第28章
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  Shewasevidentlyaweak,butprobablyadisinterested,woman;anditwasonlyalittlebitofill—temperonherpartwhichhadcausedhertospeaktoRogerasshehaddone。’Idaresayitwasratherimpertinentofmetocallatsuchanuntimelyhour,’saidRoger。’Notatall;Icallatallhours,andnothingiseversaidaboutit。Itwasjustbecauseshewasputoutthatmorning。I’llanswerforitshe’ssorrynow,andI’msureyoumaygothereatanytimeyoulikeinthefuture。’Still,Rogerdidnotchoosetogoagainfortwoorthreeweeks,andtheconsequencewasthatthenexttimehecalledtheladieswereout。Onceagainhehadthesameill—luck,andthenhereceivedalittleprettythree—cornerednotefromMrsGibson:—MYDEARSIR,—Howisitthatyouarebecomesoformalallonasudden,leavingcards,insteadofawaitingourreturn?Fieforshame!IfyouhadseentheracesofdisappointmentthatIdidwhenthehorridlittlebitsofpasteboardweredisplayedtoourview,youwouldnothavebornemaliceagainstmesolong;foritisreallypunishingothersaswellasmynaughtyself。Ifyouwillcometo—morrow—asearlyasyoulike—andlunchwithus,I’llownIwascross,andacknowledgemyselfapenitent。—Yoursever,HYACINTHC。K。GIBSON。Therewasnoresistingthis,eveniftherehadnotbeenstronginclinationtobackuptheprettywords。Rogerwent,andMrsGibsoncaressedandpettedhiminhersweetest,silkiestmanner。Cynthialookedlovelierthanevertohimfortheslightrestrictionthathadbeenlaidforatimeontheirintercourse。ShemightbegayandsparklingwithOsborne;withRogershewassoftandgrave。Instinctivelysheknewhermen。ShesawthatOsbornewasonlyinterestedinherbecauseofherpositioninafamilywithwhomhewasintimate;thathisfriendshipwaswithouttheleasttouchofsentiment;

  andthathisadmirationwasonlythewarmcriticismofanartistforunusualbeauty。ButshefelthowdifferentRoger’srelationtoherwas。Tohimshewastheone,alone,peerless。Ifhislovewasprohibited,itwouldbelongyearsbeforehecouldsinkdownintotepidfriendship;andtohimherpersonallovelinesswasonlyoneofthemanycharmsthatmadehimtrembleintopassion。Cynthiawasnotcapableofreturningsuchfeelings;

  shehadhadtoolittletrueloveinherlife,andperhapstoomuchadmirationtodoso;butsheappreciatedthishonestardour,thisloyalworshipthatwasnewtoherexperience。Suchappreciation,andsuchrespectforhistrueandaffectionatenature,gaveaserioustendernesstohermannertoRoger,whichalluredhimwithafreshandseparategrace。Mollysateby,andwonderedhowitwouldallend,or,rather,howsoonitwouldallend,forshethoughtthatnogirlcouldresistsuchreverentpassion;andonRoger’ssidetherecouldbenodoubt—alas!therecouldbenodoubt。Anolderspectatormighthavelookedfarahead,andthoughtofthequestionofpounds,shillings,andpence。Wherewasthenecessaryincomeforamarriagetocomefrom?Rogerhadhisfellowshipnow,itistrue;buttheincomeofthatwouldbelostifhemarried;hehadnoprofession,andthelifeinterestofthetwoorthreethousandpoundsthatheinheritedfromhismother,belongedtohisfather。ThisolderspectatormighthavebeenalittlesurprisedattheempressementofMrsGibson’smannertoayoungerson,alwayssupposingthissaidspectatortohavereadtothedepthsofherworldlyheart。NeverhadshetriedtobemoreagreeabletoOsborne;

  andthoughherattemptwasagreatfailurewhenpractiseduponRoger,andhedidnotknowwhattosayinreplytothedelicateBatterieswhichhefelttobeinsincere,hesawthatsheintendedhimtoconsiderhimselfhenceforwardfreeofthehouse;andhewastoogladtoavailhimselfofthisprivilegetoexamineover—closelyintowhatmightbehermotivesforherchangeofmanner。Heshuthiseyes,andchosetobelievethatshewasnowdesirousofmakingupforherlittleburstoftemperonhispreviousvisit。TheresultofOsborne’sconferencewiththetwodoctorshadbeencertainprescriptionswhichappearedtohavedonehimmuchgood,andwhichwouldinallprobabilityhavedonehimyetmore,couldhehavebeenfreeoftherecollectionofthelittlepatientwifeinhersolitudenearWinchester。

  Hewenttoherwheneverhecould;and,thankstoRoger,moneywasfarmoreplentifulwithhimnowthanithadbeen。Buthestillshrank,andperhapsevenmoreandmore,fromtellinghisfatherofhismarriage。Somebodilyinstinctmadehimdreadallagitationinexpressibly。IfhehadnothadthismoneyfromRoger,hemighthavebeencompelledtotellhisfatherall,andtoaskforthenecessaryfundstoprovideforthewifeandthecomingchild。Butwithenoughinhand,andasecret,thoughremorseful,convictionthataslongasRogerhadapennyhisbrotherwassuretohavehalfofit,madehimmorereluctantthanevertoirritatehisfatherbyarevelationofhissecret。’Notjustyet,notjustatpresent,’hekeptsayingbothtoRogerandtohimself。’Byandby,ifwehaveaboy,IwillcallitRoger’—andthenvisionsofpoeticalandromanticreconciliationsbroughtaboutbetweenfatherandson,throughthemediumofachild,theoffspringofaforbiddenmarriage,becamestillmorevividlypossibletohim,andatanyrateitwasastaving—offofanunpleasantthing。HeatonedtohimselffortakingsomuchofRoger’sfellowshipmoneybyreflectingthat,ifRogermarried,hewouldlosethissourceofrevenue;yetOsbornewasthrowingnoimpedimentinthewayofthisevent,ratherforwardingitbypromotingeverypossiblemeansofhisbrother’sseeingtheladyofhislove。Osborneendedhisreflectionsbyconvincinghimselfofhisowngenerosity。

  chapter30CHAPTERXXXOLDWAYSANDNEWWAYSMrPrestonwasnowinstalledinhisnewhouseatHollingford;MrSheepshankshavingenteredintodignifiedidlenessatthehouseofhismarrieddaughter,wholivedinthecountytown。Hissuccessorhadplungedwithenergyintoallmannerofimprovements;andamongothershefelltodrainingapieceofoutlyingwasteandunreclaimedlandofLordCumnor’s,whichwasclosetoSquireHamley’sproperty;thatverypieceforwhichhehadhadtheGovernmentgrant,butwhichnowlayneglected,andonlyhalf—drained,withstacksofmossytiles,andlinesofup—turnedfurrowstellingofabortiveplans。

  Itwasnotoftenthatthesquirerodeinthisdirectionnow—a—days;butthecottageofamanwhohadbeenthesquire’sgamekeeperinthosemoreprosperousdayswhentheHamleyscouldaffordtopreserve,wasclosetotherush—grownground。Thisoldservantandtenantwasill,andhadsentamessageuptotheHall,askingtoseethesquire;nottorevealanysecret,ortosayanythingparticular,butonlyfromthefeudalloyalty,whichmadeitseemtothedyingmanasifitwouldbeacomforttoshakethehand,andlookoncemoreintotheeyesofthelordandmasterwhomhehadserved,andwhoseancestorshisownforbearshadservedforsomanygenerations。

  AndthesquirewasasfullyaliveasoldSilastotheclaimsofthetiethatexistedbetweenthem。Thoughhehatedthethought,and,stillmore,shouldhatethesightofthepieceofland,onthesideofwhichSilas’scottagestood,thesquireorderedhishorse,androdeoffwithinhalf—an—hourofreceivingthemessage。Ashedrewnearthespothethoughtheheardthesoundoftools,andthehumofmanyvoices,justasheusedtohearthemayearortwobefore。Helistenedwithsurprise。Yes。Insteadofthestillsolitudehehadexpected,therewastheclinkofiron,theheavygradualthudofthefallofbarrows—fullofsoil—thecryandshoutoflabourers。Butnotonhisland—betterworthexpenseandtroublebyfarthanthereedyclaycommononwhichthemenwere,infact,employed。HeknewitwasLordCumnor’sproperty;andheknewLordCumnorandhisfamilyhadgoneupintheworld(’theWhigrascals!’),bothinwealthandinstation,astheHamleyshadgonedown。Butallthesame—inspiteoflongknownfacts,andinspiteofreason—thesquire’sreadyangerrosehighatthesightofhisneighbourdoingwhathehadbeenunabletodo,andheaWhig;

  andhisfamilyonlyinthecountysinceQueenAnne’stime。Hewentsofarastowonderwhethertheymightnot—thelabourershemeant—availthemselvesofhistiles,lyingsoconvenientlyclosetohand。Allthesethoughts,regrets,andwonderswereinhismindasherodeuptothecottagehewasboundto,andgavehishorseinchargetoalittlelad,whohadhithertofoundhismorning’sbusinessandamusementinplayingat’houses’withastillyoungersister,withsomeofthesquire’sneglectedtiles。ButhewasoldSilas’sgrandson,andhemighthavebatteredtheruderedearthenwaretopieces—awholestack—onebyone,andthesquirewouldhavesaidlittleornothing。ItwasonlythathewouldnotspareonetoalabourerofLordCumnor’s。No!notone。OldSilaslayinasortofcloset,openingoutofthefamilyliving—room。

  Thesmallwindowthatgaveitlightlookedrightontothe’moor,’asitwascalled;andbyclaythecheckcurtainwasdrawnasidesothathemightwatchtheprogressofthelabour。Everythingabouttheoldmanwasclean,ifcoarse;and,withDeath,theleveller,socloseathand,itwasthelabourerwhomadethefirstadvances,andputouthishornyhandtothesquire。’Ithoughtyou’dcome,squire。Yourfathercamefortoseemyfatherashelaya—dying。’’Come,come,myman!’saidthesquire,easilyaffected,ashealwayswas。

  ’Don’ttalkofdying,weshallsoonhaveyouout,neverfear。They’vesentyouupsomesoupfromtheHall,asIbade’em,haven’tthey?’’Ay,ay,I’vehadallasIcouldwantfortoeatandtodrink。TheyoungsquireandMasterRogerwashereyesterday。’’Yes,Iknow。’’ButI’madealnearerHeavento—day,Iam。IshouldlikeyoutolookafterthecoversintheWestSpinney,squire;themgorse,youknow,whereth’

  oldfoxhadherhole—herasgive’emsomanyarun。You’llmindit,squire,thoughyouwasbutalad。Icouldlaughtothinkonhertricksyet。’And,withaweakattemptatalaugh,hegothimselfintoaviolentfitofcoughing,whichalarmedthesquire,whothoughthewouldnevergethisbreathagain。

  Hisdaughter—in—lawcameinatthesound,andtoldthesquirethathehadthesecoughing—boutsveryfrequently,andthatshethoughthewouldgooffinoneofthembeforelong。Thisopinionofherswasspokensimplyoutbeforetheoldman,whonowlaygaspingandexhausteduponhispillow。

  Poorpeopleacknowledgetheinevitablenessandtheapproachofdeathinamuchmorestraightforwardmannerthaniscustomaryamongmoreeducatedfolk。Thesquirewasshockedatthehard—heartedness,asheconsideredit;buttheoldmanhimselfhadreceivedmuchtenderkindnessinactionfromhisdaughter—in—law;andwhatshehadjustsaidwasnomorenewstohimthanthefactthatthesunwouldriseto—morrow。Hewasmoreanxioustogoonwithhisstory。’Themnavvies—Icall’emnavviesbecausesomeon’emisstrangers,thoughsomeon’emisth’menaswasturnedoffyourownworks,squire,whentherecameorderstostop’emlastfall—they’rea—pullingupgorseandbrushtolighttheirfireforwarminguptheirmesses。It’salongwayofftotheirhomes,andtheymostlydinehere;andthere’llbenothingofacoverleft,ifyoudon’tseeafter’em。IthoughtIshouldliketotellyeaforeIdied。Parson’sbeenhere;butIdidnatellhim。He’sallfortheearl’sfolk,andhe’dnotha’heeded。It’stheearlasputhimintohischurch,Ireckon,forhesaidwhatafinethingitwerefortoseesomuchemploymenta—giventothepoor,andheneversaidnoughto’th’sortwhenyourworkswereagait,squire。’Thislongspeechhadbeeninterruptedbymanyacoughandgaspforbreath;

  andhavingdeliveredhimselfofwhatwasonhismind,heturnedhisfacetothewall,andappearedtobegoingtosleep。Presentlyherousedhimselfwithastart。’IknowIfloggedhimwell,Idid。Buthewereafterpheasants’eggs,andIdidn’tknowhewereanorphan。Lord,forgiveme!’’He’sthinkingonDavidMorton,thecripple,asusedtogoabouttrappingvermin,’whisperedthewoman。’Why,hediedlongago—twentyyear,Ishouldthink,’repliedthesquire。’Ay,butwhengrandfathergoesoffi’thiswaytosleepafteraboutoftalkingheseemstobedreamingonoldtimes。He’llnotwakenupyet,sir;

  you’dbestsitdownifyou’dliketostay,’shecontinued,asshewentintothehouse—placeanddustedachairwithherapron。’Hewasveryparticularinbiddingmewakehimifhewereasleep,andyouorMrRogerwastocall。

  MrRogersaidhe’dbecomingagainthismorning—buthe’lllikelysleepanhourormore,ifhe’sletalone。’’IwishI’dsaidgood—by,Ishouldliketohavedonethat。’’Hedropsoffsosudden,’saidthewoman。’Butifyou’dbebetterpleasedtohavesaidit,squire,I’llwakenhimupabit。’’No,no!’thesquirecalledoutasthewomanwasgoingtobeasgoodasherword。’I’llcomeagain,perhapsto—morrow。AndtellhimIwassorry;

  forIamindeed。AndbesureandsendtotheHallforanythingyouwant!

  MrRogeriscoming,ishe?He’llbringmewordhowheis,lateron。Ishouldliketohavebiddenhimgood—by。’So,givingsixpencetothechildwhohadheldhishorse,thesquiremounted。

  Hesatestillamoment,lookingatthebusyworkgoingonbeforehim,andthenathisownhalf—completeddrainage。Itwasabitterpill。HehadobjectedtoborrowingfromGovernment,inthefirstinstance;andthenhiswifehadpersuadedhimtothestep;andafteritwasoncetaken,hewasasproudascouldbeoftheonlyconcessiontothespiritofprogressheevermadeinhislife。Hehadreadandstudiedthesubjectprettythoroughly,ifalsoveryslowly,duringthetimehiswifehadbeeninfluencinghim。Hewastolerablywellupinagriculture,ifinnothingelse;andatonetimehehadtakentheleadamongtheneighbouringlandowners,whenhefirstbegantile—drainage。InthosedayspeopleusedtospeakofSquireHamley’shobby;andatmarketordinaries,orcountydinners,theyratherdreadedsettinghimoffonlongrepetitionsofargumentsfromthedifferentpamphletsonthesubjectwhichhehadread。Andnowtheproprietorsallaroundhimweredraining—draining;hisinteresttoGovernmentwasrunningonallthesame,thoughhisworkswerestopped,andhistilesdeterioratinginvalue。Itwasnotasoothingconsideration,andthesquirewasalmostreadytoquarrelwithhisshadow。Hewantedaventforhisill—humour;andsuddenlyrememberingthedevastationonhiscovers,whichhehadheardaboutnotaquarterofanhourbefore,herodeuptothemenbusyatworkonLordCumnor’sland。JustbeforehegotuptothemheencounteredMrPreston,alsoonhorseback,cometooverlookhislabourers。Thesquiredidnotknowhimpersonally,butfromtheagent’smannerofspeaking,andthedeferencethatwasevidentlypaidtohim,MrHamleysawthathewasaresponsibleperson。Soheaddressedtheagent,—’Ibegyourpardon,Isupposeyouarethemanageroftheseworks?’MrPrestonreplied,—’Certainly。Iamthatandmanyotherthingsbesides,atyourservice。IhavesucceededMrSheepshanksinthemanagementofmylord’sproperty。MrHamleyofHamley,Ibelieve?’Thesquirebowedstiffly。Hedidnotlikehisnametobeaskedorpresumeduponinthatmanner。Anequalmightconjecturewhohewas,orrecognizehim,but,tillheannouncedhimself,aninferiorhadnorighttodomorethanaddresshimrespectfullyas’sir。’Thatwasthesquire’scodeofetiquette。’IamMrHamleyofHamley。IsupposeyouareasyetignorantoftheboundaryofLordCumnor’sland,andsoIwillinformyouthatmypropertybeginsatthepondyonder—justwhereyouseetheriseintheground。’’Iamperfectlyacquaintedwiththatfact,MrHamley,’saidMrPreston,alittleannoyedattheignoranceattributedtohim。’ButmayIinquirewhymyattentioniscalledtoitjustnow?’Thesquirewasbeginningtoboilover;buthetriedtokeephistemperin。Theeffortwasverymuchtoberespected,foritwasagreatone。Therewassomethinginthehandsomeandwell—dressedagent’stoneandmannerinexpressiblyirritatingtothesquire,anditwasnotlessenedbyaninvoluntarycomparisonofthecapitalroadsteronwhichMrPrestonwasmountedwithhisownill—groomedandagedcob。’Ihavebeentoldthatyourmenoutyonderdonotrespecttheseboundaries,butareinthehabitofpluckingupgorsefrommycoverstolighttheirfires。’’Itispossibletheymay!’saidMrPreston,liftinghiseyebrows,hismannerbeingmorenonchalantthanhiswords。’Idaresaytheythinknogreatharmofit。However,I’llinquire。’’Doyoudoubtmyword,sir?’saidthesquire,frettinghismaretillshebegantodanceabout。’ItellyouI’vehearditonlywithinthislasthalf—hour。’’Idon’tmeantodoubtyourword,MrHamley;it’sthelastthingIshouldthinkofdoing。Butyoumustexcusemysayingthattheargumentwhichyouhavetwicebroughtupfortheauthenticityofyourstatement,\"thatyouhavehearditwithinthelasthalf—hour,\"isnotquitesoforcibleastoprecludethepossibilityofamistake。’’Iwishyou’donlysayinplainlanguagethatyoudoubtmyword,’saidthesquire,clenchingandslightlyraisinghishorsewhip。’Ican’tmakeoutwhatyoumean—youusesomanywords。’’Praydon’tloseyourtemper,sir。IsaidIshouldinquire。Youhavenotseenthemenpullingupgorseyourself,oryouwouldhavenamedit。IsurelymaydoubtthecorrectnessofyourinformantuntilIhavemadesomeinquiry;

  atanyrate,thatisthecourseIshallpursue,andifitgivesyouoffence,Ishallbesorry,butIshalldoitjustthesame。WhenIamconvincedthatharmhasbeendonetoyourproperty,Ishalltakestepstopreventitforthefuture,andofcourse,inmylord’sname,Ishallpayyoucompensation—itmayprobablyamounttohalf—a—crown。’Headdedtheselastwordsinalowertone,asiftohimself,withaslight,contemptuoussmileonhisface。’Quiet,mare,quiet,’saidthesquire,quiteunawarethathewasthecauseofherimpatientmovementsbythewayhewasperpetuallytighteningherreins;andalso,perhaps,heunconsciouslyaddressedtheinjunctiontohimself。NeitherofthemsawRogerHamley,whowasjustthenapproachingthemwithlong,steadysteps。HehadseenhisfatherfromthedoorofoldSilas’scottage,and,asthepoorfellowwasstillasleep,hewascomingtospeaktohisfather,andwasnearenoughnowtohearthenextwords。’Idon’tknowwhoyouare,butI’veknownland—agentswhoweregentlemen,andI’veknownsomewhowerenot。Youbelongtothislastset,youngman,’

  saidthesquire,’thatyoudo。Ishouldliketotrymyhorsewhiponyouforyourinsolence。’’Pray,MrHamley,’repliedMrPreston,coolly,’curbyourtemperalittle,andreflect。Ireallyfeelsorrytoseeamanofyourageinsuchapassion’

  —movingalittlefartheroff,however,butreallymorewithadesiretosavetheirritatedmanfromcarryinghisthreatintoexecution,outofadisliketotheslanderandexcitementitwouldcause,thanfromanypersonaldread。JustatthismomentRogerHamleycamecloseup。Hewaspantingalittle,andhiseyeswereverysternanddark;buthespokequietlyenough。’MrPreston,Icanhardlyunderstandwhatyoumeanbyyourlastwords。

  But,remember,myfatherisagentlemanofageandposition,andnotaccustomedtoreceiveadviceastothemanagementofhistemperfromyoungmenlikeyou。’’Idesiredtokeephismenoffmyland,’saidthesquiretohisson—hiswishtostandwellinRoger’sopinionrestraininghistemperalittle;

  butthoughhiswordsmightbealittlecalmer,therewereallothersignsofpassionpresent—thediscolouredcomplexion,thetremblinghands,thefierycloudinhiseyes。’Herefused,anddoubtedmyword。’MrPrestonturnedtoRoger,asifappealingfromPhilipdrunktoPhilipsober,andspokeinatoneofcoolexplanation,which,thoughnotinsolentinwords,wasexcessivelyirritatinginmanner。’Yourfatherhasmisunderstoodme—perhapsitisnowonder,’tryingtoconvey,byalookofintelligenceattheson,hisopinionthatthefatherwasinnostatetohearreason。’Ineverrefusedtodowhatwasjustandright。Ionlyrequiredfurtherevidenceastothepastwrong—doing;yourfathertookoffenceatthis’—andthenheshruggedhisshoulders,andliftedhiseyebrowsinamannerhehadformerlylearntinFrance。’Atanyrate,sir!Icanscarcelyreconcilethemannerandwordstomyfather,whichIheardyouusewhenIfirstcameup,withthedeferenceyououghttohaveshowntoamanofhisageandposition。Astothefactofthetrespass——’’Theyarepullingupallthegorse,Roger—there’llbenocoverwhateverforgamesoon,’putinthesquire。Rogerbowedtohisfather,buttookuphisspeechatthepointitwasatbeforetheinterruption。’Iwillinquireintoitmyselfatacoolermoment;andifIfindthatsuchtrespassordamagehasbeencommitted,ofcourseIshallexpectthatyouwillseeitputastopto。Come,father!IamgoingtoseeoldSilas—

  perhapsyoudon’tknowthatheisveryill。’Soheendeavouredtowilethesquireawaytopreventfurtherwords。Hewasnotentirelysuccessful。MrPrestonwasenragedbyRoger’scalmanddignifiedmanner,andthrewafterthemthispartingshaft,intheshapeofaloudsoliloquy,—’Position,indeed!Whatarewetothinkofthepositionofamanwhobeginsworkslikethesewithoutcountingthecost,andcomestoastand—still,andhastoturnoffhislabourersjustatthebeginningofwinter,leaving——’Theyweretoofarofftoheartherest。Thesquirewasonthepointofturningbackbeforethis,butRogertookholdofthereinsoftheoldmare,andledheroversomeoftheboggyground,asiftoguideherintosurefooting,but,inreality,becausehewasdeterminedtopreventtherenewalofthequarrel。Itwaswellthatthecobknewhim,andwas,indeed,oldenoughtopreferquietnesstodancing;forMrHamleypluckedhardatthereins,andatlastbrokeoutwithanoath,—’Damnit,Roger!I’mnotachild;Iwon’tbetreatedassuch。Leavego,Isay!’Rogerletgo;theywerenotonfirmground,andhedidnotwishanywatcherstothinkthathewasexercisinganyconstraintoverhisfather;andthisquietobediencetohisimpatientcommandsdidmoretosoothethesquirethananythingelsecouldhaveeffectedjustthen。’IknowIturnedthemoff—whatcouldIdo?I’dnomoremoneyfortheirweeklywages;it’salosstome,asyouknow。Hedoesn’tknow,nooneknows,butIthinkyourmotherwould,howitcutmetoturn’emoffjustbeforewintersetin。Ilayawakemanyanightthinkingofit,andIgavethemwhatIhad—Idid,indeed。Ihadn’tgotmoneytopay’em,butIhadthreebarrencowsfattened,andgaveeveryscrapofmeattothemen,andIlet’emgointothewoodsandgatherwhatwasfallen,andIwinkedattheirbreakingoffoldbranches,andnowtohaveitcastupagainstmebythatcur—thatservant。ButI’llgoonwiththeworks,by——,Iwill,ifonlytospitehim。I’llshowhimwhoIam。Myposition,indeed!AHamleyofHamleytakesahigherpositionthanhismaster。I’llgoonwiththeworks,seeifIdon’t!I’mpayingbetweenoneandtwohundredayearinterestonGovernmentmoney。I’llraisesomemoreifIgototheJews;Osbornehasshownmetheway,andOsborneshallpayforit—heshall。I’llnotputupwithinsults。Youshouldn’thavestoppedme,Roger!IwishtoheavenI’dhorsewhippedthefellow!Hewaslashinghimselfagainintoanimpotentrage,painfultoasontowitness;butjustthenthelittlegrandchildofoldSilas,whohadheldthesquire’shorseduringhisvisittothesickman,camerunningup,breathless,—’Please,sir,please,squire,mammyhas’sentme;grandfatherhaswakenedupsudden,andmammysayshe’sdying,andwouldyoupleasecome;shesayshe’dtakeitasakindcompliment,she’ssure。’Sotheywenttothecottage,thesquirespeakingneveraword,butsuddenlyfeelingasifliftedoutofawhirlwindandsetdowninastillandawfulplace。EndofPartThreechapter31ELIZABETHGASKELLWIVESANDDAUGHTERSPARTIV(ChaptersXXXI—XL)CHAPTERXXXIAPASSIVECOQUETTEItisnottobesupposedthatsuchanencounterasMrPrestonhadjusthadwithRogerHamleysweetenedtheregardsinwhichthetwoyoungmenhenceforwardheldeachother。Theyhadbarelyspokentoeachotherbefore,andbutseldommet;fortheland—agent’semploymenthadhithertolainatAshcombe,somesixteenorseventeenmilesfromHamley。HewasolderthanRogerbyseveralyears;butduringthetimehehadbeeninthecountyOsborneandRogerhadbeenatschoolandatcollege。MrPrestonwaspreparedtodisliketheHamleysformanyunreasonablereasons。

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