Heshowedamoremanlyangernow，butwouldnotagree。Sheonhersidewasmorepersistent，andhehaddoubtswhethershecouldbetrustedinhisabsence。Butbyindignationandcontemptforhertastehecompletelymaintainedhisascendency；andfinallytakingherbeforealittlecrossandaltarthathehaderectedinhisbedroomforhisprivatedevotions，therebadeherkneel，andswearthatshewouldnotwedSamuelHobsonwithouthisconsent。’Iowethistomyfather!’hesaidThepoorwomanswore，thinkinghewouldsoftenassoonashewasordainedandinfullswingofclericalwork。Buthedidnot。Hiseducationhadbythistimesufficientlyoustedhishumanitytokeephimquitefirm；thoughhismothermighthaveledanidylliclifewithherfaithfulfruitererandgreengrocer，andnobodyhavebeenanythingtheworseintheworld。
Herlamenessbecamemoreconfirmedastimewenton，andsheseldomorneverleftthehouseinthelongsouthernthoroughfare，wheresheseemedtobepiningherheartaway。’Whymayn’tIsaytoSamthatI’llmarryhim？Whymayn’tI？’shewouldmurmurplaintivelytoherselfwhennobodywasnear。
Somefouryearsafterthisdateamiddle-agedmanwasstandingatthedoorofthelargestfruiterer’sshopinAldbrickham。Hewastheproprietor，butto-day，insteadofhisusualbusinessattire，heworeaneatsuitofblack；andhiswindowwaspartlyshuttered。Fromtherailway-stationafuneralprocessionwasseenapproaching：itpassedhisdoorandwentoutofthetowntowardsthevillageofGaymead。
Theman，whoseeyeswerewet，heldhishatinhishandasthevehiclesmovedby；whilefromthemourningcoachayoungsmooth-
shavenpriestinahighwaistcoatlookedblackasacloudattheshopkeeperstandingthere。