
stare
!
I
tried
again
and
she
gave
a
nervous
giggle
I
am
relating
to
you
the
exact
truth
.
Do
any
of
the
epidemics
come
on
like
that
?
”
“
Yes
,
one
of
the
worst
,
”
said
Algitha
gloomily
.
Fred
glared
enquiry
.
“
I
am
afraid
she
has
been
led
into
accepting
Hubert
Temperley
.
”
Fred
opened
his
mouth
and
breathed
deep
.
“
Stuff
!
Hadria
would
as
soon
think
of
selling
her
soul
to
the
devil
.
”
“
Oh
,
she
is
quite
capable
of
that
too
,
”
said
Algitha
,
shaking
her
head
.
“
Well
,
I
'm
blowed
,
”
cried
Fred
.
Not
long
after
this
,
the
guests
began
to
disperse
.
Mrs.
Gordon
and
her
party
were
among
the
last
to
leave
,
having
a
shorter
distance
to
go
.
Hubert
Temperley
was
quiet
and
self-possessed
,
but
Algitha
felt
sure
that
she
detected
a
look
of
suppressed
exultation
in
his
demeanour
,
and
something
odiously
brotherly
in
his
mode
of
bidding
them
all
good
night
.
When
everyone
had
left
,
and
the
family
were
alone
,
they
gathered
round
the
hall
fire
for
a
final
chat
,
before
dispersing
for
the
night
.
“
What
a
delightful
evening
we
have
had
,
Mrs.
Fullerton
,
”
said
Miss
Temperley
.
“
It
was
most
picturesque
and
characteristic
.
I
shall
always
remember
the
charm
and
kindliness
of
Scottish
hospitality
.
”
“
And
I
,
”
said
Ernest
,
sotto
voce
to
Algitha
,
“
shall
always
remember
the
calm
and
thoroughness
of
English
cheek
!
”
“
Why
,
we
had
almost
forgotten
that
the
New
Year
is
just
upon
us
,
”
exclaimed
Mr.
Fullerton
.
The
first
stroke
of
twelve
began
to
sound
almost
as
he
spoke
.
He
threw
up
the
window
and
disclosed
a
night
brilliant
with
stars
.
(
“
And
under
us
graves
,
”
said
Hadria
to
herself
.
)
They
all
crowded
up
,
keeping
silence
as
the
slow
strokes
of
the
clock
told
the
hour
.
“
A
Happy
New
Year
to
all
!
”
cried
Mr.
Fullerton
heartily
.
Part
II
.
CHAPTER
XVI
.
“
...
when
the
steam
Floats
up
from
those
dim
fields
about
the
homes
Of
happy
men
that
have
the
power
to
die
.
”
Tithonius
,
TENNYSON
.
A
COUNTRYMAN
with
stooping
gait
touched
his
cap
and
bid
good-day
to
a
young
woman
who
walked
rapidly
along
the
crisp
high
road
,
smiling
a
response
as
she
passed
.
The
road
led
gradually
upward
through
a
country
blazing
with
red
and
orange
for
rolling
miles
,
till
the
horizon
closed
in
with
the
far-off
blue
of
English
hills
.
The
old
man
slowly
turned
to
watch
the
wayfarer
,
whose
quick
step
and
the
look
in
her
eyes
of
being
fixed
on
objects
beyond
their
owner
's
immediate
ken
,
might
have
suggested
to
the
observant
,
inward
perturbation
.
The
lissom
,
swiftly
moving
figure
was
almost
out
of
sight
before
the
old
man
slowly
wheeled
round
and
continued
on
his
way
towards
the
hamlet
of
Craddock
Dene
,
that
lay
in
the
valley
about
a
mile
further
on
.
Meanwhile
the
young
woman
was
speeding
towards
the
village
of
Craddock
on
the
summit
of
the
gentle
slope
before
her
.
A
row
of
broad-tiled
cottages
came
in
sight
,
and
on
the
hill-side
the
vicarage
among
trees
,
and
a
grey
stone
church
which
had
seen
many
changes
since
its
tower
first
looked
out
from
the
hill-top
over
the
southern
counties
.
The
little
village
seemed
as
if
it
had
forgotten
to
change
with
the
rest
of
the
country
,
for
at
least
a
hundred
years
.
The
spirit
of
the
last
century
lingered
in
its
quiet
cottages
,
in
the
little
ale-house
with
half-obliterated
sign
,
in
its
air
of
absolute
repose
and
leisure
.
There
was
no
evidence
of
contest
anywhere
—
except
perhaps
in
a
few
mouldy
advertisements
of
a
circus
and
of
a
remarkable
kind
of
soap
,
that
were
half
peeling
off
a
moss-covered
wall
.
There
were
not
even
many
indications
of
life
in
the
place
.
The
sunshine
seemed
to
have
the
village
street
to
itself
.
A
couple
of
women
stood
gossiping
over
the
gate
of
one
of
the
cottages
.
They
paused
in
their
talk
as
a
quick
step
sounded
on
the
road
.
“
There
be
Mrs.
Temperley
again
!
”
one
matron
exclaimed
.
“
Why
this
is
the
second
time
this
week
,
as
she
's
come
and
sat
in
the
churchyard
along
o
'
the
dead
.
Do
n't
seem
nat'ral
to
my
thinking
.
”
Mrs.
Dodge
and
Mrs.
Gullick
continued
to
discuss
this
gloomy
habit
with
exhaustive
minuteness
,
involving
themselves
in
side
issues
regarding
the
general
conduct
of
life
on
the
part
of
Mrs.
Temperley
,
that
promised
solid
material
for
conversation
for
the
next
week
.
It
appeared
from
the
observations
of
Mrs.
Gullick
,
whose
husband
worked
on
Lord
Engleton
's
model
farm
,
that
about
five
years
ago
Mr.
Temperley
had
rented
the
Red
House
at
Craddock
Dene
,
and
had
brought
his
new
wife
to
live
there
.
The
Red
House
belonged
to
Professor
Fortescue
,
who
also
owned
the
Priory
,
which
had
stood
empty
,
said
Mrs.
Gullick
,
since
that
poor
Mrs.
Fortescue
killed
herself
in
the
old
drawing-room
.
Mr.
Temperley
went
every
day
to
town
to
attend
to
his
legal
business
,
and
returned
by
the
evening
train
to
the
bosom
of
his
family
.
That
family
now
consisted
in
his
wife
and
two
small
boys
;
pretty
little
fellows
,
added
Mrs.
Dodge
,
the
pride
of
their
parents
'
hearts
;
at
least
,
so
she
had
heard
Mr.
Joseph
Fleming
say
,
and
he
was
intimate
at
the
Red
House
.
Mrs.
Gullick
did
not
exactly
approve
of
Mrs.
Temperley
.
The
Red
House
was
not
,
it
would
seem
,
an
everflowing
fount
of
sustaining
port
wine
and
spiritually
nourishing
literature
.
The
moral
evolution
of
the
village
had
proceeded
on
those
lines
.
The
prevailing
feeling
was
vaguely
hostile
;
neither
Mrs.
Gullick
nor
Mrs.
Dodge
exactly
knew
why
.
Mrs.
Dodge
said
that
her
husband
(
who
was
the
sexton
and
gravedigger
)
had
found
Mrs.
Temperley
always
ready
for
a
chat
.
He
spoke
well
of
her
.
But
Dodge
was
not
one
of
many
.
Mrs.
Temperley
was
perhaps
too
sensitively
respectful
of
the
feelings
of
her
poorer
neighbours
to
be
very
popular
among
them
.
At
any
rate
,
her
habits
of
seclusion
did
not
seem
to
village
philosophy
to
be
justifiable
in
the
eyes
of
God
or
man
.
Her
apparent
fondness
for
the
society
of
the
dead
also
caused
displeasure
.
Why
she
went
to
the
churchyard
could
not
be
imagined
:
one
would
think
she
had
a
family
buried
there
,
she
who
was
,
“
as
one
might
say
,
a
stranger
to
the
place
,
”
and
could
not
be
supposed
to
have
any
interest
in
the
graves
,
which
held
for
her
nor
kith
nor
kin
!
Mrs.
Temperley
,
however
,
appeared
to
be
able
to
dispense
with
this
element
of
attraction
in
the
“
grassy
barrows
.
”
She
and
a
company
of
youthful
Cochin-China
fowls
remained
for
hours
among
them
,
on
this
cheerful
morning
,
and
no
observer
could
have
determined
whether
it
was
the
graves
or
the
fowls
that
riveted
her
attention
.
She
had
perched
herself
on
the
stile
that
led
from
the
churchyard
to
the
fields
:
a
slender
figure
in
serviceable
russet
and
irresponsible-looking
hat
,
autumn-tinted
too
,
in
sympathy
with
the
splendid
season
.
In
her
ungloved
left
hand
,
which
was
at
once
sensitive
and
firm
,
she
carried
a
book
,
keeping
a
forefinger
between
the
pages
to
mark
a
passage
.
Her
face
bore
signs
of
suffering
,
and
at
this
moment
,
a
look
of
baffled
and
restless
longing
,
as
if
life
had
been
for
her
a
festival
whose
sounds
came
from
a
hopeless
distance
.
Yet
there
was
something
in
the
expression
of
the
mouth
,
that
suggested
a
consistent
standing
aloof
from
herself
and
her
desires
.
The
lines
of
the
face
could
never
have
been
drawn
by
mere
diffusive
,
emotional
habits
.
Thought
had
left
as
many
traces
as
feeling
in
the
firm
drawing
.
The
quality
of
the
face
was
of
that
indefinable
kind
that
gives
to
all
characteristic
things
their
peculiar
power
over
the
imagination
.
The
more
powerful
the
quality
,
the
less
can
it
be
rendered
into
terms
.
It
is
the
one
marvellous
,
remaining
,
musical
fact
not
to
he
defined
that
makes
the
Parthenon
,
or
some
other
masterpiece
of
art
,
translate
us
to
a
new
plane
of
existence
,
and
inspire
,
for
the
time
being
,
the
pessimist
with
hope
and
the
sceptic
with
religion
.
The
Cochin-Chinas
pecked
about
with
a
contented
mien
among
the
long
grass
,
finding
odds
and
ends
of
nourishment
,
and
here
and
there
eking
out
their
livelihood
with
a
dart
at
a
passing
fly
.
Their
long
,
comic
,
tufted
legs
,
which
seemed
to
form
a
sort
of
monumental
pedestal
whereon
the
bird
itself
was
elevated
,
stalked
and
scratched
about
with
an
air
of
industrious
serenity
.
There
were
few
mornings
in
the
year
which
left
unstirred
the
grass
which
grew
long
over
the
graves
,
but
this
was
one
of
the
few
.
Each
blade
stood
up
still
and
straight
,
bearing
its
string
of
dewdrops
.
There
were
one
or
two
village
sounds
that
came
subdued
through
the
sunshine
.
The
winds
that
usually
haunted
the
high
spot
had
fallen
asleep
,
or
were
lying
somewhere
in
ambush
among
the
woodlands
beyond
.
The
look
of
strain
had
faded
from
the
face
of
Mrs.
Temperley
,
leaving
only
an
expression
of
sadness
.
The
removal
of
all
necessity
for
concealing
thought
allowed
her
story
to
write
itself
on
her
face
.
The
speculative
would
have
felt
some
curiosity
as
to
the
cause
of
a
sadness
in
one
seemingly
so
well
treated
by
destiny
.
Neither
poverty
nor
the
cares
of
great
wealth
could
have
weighed
upon
her
spirit
;
she
had
beauty
,
and
a
quality
more
attractive
than
beauty
,
which
must
have
placed
many
things
at
her
command
;
she
had
evident
talent
—
her
very
attitude
proclaimed
it
—
and
the
power
over
Fortune
that
talent
ought
to
give
.
Possibly
,
the
observer
might
reflect
,
the
gift
was
of
that
kind
which
lays
the
possessor
peculiarly
open
to
her
outrageous
slings
and
arrows
.
Had
Mrs.
Temperley
shown
any
morbid
signs
of
self-indulgent
emotionalism
the
problem
would
have
been
simple
enough
but
this
was
not
the
case
.
The
solitude
was
presently
broken
by
the
approach
of
an
old
man
laden
with
pickaxe
and
shovel
.
He
remarked
upon
the
fineness
of
the
day
,
and
took
up
his
position
at
a
short
distance
from
the
stile
,
where
the
turf
had
been
cleared
away
in
a
long-shaped
patch
.
Here
,
with
great
deliberation
he
began
his
task
.
The
sound
of
his
steady
strokes
fell
on
the
stillness
.
Presently
,
the
clock
from
the
grey
tower
gave
forth
its
announcement
—
eleven
.
One
by
one
,
the
slow
hammer
sent
the
waves
of
air
rolling
away
,
almost
visibly
,
through
the
sunshine
,
their
sound
alternating
with
the
thud
of
the
pickaxe
,
so
as
to
produce
an
effect
of
intentional
rhythm
.
One
might
have
fancied
that
clock
and
pickaxe
iterated
in
turn
,
“
Time
,
Death
!
Time
,
Death
!
Time
,
Death
!
”
till
the
clock
had
come
to
the
end
of
its
tale
,
and
then
the
pickaxe
went
on
alone
in
the
stillness
—
“
Death
!
Death
!
Death
!
Death
!
”
A
smile
,
not
easy
to
be
accounted
for
,
flitted
across
the
face
of
Mrs.
Temperley
.
The
old
gravedigger
paused
at
last
in
his
toil
,
leaning
on
his
pickaxe
,
and
bringing
a
red
cotton
handkerchief
out
of
his
hat
to
wipe
his
brow
.
“
That
seems
rather
hard
work
,
Dodge
,
”
remarked
the
onlooker
,
leaning
her
book
upright
on
her
knee
and
her
chin
on
her
hand
.
“
Ay
,
that
it
be
,
mum
;
this
clay
's
that
stiff
!
Lord
!
folks
is
almost
as
much
trouble
to
them
as
buries
as
to
them
as
bears
'
em
;
it
's
all
trouble
together
,
to
my
thinkin
'
.
”
She
assented
with
a
musing
nod
.
“
And
when
a
man
's
not
a
troublin
'
o
'
some
other
body
,
he
's
a
troublin
'
of
hisself
,
”
added
the
philosopher
.
“
You
are
cursed
with
a
clear-sightedness
that
must
make
life
a
burden
to
you
,
”
said
Mrs.
Temperley
.
“
Well
,
mum
,
I
do
sort
o
'
see
the
bearin
's
o
'
things
better
nor
most
,
”
Dodge
modestly
admitted
.
The
lady
knew
,
and
liked
to
gratify
,
the
gravedigger
's
love
of
long-worded
discourse
.
“
Some
people
,
”
she
said
,
“
are
born
contemplative
,
while
others
never
reflect
at
all
,
whatever
the
provocation
.
”
“
Yes
'm
,
that
's
just
it
;
folks
goes
on
as
if
they
was
to
live
for
ever
,
without
no
thought
o
'
dyin
'
.
As
you
was
a
sayin
'
jus
'
now
,
mum
,
there
's
them
as
contemflecs
natural
like
,
and
there
's
them
as
is
born
without
provocation
—
”
“
Everlastingly
!
”
assented
Mrs.
Temperley
with
a
sudden
laugh
.
“
You
evidently
,
Dodge
,
are
one
of
those
who
strive
to
read
the
riddle
of
this
painful
earth
.
Tell
me
what
you
think
it
is
all
about
.
”
Gratified
by
this
appeal
to
his
judgment
,
Dodge
scratched
his
head
,
and
leant
both
brawny
arms
upon
his
pickaxe
.
“
Well
,
mum
,
”
he
said
,
“
I
s'pose
it
's
the
will
o
'
th
'
Almighty
as
we
is
brought
into
the
world
,
and
I
do
n't
say
nothin
'
agin
it
—
'
t
is
n't
my
place
—
but
it
do
come
over
me
powerful
at
times
,
wen
I
sees
all
the
vexin
'
as
folks
has
to
go
through
,
as
God
A'mighty
might
'
a
found
somethin
'
better
to
do
with
His
time
;
not
as
I
wants
to
find
no
fault
with
His
ways
,
which
is
past
finding
out
,
”
added
the
gravedigger
,
falling
to
work
again
.
A
silence
of
some
minutes
was
broken
by
Mrs.
Temperley
's
enquiry
as
to
how
long
Dodge
had
followed
this
profession
.
“
Nigh
on
twenty
year
,
mum
,
come
Michaelmas
,
”
replied
Dodge
.
“
I
've
lain
my
couple
o
'
hundred
under
the
sod
,
easy
;
and
a
fine
lot
o
'
corpses
they
was
too
,
take
'
em
one
with
another
.
”
Dodge
was
evidently
prepared
to
stand
up
for
the
average
corpse
of
the
Craddock
district
against
all
competitors
.
“
This
is
a
very
healthy
neighbourhood
,
I
suppose
,
”
observed
Mrs.
Temperley
,
seemingly
by
way
of
supplying
an
explanation
of
the
proud
fact
.
“
Lord
bless
you
,
as
healthy
as
any
place
in
the
kingdom
.
There
was
n't
one
in
ten
as
was
ill
when
he
died
,
as
one
may
say
.
”
“
But
that
scarcely
seems
an
unmixed
blessing
,
”
commented
the
lady
musingly
,
“
to
go
off
suddenly
in
the
full
flush
of
health
and
spirits
;
it
would
be
so
discouraging
.
”
“
Most
was
chills
,
took
sudden
,
”
Dodge
explained
;
“
chills
is
wot
chokes
up
yer
churchyards
for
yer
.
If
we
has
another
hard
winter
this
year
,
we
shall
have
a
job
to
find
room
in
here
.
There
's
one
or
two
in
the
village
already
,
as
I
has
my
eye
on
,
wot
—
”
“
Was
this
one
a
chill
?
”
interrupted
Mrs.
Temperley
,
with
a
nod
towards
the
new
grave
.
“
Wot
,
this
here
?
Lord
bless
you
,
no
,
mum
.
This
here
's
our
schoolmarm
.
Did
n't
you
never
hear
tell
about
her
?
”
This
damning
proof
of
his
companion
's
aloofness
from
village
gossip
seemed
to
paralyse
the
gravedigger
.
“
Why
everybody
's
been
a
talkin
'
about
it
.
Over
varty
,
she
war
,
and
ought
to
'
a
knowed
better
.
”
“
But
,
with
advancing
years
,
it
is
rare
that
people
do
get
to
know
better
—
about
dying
,
”
Mrs.
Temperley
suggested
,
in
defence
of
the
deceased
schoolmistress
.
“
I
means
about
her
conduc
'
,
”
Dodge
explained
;
“
scand'lous
thing
.
Why
,
she
's
been
in
Craddock
school
since
she
war
a
little
chit
o
'
sixteen
.
”
“
That
seems
to
me
a
trifle
dull
,
but
scarcely
scandalous
,
”
Mrs.
Temperley
murmured
.
“
...
And
as
steady
and
respectable
a
young
woman
as
you
'd
wish
to
see
...
pupil
teacher
she
was
,
and
she
rose
to
be
schoolmarm
,
”
Dodge
went
on
.
“
It
strikes
me
as
a
most
blameless
career
,
”
said
his
companion
.
“
Perhaps
,
as
you
say
,
considering
her
years
,
she
ought
to
have
known
better
,
but
—
”
“
She
sort
o
'
belongs
to
the
place
,
as
one
may
say
,
”
Dodge
proceeded
,
evidently
quite
unaware
that
he
had
omitted
to
give
the
clue
to
the
situation
.
“
She
's
lived
here
all
her
life
.
”
“
Then
much
may
be
forgiven
her
,
”
muttered
Mrs.
Temperley
.
“
And
everybody
respected
of
her
,
and
the
parson
he
thought
a
deal
o
'
her
,
he
did
,
and
used
to
hold
her
up
as
a
sample
to
the
other
young
women
,
and
nobody
dreamt
as
she
'd
go
and
bring
this
here
scandal
on
the
place
;
nobody
knows
who
the
man
was
,
but
it
is
said
as
there
's
someone
not
twenty
miles
from
here
as
knows
more
about
it
nor
he
did
n't
ought
to
,
”
Dodge
added
with
sinister
meaning
.
This
dark
hint
conveyed
absolutely
no
enlightenment
to
the
mind
of
Mrs.
Temperley
,
from
sheer
lack
of
familiarity
,
on
her
part
,
with
the
rumours
of
the
district
.
Dodge
applied
himself
with
a
spurt
to
his
work
.
“
When
she
had
her
baby
,
she
was
like
one
out
of
her
mind
,
”
he
continued
;
“
she
could
n't
stand
the
disgrace
and
the
neighbours
talkin
'
,
and
that
.
Mrs.
Walker
she
went
and
saw
her
,
and
brought
her
nourishin
'
things
,
and
kep
'
on
a-telling
her
how
she
must
try
and
make
up
for
what
she
had
done
,
and
repent
and
all
that
;
but
she
never
got
up
her
heart
again
like
,
and
the
poor
soul
took
fever
from
grievin
'
,
the
doctor
says
,
and
raved
on
dreadful
,
accusin
'
of
somebody
,
and
sayin
'
he
'd
sent
her
to
hell
;
and
then
Wensday
morning
,
ten
o'clock
,
she
died
.
Did
n't
you
hear
the
passing
bell
a-tolling
,
mum
?
”
“
Yes
,
the
wind
brought
it
down
the
valley
;
but
I
did
not
know
whom
it
was
tolling
for
.
”
“
That
's
who
it
was
,
”
said
Dodge
.
“
This
is
an
awfully
sad
story
,
”
cried
Mrs.
Temperley
.
Dodge
ran
his
fingers
through
his
hair
judicially
.
“
I
do
n't
hold
with
them
sort
o
'
goings
on
for
young
women
,
”
he
observed
.
“
Do
you
hold
with
them
for
young
men
?
”
Dodge
puckered
up
his
face
into
an
odd
expression
of
mingled
reflection
and
worldly
wisdom
.
“
You
ca
n't
prevent
young
fellers
bein
'
young
fellers
,
”
he
at
length
observed
.
“
It
seems
almost
a
pity
that
being
young
fellows
should
also
mean
being
blackguards
,
”
observed
Mrs.
Temperley
calmly
.
“
Well
,
there
's
somethin
'
to
be
said
for
that
way
o
'
lookin
'
at
it
,
”
Dodge
was
startled
into
agreeing
.
“
I
suppose
she
gets
all
the
blame
of
the
thing
,
”
the
lady
went
on
,
with
quiet
exasperation
.
Dodge
seemed
thrown
off
his
bearings
.
“
Everybody
in
Craddock
was
a-talking
about
it
,
as
was
only
to
be
expected
,
”
said
the
gravedigger
.
“
Well
,
well
,
we
're
all
sinners
.
Do
n't
do
to
be
too
hard
on
folks
.
'
Pears
sad
like
after
keepin
'
'
spectable
for
all
them
years
too
—
sort
o
'
waste
.
”
Mrs.
Temperley
gave
a
little
laugh
,
which
seemed
to
Dodge
rather
eccentric
.
“
Who
is
looking
after
the
baby
?
?
”
she
asked
.
“
One
of
the
neighbours
,
name
o
'
Gullick
,
as
her
husband
works
for
Lord
Engleton
,
which
she
takes
in
washing
,
”
Dodge
comprehensively
explained
.
“
Had
its
mother
no
relatives
?
”
“
Well
,
she
had
an
aunt
down
at
Southampton
,
I
've
heard
tell
,
but
she
did
n't
take
much
notice
of
her
,
not
she
did
n't
.
Her
mother
only
died
last
year
,
took
off
sudden
before
her
daughter
could
get
to
her
.
”
“
Your
schoolmistress
has
known
trouble
,
”
observed
Mrs.
Temperley
.
“
Had
she
no
one
,
no
sister
,
no
friend
,
during
all
this
time
that
she
could
turn
to
for
help
or
counsel
?
”
“
Not
as
I
knows
of
,
”
Dodge
replied
.
There
was
a
long
pause
,
during
which
the
stillness
seemed
to
weigh
upon
the
air
,
as
if
the
pressure
of
Fate
were
hanging
there
with
ruthless
immobility
.
“
She
ai
n't
got
no
more
to
suffer
now
,
”
Dodge
remarked
,
nodding
with
an
aspect
of
half
apology
towards
the
grave
.
“
They
sleeps
soft
as
sleeps
here
.
”
“
Good
heavens
,
I
hope
so
!
”
Mrs.
Temperley
exclaimed
.
The
grave
had
made
considerable
progress
before
she
descended
from
the
stile
and
prepared
to
take
her
homeward
way
.
On
leaving
,
she
made
Dodge
come
with
her
to
the
gate
,
and
point
out
the
red-roofed
cottage
covered
with
monthly
roses
and
flaming
creeper
,
where
the
schoolmistress
had
passed
so
many
years
,
and
where
she
now
lay
with
her
work
and
her
days
all
over
,
in
the
tiny
upper
room
,
at
whose
latticed
window
the
sun
used
to
wake
her
on
summer
mornings
,
or
the
winter
rain
pattered
dreary
prophecies
of
the
tears
that
she
would
one
day
shed
.
CHAPTER
XVII
.
“
IF
you
please
,
ma'am
,
the
cook
says
as
the
meat
has
n't
come
for
lunch
,
and
what
is
she
to
do
?
”
“
Without
,
”
replied
Mrs.
Temperley
automatically
.
The
maid
waited
for
more
discreet
directions
.
She
had
given
a
month
's
notice
that
very
morning
,
because
she
found
Craddock
Dene
too
dull
.
“
Thank
goodness
,
that
barbarian
is
going
!
”
Hubert
had
exclaimed
.
“
We
shall
but
exchange
a
Goth
for
a
Vandal
,
”
his
wife
replied
.
Mrs.
Temperley
gazed
intently
at
her
maid
,
the
light
of
intelligence
gradually
dawning
in
her
countenance
.
“
Is
there
anything
else
in
the
house
,
Sapph
—
Sophia
?
”
“
No
,
ma'am
,
”
replied
Sophia
.
“
Oh
,
tell
the
cook
to
make
it
into
a
fricassee
,
and
be
sure
it
is
well
flavoured
.
”
The
maid
hesitated
,
but
seeing
from
the
wandering
expression
of
her
employer
's
eye
that
her
intellect
was
again
clouded
over
,
she
retired
to
give
the
message
to
the
cook
—
with
comments
.
The
library
at
the
Red
House
was
the
only
room
that
had
been
radically
altered
since
the
days
of
the
former
tenants
,
whose
taste
had
leant
towards
the
florid
rather
than
the
classic
.
The
general
effect
had
been
toned
down
,
but
it
was
impossible
to
disguise
the
leading
motive
;
or
what
Mrs.
Temperley
passionately
described
as
its
brutal
vulgarity
.
The
library
alone
had
been
subjected
to
peine
forte
et
dure
.
Mrs.
Temperley
said
that
it
had
been
purified
by
suffering
.
By
dint
of
tearing
down
and
dragging
out
offending
objects
(
“
such
a
pity
!
”
cried
the
neighbours
)
its
prosperous
and
complacent
absurdity
had
been
humbled
.
Mrs.
Temperley
retired
to
this
refuge
after
her
encounter
with
Sophia
.
That
perennially
aggrieved
young
person
entered
almost
immediately
afterwards
and
announced
a
visitor
,
with
an
air
that
implied
—
“
She
'll
stay
to
lunch
;
see
if
she
do
n't
,
and
what
'll
you
do
then
?
Yah
!
”
The
pronunciation
of
the
visitor
's
name
was
such
,
that
,
for
the
moment
,
Mrs.
Temperley
did
not
recognize
it
as
that
of
Miss
Valeria
Du
Prel
.
She
jumped
up
joyfully
.
“
Ah
,
Valeria
,
this
is
delightful
!
”
The
visit
was
explained
after
a
characteristic
fashion
.
Miss
Du
Prel
realized
that
over
two
years
had
passed
since
she
had
seen
Hadria
,
and
moreover
she
had
been
seized
with
an
overwhelming
longing
for
a
sight
of
country
fields
and
a
whiff
of
country
air
,
so
she
had
put
a
few
things
together
in
a
handbag
,
which
she
had
left
at
Craddock
station
by
accident
,
and
come
down
.
Was
there
anyone
who
could
go
and
fetch
her
handbag
?
It
was
such
a
nuisance
;
she
laid
it
down
for
a
moment
to
get
at
her
ticket
—
she
never
could
find
her
pocket
,
dressmakers
always
hid
them
in
such
an
absurd
way
;
could
Hadria
recommend
any
dressmaker
who
did
not
hide
pockets
?
Was
n't
it
tiresome
?
She
had
no
time-table
,
and
so
she
had
gone
to
the
station
that
morning
and
waited
till
a
Craddock
train
started
,
and
by
this
arrangement
it
had
come
to
pass
that
she
had
spent
an
hour
and
a
half
on
the
platform
:
she
did
not
think
she
ever
had
such
an
unpleasant
time
;
why
did
n't
they
have
trains
oftener
?
They
did
to
Putney
.
Mrs.
Temperley
sat
down
and
laughed
.
Whereupon
the
other
's
face
lightened
and
she
joined
in
the
laugh
at
her
own
expense
,
settling
into
the
easy
chair
that
her
hostess
had
prepared
for
her
,
with
a
gesture
of
helplessness
and
comfort
.
“
Well
,
in
spite
of
that
time
at
the
station
,
I
'm
glad
I
came
.
It
seems
so
long
since
I
have
seen
you
,
dear
Hadria
,
and
the
last
time
you
know
you
were
very
unhappy
,
almost
mad
—
”
“
Yes
,
yes
;
never
mind
about
that
,
”
interposed
Mrs.
Temperley
hastily
,
setting
her
teeth
together
.
“
You
take
things
too
hard
,
too
hard
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
I
used
to
think
I
was
bad
in
that
way
,
but
I
am
phlegmatic
compared
with
you
.
One
would
suppose
that
—
”
“
Valeria
,
do
n't
,
do
n't
,
do
n't
,
”
cried
Mrs.
Temperley
.
“
I
ca
n't
stand
it
.
”
Her
teeth
were
still
set
tight
and
hard
,
her
hands
were
clenched
.
“
Very
well
,
very
well
.
Tell
me
what
you
have
been
making
of
this
ridiculous
old
world
,
where
everything
goes
wrong
and
everybody
is
stupid
or
wicked
,
or
both
.
”
Mrs.
Temperley
's
face
relaxed
a
little
,
though
the
signs
of
some
strong
emotion
were
still
visible
.
“
Well
,
to
answer
the
general
by
the
particular
,
I
have
spent
the
morning
,
accompanied
by
a
nice
young
brood
of
Cochin-China
fowls
,
in
Craddock
churchyard
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
hate
a
churchyard
,
”
exclaimed
Miss
Du
Prel
,
with
a
shudder
.
“
It
makes
one
think
of
the
hideous
mockery
of
life
,
and
the
more
one
would
like
to
die
,
the
worse
seems
the
brutality
of
death
and
his
hideous
accompaniments
.
It
is
such
a
savage
denial
of
all
human
aspirations
and
affections
and
hopes
.
Ah
,
it
is
horrible
!
”
The
sharply-outlined
face
grew
haggard
and
white
,
as
its
owner
crouched
over
the
fire
.
“
Heaven
knows
!
but
it
was
very
serene
and
very
lovely
up
there
this
morning
.
”
“
Ah
!
”
exclaimed
Valeria
with
a
burst
of
strange
enthusiasm
and
sadness
,
that
revealed
all
the
fire
and
yearning
and
power
that
had
raised
her
above
her
fellows
in
the
scale
of
consciousness
,
with
the
penalty
of
a
life
of
solitude
and
of
sorrow
.
“
Surely
it
is
not
without
meaning
that
the
places
of
the
dead
are
the
serenest
spots
on
earth
,
”
said
Mrs.
Temperley
.
“
If
I
could
keep
myself
in
the
mood
that
the
place
induces
,
I
think
I
should
not
mind
anything
very
much
any
more
.
The
sunshine
seems
to
rest
more
tenderly
there
than
elsewhere
,
and
the
winds
have
a
reverence
for
the
graves
,
as
if
they
felt
it
time
that
the
dead
were
left
in
peace
—
the
‘happier
dead
,
’
as
poor
immortal
Tithonius
calls
them
,
who
has
not
the
gift
of
death
.
And
the
grey
old
tower
and
the
weather
stains
on
the
stones
;
there
is
a
conspiracy
of
beauty
in
the
place
,
that
holds
one
as
one
is
held
by
music
.
”
“
Ah
!
I
know
the
magic
of
these
things
;
it
tempts
one
to
believe
at
times
that
Nature
is
not
all
blind
and
unpitying
.
But
that
is
a
delusion
:
if
there
were
any
pity
in
Nature
,
the
human
spirit
would
not
be
dowered
with
such
infinite
and
terrible
longings
and
such
capacities
and
dreams
and
prayers
and
then
—
then
insulted
with
the
mockery
of
death
and
annihilation
.
”
“
If
there
should
be
no
Beyond
,
”
muttered
Mrs.
Temperley
.
“
That
to
me
is
inconceivable
.
When
we
die
we
fall
into
an
eternal
sleep
.
Moreover
,
I
can
see
no
creed
that
does
not
add
the
fear
of
future
torments
to
the
certainties
of
these
.
”
Mrs.
Temperley
was
seized
with
a
bitter
mood
.
“
You
should
cultivate
faith
,
”
she
said
;
“
it
acts
the
part
of
the
heading
‘Sundries
omitted’
in
one
's
weekly
accounts
;
one
can
put
down
under
it
everything
that
ca
n't
be
understood
—
but
you
do
n't
keep
weekly
accounts
,
so
it
's
no
use
pointing
out
to
you
the
peace
that
comes
of
that
device
.
”
The
entrance
of
Sophia
with
firewood
turned
the
current
of
conversation
.
“
Good
heavens
!
I
do
n't
think
we
have
anything
for
lunch
!
”
Mrs.
Temperley
exclaimed
.
“
Are
you
very
hungry
?
What
is
to
be
done
?
It
was
the
faithlessness
of
our
butcher
that
disturbed
the
serenity
of
my
mood
this
morning
.
Perhaps
the
poor
beast
whose
carcase
we
were
intending
to
devour
will
feel
serene
instead
of
me
:
but
,
alas
!
I
fear
he
has
been
slaughtered
quand
même
.
That
is
one
of
the
unsatisfactory
things
about
life
:
that
all
its
worst
miseries
bring
good
to
no
one
.
One
may
deny
oneself
,
but
not
a
living
thing
is
necessarily
the
better
for
it
—
generally
many
are
the
worse
.
The
wheels
of
pain
go
turning
day
by
day
,
and
the
gods
stand
aloof
—
they
will
not
help
us
,
nor
will
they
stay
the
‘wild
world’
in
its
course
.
No
,
no
,
”
added
Mrs.
Temperley
with
a
laugh
,
“
I
am
not
tired
of
life
,
but
I
am
tired
with
it
;
it
wo
n't
give
me
what
I
want
.
That
is
perhaps
because
I
want
so
much
.
”
The
sound
of
male
footsteps
in
the
hall
broke
up
the
colloquy
.
“
Good
heavens
!
Hubert
has
brought
home
a
crowd
of
people
to
lunch
,
”
exclaimed
Hadria
,
“
a
thing
he
scarcely
ever
does
.
What
fatality
can
have
induced
him
to
choose
to-day
of
all
others
for
this
orgy
of
hospitality
?
”
“
Does
the
day
matter
?
”
enquired
Valeria
,
astonished
at
so
much
emotion
.
“
Does
the
day
matter
!
Oh
irresponsible
question
of
the
unwedded
!
When
I
tell
you
the
butcher
has
not
sent
the
meat
.
”
“
Oh
...
ca
n't
one
eat
fish
?
”
suggested
Miss
Du
Prel
.
Hadria
laughed
and
opened
the
door
.
“
My
dear
,
I
have
brought
Fleming
home
to
lunch
.
”
“
Thank
heaven
,
only
one
!
”
Temperley
stared
.
“
I
could
not
conveniently
have
brought
home
several
,
”
he
said
.
“
I
thought
you
would
be
at
least
seven
,
”
cried
the
mistress
of
the
house
,
“
and
with
all
the
pertinacity
of
Wordsworth
's
little
girl
.
”
“
What
do
you
mean
,
if
one
may
ask
for
simple
English
?
”
“
Merely
that
that
intolerable
Sanders
has
broken
his
word
—
hinc
illæ
lacrimæ
.
”
Hubert
Temperley
turned
away
in
annoyance
.
He
used
to
be
amused
by
his
wife
's
flippancy
before
her
marriage
,
but
he
had
long
since
grown
to
dislike
it
.
He
retired
to
get
out
some
wine
,
while
Hadria
went
forward
to
welcome
the
guest
,
who
now
came
in
from
the
garden
,
where
he
had
lingered
to
talk
to
the
children
.
“
I
am
delighted
to
see
you
,
Mr.
Fleming
;
but
I
am
grieved
to
say
that
we
have
unluckily
only
a
wretched
luncheon
to
give
you
,
and
after
your
long
walk
over
the
fields
too
!
I
am
so
sorry
.
The
fact
is
we
are
left
,
this
morning
,
with
a
gaping
larder
,
at
the
mercy
of
a
haughty
and
inconstant
butcher
,
who
grinds
down
his
helpless
dependents
without
mercy
,
over-
bearing
creature
that
he
is
.
We
must
ask
you
to
be
very
tolerant
.
”
“
Oh
!
please
do
n't
trouble
about
that
;
it
does
n't
matter
in
the
least
,
”
cried
Mr.
Fleming
,
pulling
at
his
yellowish
whiskers
.
He
was
a
man
of
about
five-and-thirty
,
of
medium
height
,
dressed
in
knickerbockers
and
Norfolk
jacket
that
had
seen
some
service
.
“
What
is
the
difficulty
?
”
asked
Hubert
.
“
I
was
explaining
to
Mr.
Fleming
how
inhospitably
we
are
forced
to
treat
him
,
on
account
of
that
traitor
Sanders
.
”
Hubert
gave
a
gesture
of
annoyance
.
“
I
suppose
there
is
something
cold
in
the
house
.
”
“
Pudding
,
perhaps
,
”
said
his
wife
hopelessly
.
“
It
is
most
unlucky
.
”
“
My
dear
,
surely
there
must
be
something
cold
that
is
n't
pudding
.
”
“
I
fear
,
very
little
;
but
I
will
go
and
see
the
cook
,
though
,
alas
!
she
is
not
easy
to
inspire
as
regards
her
particular
business
.
She
is
extremely
entertaining
as
a
conversationalist
,
but
I
think
she
was
meant
for
society
rather
than
the
kitchen
.
I
am
sure
society
would
be
more
diverting
if
she
were
in
it
.
”
Hadria
was
just
turning
to
seek
this
misplaced
genius
,
when
she
paused
in
the
doorway
.
“
By
the
way
,
I
suppose
Sapphira
has
—
”
“
Do
try
and
cure
yourself
of
the
habit
of
calling
the
girl
by
that
absurd
name
,
Hadria
.
”
“
Oh
,
yes
;
but
the
name
is
so
descriptive
.
She
has
told
you
of
Miss
Du
Prel
's
arrival
?
”
“
She
has
told
me
nothing
of
the
sort
.
”
Temperley
did
not
look
overjoyed
.
There
had
never
been
much
cordiality
between
him
and
Valeria
since
the
afternoon
when
they
had
met
at
Dunaghee
,
and
found
their
sentiments
in
hopeless
opposition
.
Miss
Du
Prel
took
no
interest
