T H E L IBR AR Y

OF
T H E UNI VE R SI T Y
O F CAL I FO R NI A
L O S ANG EL E S

a n c e o r sal ar y h e sh all b e sati sfie d th at h m e m b e r o r offic e r su c

h a r e tu r n ed al l b k t ak e n o ut of t h L i br ar y b y h i m a d h a
, ,

s oo s e ,
n s

s ett le d al l acc o u n ts fo r i nj u ri n g s u c h b k o r th wi oo s o er se .

S EC 15 B k m ay be t ak e n f r o m th e L ib r ar y b y th e m e m be s
oo s r

f th e L e g i sl atu r e a d t offi c e s du ri n g the sess i o n of th e s a m e

. .

o n I s r ,

an d at an y ti m e b y th e ( h w a d th o ffi c e r s of the E e c uti ve
e rn o r n e x

D e part m e n t f th s S t at e wh a
o i r e q ui r e d t o k e e p th e i r offic es at
o re

th e _se at of g o e r n m e n t th e J u s ti c es of th e S u p r e m e Co u rt th e
,

v , ,

A tt o r n ey G e n e al a d t h T
- r ,
n t of th e L ib r ar y
e 1 u s ees .
 1 e H i s to ry 01 E p l o r a o n an d A d v e n u r e
x ti t as
give n 1 11 t h e l e ad i n g a u t h o r i e s f ro m H it e u

Vv i t h l l u s t r at i o n s S v o
M ar
) an d . I . .

T h i s h as b ee c o m pile d om the whole ra ge of Af i a l t e n n L “ n i 1

atu r e L i vmg st e l ast j our al i cl ud e d E ach of the load g ex

)
’
on s n s n . in

p l e s has a c hap t e r a d L i vi gst o e fo ur B a r t h O ve g a d

“

or r . n n n . ru e n

R ic ha rd so A de o D G h ai l l
n B t a d S p t o G r a t B ake r
n i ss n, u u u r on c n e n ,

S t an l y S ch wei f u t h a d B a rtle F é
,
a e amo g t he
n pl m e i ,
n r re r n ex 1s

W hose b ook s a e su mm ari e d a t le g th a d t he r e is also a val u ab le

r z n n
chap t e r o Ch ri s ti a mi ssi o s i Af ri c a — V I 7 b ib im e
n n n n . 1 . r .

A ve y i t e r e sti g b ook m ad e y t m or e attr a c tive a d u sefu l b v

1 n n
,
e n
ma y il lu str ati o s —B sto t T ran scrip t
n n o z .

T t ho s e W h o wo u l d b e c o m e a c q u ai e d with t he c omplex q u es
.

o n t

tio r el ati g t o the geography of A fri c a the p r ese work 3 b e

n n , nt 1 1111 :

r e c omme d ed as c ombi i g the r e qui sit es if im pli t v ac curac

n n n O s ci ,
y
,

an d i t e es t n O1 of th b ooks of the seaso a d u l ke

. ne e n . n n i

m o st of the curr e t lit e r a ur e wi ll r emai a wo rk of p rpe tu al '

e
n M n
valu e — B oston S alim day E oem ng G a ette
” . z .

A cy c lope di a of A f ric a explo rati o and a e f l s ub stitut e i n n . u s i n

the l iora for t he whole l i s t of c ostly o rigi al wo rks th at sub
‘

rv n on

j ec t We ston
7
'

A d m i t/Seer
“
arly eve ry i t ellig e t r ad e r espe ci ally whe a ew h ook of
e n n e . n ny n

Af i travel h a attract e d h is att e t o d e si e s t h ave di sti ct

r c in s n i n . r o a n

a d d e fi i t e c o c epti o
n n of W ha t has b ee a cc omplished a d of wh at
n n n n

r ema s to b e acc omplis he d i the way of disc overy ; it i mpo s s ibl

in ,
n is e

for s a c e fo r a y e t o gr a sp t h e al ly i mporta t t acrs 1 D

.

in t n . n on e 1 n 1 r .

S ch w i f th g r eat o rk o r i L i vi g s to e s r e c e t ly p b l i h
’
e n ur s 11 ,
n n n n u s ee
w ithout k o wi g j us t h w f a th d i m i the ein n n o r e sc er e s i

c ord e d p l e m t t ho s e of other explo re rs a d what l ati i h b ear

. su n en n 1
e on ey

t o the exist i g b od v of geograp hic al a d eth og raphic al l n o vl c g? e

n 0
n n i e .

T s u pply s u c h i fo r mat i o i s the o bj e c t of the p r e s e t wo k

o n If t n n i i s
execu ti o c orr e po d wit h it pla the r ea d er w il l (1 h e e a r ec o rd
n S n s s n 1 1 11 r

of explo ratio s Afr c a fo m t he time of the Ph oe i cia s t o the d eat h

n in i r nH u

of L i vi gst o e c omp r ehe si ve e o u gh t o put hi m i pos s essi o of al l

n n ,
n n n n

t h e esse ti al fa ct s a d s ucc ess ive s t eps

n the ope in g of that my st eri ou s
n 1 11 n

c o tin e t a d at t h same ti me d e tailed e ou gh t o give hi m a air o

n n , n e n f c n

c ep t i o of the W o k p erfo rme d b y ea ch of t h e mo r e p r omi en t i d

n
'
l n n
'

vi du al explor e rs j w . e r

T hi s volu me c o t ai s the q uin t esse c e of a W h ole l ibr 3 n n n 91

.

What m ak i t pe cul i arly val u a b le it s c om bi ati on so m uch mat e ri al

es is n or

wh i ch i i a cc essib le t o t he ge er al r ea d e r wh o i s p t i pos s es i o by
s n n ,
u n s n ,

thi s mea s of a vast amo t of e t ert ai i g as well a i structive i f

n . un n n n s n n or

mati o T h ex c elle t map s h o wi g t h e r o ut es of the lea di g e pl

n . e n n n x or

e rs a d the u me r o u s ill st at i
,
n i cr ease the valu e a d
n est 0 u i on s , n n 1 11 tc i 1

the b ook G lob e

‘
a s urvey of the whole ub j e ct of Africa travel a d expl o rati o
i s s n n n

the b ook i i val u ab le a d as such we c omme d t t o all s ch a

s n ,
n n i u s

d esir e t o b e c ome b ett e r a cq u ai t e d ”w ith e of t h e m ost i t e esti g n on

“

n r
n

t heme s of the age —Z l e H arm I Radi um .

'

( .
 L E I S UR E H O UR SERI E S

M IST R E SS J U D I T H

A CA M B R I D GE S H I R E S T OR Y

c . c . fiR A S E R -
TYTLER
A UT H O R OF J A SM I NE ET C
.

NE W Y O R !

H E NR Y H OLT A ND CO M PA N Y
1 8 75
 j osm F T
. Ro w S O N, P R I N T E RS,

905 - 2 1 3 E A ST 1 2T H S1 3 , NE W Y O R! .
 L G/ I ’
bb

CO N T E N T S .

CH A P .

M AST E R H U R ST ,

II . P A R SON I NG R E Y W AL ! S A BR O AD ,

III . M I STR E S S
J UD ITH I S NOT M O U L D E D ,

TH E R E S A B OY
“ ” ’
,

M I S T R E SS J U D ITH I S NOT S H \ M E D .
-
,

M I S T R E SS J U D ITH HAS NO B I R T HDAY

VI I E I G HT Y E A R S AFT E R
.
,

VI II W HY J E SS E C HANG E D H I S M IND
.

I X UNDE R T H E P O RC H W ITH A M O S
.
,

J E SS E B U LL E N S L E TT E R ’
,

X I ANOTH E R L E TT E R ,

XI I HASLIN GTON F E AST

.
,

X III HA RV E STING
.
,

XI V . C L E A N I NG ,

XV . C H UR C H,

X VI . F I R ST I M P R E S SIONS,

XV I I A M O S ST R I ! E S
.
,

X V I I I G OOD B Y E AND NO G OOD —B Y E

.
-
,

XI X . P E R P L E X ITY , A ND P A X TON D IC! ,

 C O NT E NT S .

CH A P .

XX . TH E L E TT E R THAT W E NT TO A M O S ,

XXI
“
TH E G L OA M ING OF T H E Y E A R ”
,
.

XX I I . P A R S ON I N G R E Y S P R O M IS E ’
,

XX I I I . A M OS I S C O M IN G ,

X XIV . A C H R IST M A S S E C R E T ,

X XV . ST V A L E NTIN E S DAY
.
’
,

XXV I . W A I TING F O R TID IN GS ,

XXV I I . G E NTL E M AN B U L L E N C O M E S HO M E ,

XXV I I I . M ID
H E AV E N-
,

XX I X P R I M R O S E S P INN E Y
.
-
,

XXX S O M ETHING FO R A M OS
.
,

X XX I . TH E L O V E L IGHT I N 11 18 E Y E S
“ -
,

XXX I I SHADO WS
.
,

XX X I I I J E SS E S T R O U B L E S
’
.
,

X XX I V TH E C LO U D I NG OF TH E S ! Y
.
,

XXXV H A R VE S I I N G AGAIN
.
‘

XXX I V M A S T E R H U R S I GO E S
.
’ ‘

X XX VI I T I I E B LO W FA L LS
.
,

X XXV I ” HO W T H E BL EE W E NT
.
”
,

X XX I X TI N ! J I T L I NO
- ”
I
'

.
,

XL A HO M E C O M IN G
.
-
,

X L I T H E E ND
.
,
 CH A P T E R I .

M ASTER HU RST .

’
D O N T th in k yo u l l l i ve ve r y long Mas t e r ’

”
H urst ; do yo u ?
n ei th er my d ea r
’
I don t th in k SO , .

T he r e was a lon g pa us e .

I don t kno w what ’

I ll
’
d o wh en yo u go Mas t e r,

H u rst T
’
h ey l l t ake yo u away a nd pu t yo u i n a

b u ry hol e a nd then G od ll take yo u u p t o H e a

-
,
ven ’

—if yo u r e a
g ood m m z Mast er H u r s t A re yo u a
’

, .

good m an d ear M aster H u r st ?

,

“ ’
I bea n t a good m an m y d ea r ; not I I d on e , .

a m any bad th i ngs i n m y d ay I have B ut th e , .

’
L ord s wery ki nd m y d ear tha t H e is The, , .

’
wicked U n h e co m es a wa nt i ng o f m e a nd a
,
-

t el l ing o f m e t o fo l low h im B ut NO no says I ; .

, , ,

’
I bea n t a go ing to fol ler you says I And th en I
-
, .

prays I d oes 0 yes I p rays m y d ea r

, . B u t the , ,
.

ba d U n h e s a Sh a rp u n ; h e l l co m e aga i n tem pt
’

,
’ ’ ’

away p u t a though t i n 0 h is o wn
’
un ,
L oo k ’
.
‘

at the cabbages s ays h e L ook o u t fo r yo u r ‘

 2 M A S T E R H U RS T .

’
! he
’
m issu s s ays . An yth i n g as ll tak e m e away
fro m s u m m u t g ood, yo u s ee . A n d M ast er H u r st ,

m oving h is swo l le n foo t a n d l eg wi th both h and s ,

a nd fix i ng h i s eyes u p o n i t wen t ,
on sh ak i ng h i s
h ead ,
a n d m u tteri ng O yes h e
,
“
0 yes , he do ! ,

”
d o m y d ea r ! wh i l e th e ch i ld besid e h i m l isten ed
,

wi th Op e n eyes a nd b oth h a nd s r o l l e d i n h e r
,

p in a fore b eh i n d h er b ack .

I t i s a cottage ga r d e n i n wh ich th ey a r e s t a n d
i n g Th e vi l lage i s th i n a n d st raggl i ng o n ei th e r
.
,

sid e a b r oad h i gh r o ad Abo u t i ts bea u ty peopl e

'

m ust j udge fo r th em selves . A c r own of s wayi n g

p opl a rs ,
s ee n fo r m a ny a m i l e r o u n d ,
m a rk ou t

t h e v i llage fro m i ts n eigh bo u rs : there i s a s l igh t

u n d u la ti o n (to th e l eft as yo u e n ter ) u po n wh i ch ,

sta nd s th e vi l lage ch u rch A l i ttl e t o th e l eft o f .

th at b u t cl os er to t h e r oad
, , y ou m ay see a th atch ed
a nd gab l ed h ou s e a l i tt l e l a rge r tha n th ose a r o u n d
,

it . I t i s e n cl osed i n i ts o wn ga r d en by a h edge of

p rivet a n d a wi cket ga te -
.

Th e cottage a n d ga rd e n ,
wh ich h ave b een th e
p ro pe rty O f M as te r H u rs t a nd h i s fath er fo r a
h u n d re d yea rs a n d m o re ,
a re j u s t Oppos ite th i s
l a rge r h o u se . Th e l ittl e w ick et ga te i s sta n d in g -

of M as t e r H urst s visi to r has

’

Op en ,
and ou t it
co m e .
 M ASTER H URST .
3

S h e is wel l u sed t o th e Sh ort cr ossi ng o n the

d u sty roa d th i s q u iet l i t t l e m a id en o f five s u m m ers
,
.

C ol d a n d we t shower o r s u n sh e t ri ps i t light ly
, ,

t o a n d fro ca rryi ng s u n sh i n e l eavi ng s un sh i n e b e

, , ,

the weathe r wh a t i t wi l l .

M is tress H u rs t goes o u t t o d o o d d j o b s fo r th e
n eighbou rs To u se h er o wn wo rds sh e
. a rns a ,
“ ’

”
l ivin s bes t S h e m ay S h e is a l ays s t raigh t f o r
.
“ ’

” ”
wa rd ,
and d oes h e r d u ty
“
an d p eo pl e h as a
,

“
k i n d 0 re s p e ck f o r h er yo u s e e which s h e do n t
’

, ,
’

d en y .

S h e is a goo d d ea l yo unger th a n h er h usband ,

th ough fu l l fi fty n o w ; b u t wh a t Opp resses h e r

m o re tha n th e d ispa ri ty i n yea rs i s th e d i fferen c e
betwee n h e r own a n d h e r h us ban d s m ora l a n d
’

r el igio u s s tat us .

”
“
A l ays d oi ng h e r d uty — l et t in g c ert ai n Ol d
’

d ebts o f poo r n eigh bo u rs s t a n d ove r — bein g

s tra igh t fo r wa r d arn i ng h e r l ivi n
-
’
r e ad i ng a ’

ch a pte r eve ry d ay— n o wo nd er M ist r ess H urs t n o t

o nl y fi l ls th e h earts o f h e r n eighbo u rs wi th respec t ,

b u t h e r o wn wi th a l arge a l lowa nce o f s el f—a pp ro

b at io n a n d estee m .

O nl y S h e shou l d h id e i t m o re graceful l y fro m

h e r weak e r pa r t n e r .

’
“
I a i n t a go i ng t o d eceive you n o r n o o n e my
-
, ,
4 M A ST ER H UR ST .

wh e n th e c h i ld vis i t o r p l i es
!

d ea r ,
sh e says ,
-
h er
aga i n wi th th e o ft— rep eat ed q ues ti o n wh ethe r M aste r
H u rs t i s a goo d Th ere s M ast e r H u rst
’
man .
,

h e is — he d o n e a m any wron g th ings i n ’

s day h e
,

’ ’
has — he s d i sp l eas ed th A l m o ight y m a ny t i m es ,

!
he h as

B u t Go d ’
ll fo rgive h i m wo n t H e ,
’

,
M rs . H u rs t p

W e l l the re — yo u k n ow I m s u r e
’ ’

,
see I d o an t , ,

my cl ea r as how a bou t th at — he
’
s done a

m a ny
“
B u t G od ’
ll fo rgive M aste r H u rs t , i f h e asks
H i m wo n t H e
’
?
,

“
0 ye s , m y d ea r .

Wel l th en h e, , s /z oz z /o
’
ask Him ,
s ai d t h e c h i l d
e m phat i cal l y a s ,
she h u rri ed a way .

A n d M ast er H u rs t sh ook h i s o ld h ead w i th a ,

smi le on h is m o u th a n d a t ea r i n h is eye ,
at
t h e wo nd e rfu l sayi ngs O f h is ch i ld t each e r -
.

Th is ch i ld teach e r i s l i ttl e M i st ress J ud it h

-

I n grey aged fi ve yea rs A n d sh e i s th e Pa rso n s

, .
’

o n l y ch i ld S h e h as los t h er m oth e r l on g ago

.
,

b e fo re s h e h ad eve n O pen ed thos e l a rge b l u e eyes ,

t u rn e d n o w s o cu ri o u sl y o n h e r wh it e h aire d sch ol a r .

”
S h e i s growi n g u p a nyh ow a s i t we r e wi th ou t , ,

t each i ng o r t ra i n ing H al f h e r d ays sh e spen d s a t .

O ld H u rst s c o tt age h al f h e r d ays sh e sl eeps s n ugly

’

,
6 M A STE R H UR ST .

own e r gl a n c es s lyl y ove r h e r sh o u l d e r to se e h ow

fa r she m ay a n d d a r e
, .

Th e foot h as j u s t to uch ed th e sto n e below th e

wi n d ow a n d t h e l ittl e toes l i k e s o m a ny s ens i t ive
, ,

pl a nts ,
c u r l u p b eca us e th e t h atch h as to uch ed
th e m . A c r y o f t ri u m ph i s o n h e r l i ps wh en
(M ast e r H u rs t is p r epared fo r i t b u t w e a r e n ot ) ,

a n oth e r c ry a n d n o t o f t ri u m ph — a s u dd en s n atch
, ,

a s ud de n d isapp earan ce O f c h i l d a n d n ight gown -

,

a s ud d e n bang of th e latt ice wi nd o w

-
.

I t i s a shor t sha r p c ry Of d isa ppo i n t m en t tha t

we h ea r . We a ll k now t h e cry or t h e fat e t ha t
p ro m pts i t .

Wo u l d t o G od we a l l k n ew th e sweet d eep
sl eep th a t h u sh ed th at c r y u po n th e po u t i ng l ips of

M ist r es s J u d i th I ngrey !

M orn i ng a fter m o r n i ng ,
i n th e qu i et vi l lage of

H asl i ngto n b r ok e u p o n th e r osy face o f th e l i ttl e

,

gi rl la i d
,
on i ts s n ow wh i t e pi l l ow
-
. Mo rn i ng a ft er
m o r n in g r u bb i n g h e r S l eepy bl u e eyes with h er fi sts
, ,

s he t u rn ed h a l f a w a ke h al f d rea m i ng t o th e o l d
,
- -
,

s erva n t R u th wh o stoo d bes i d e h e r a nd ask ed

, ,

“ ”
I s M aste r H u rs t co m e o u t R uth ? ,

E h ! eh ! wh a t h as t to d o wi th M aste r H u rst fo r eve r

“

”
a n d a d ay ? C o m e a n d s e e fo r t h s e l f a t e wi nd o w
’ ’
.
 MA STER H URST .
7

An d th en sh e was ca rri ed t o th e b r oad wi nd ow

s ea t wh ere l ean in g
, ,
ou t u po n h er d i m p led ha nds ,

Sh e cri ed sh ri lly
“
G oo d m o rn i n g d ea r M as t e r H ur s t ?
,
IS th e
”
m ust a r d co m e u p ye t ?
”
“
N O n o m ist r ess
, , .

”
Is th e be es m a ki ng h o n ey ye t ?

Ay , th is ho u r p ast . I f Ru th ’
11 l et th e e co m e
o ve r
Ru th ’
11 n ot l et h e r— n o t th is h a l f h o u r . An d
th e s to u t co u n t ry wo m a n scrubbe d th e s po nge r o u n d
’
th e ch i l d s face ,
cl os i ng u p th e bl u e eyes ,
and
twi tch ed on th e cl othes th a t l ay i n a h ea p bes id e
h er wi th m o re
, z ea l a n d h a rd i hood t ha n h er p ro
m ise of n ot l ett i ng h e r go fo r hal f a n ho u r s ee m ed
t o r e n d e r n ecessa ry .

M eant i m e Master H u rs t wo ul d t otte r to a n d fro ,

“ ”
t il l h is m iss us h ad p repa red h is b rea k fast .

J u st as th ey we r e s eat ed a gen t l e r ap tap wo u l d -

com e a t th e do o r .

“ ’
Pl eas e Ope n th e d oo r ! it s M i stress J u d ith !
”
B less h e r so u l S O I wil l ! A n d wh i l e M ast e r
,

’
H u rst s face b rok e o u t i nto a t e nd er s m i l e o f wel
co m e his wi fe wou l d bu stl e t o th e rickety d oor
, ,

a nd sh o w i n th e d a i nty vis i to r .

S h e s a yo u n g co m pa n io n fo r you frien d sa i d
’
, ,
8 MASTER HU RST .

Pa r so n I ng r ey one d ay ,
s m i l i ng gravel y , as hr
p ee r e d i n to th e l i n es of a fa d ed s a m p l e r fr a m e e ,

a n d h u ng ove r th e m a n tel sh el f -
.

R hod a C o l l is , h e r wo rk ,
J une 1 8 4 9, h e r ead
“
ou t m u s i ngl y . A n d wh o i s tha t H u rst , ?
’
T h e Ol d m an s l i p qu ivered ,
a n d h e raised h is
eyes th at h a d so m eth i ng O f th e eagl e b u t a b l i n d
, ,

’
eagl e a b ou t th e m t o th e Pars o n s face
, , .

“
Her
’ ’
E e d o s tn t rem em b er m y d a rt er Pa rso n ? ,

a s B il l C ol l is m a rri ed a nd t o o ke d awa y t u yea rs

”
s i n ce ? a n d th e L o r d too k twelve m o n ths s i n ce ?

“
Ah ! ay ! I re m e m ber . S h e l eft a ch i ld d id n t ,
’

”
sh e ?
M is tr ess H u r st b ega n t o wh i m p e r ,
a n d Pa rso n
I ng r e y wh o ha d a n i n n a te d isl i k e to t ea r s h op ed
, ,

t o ch eck th e m by l ead i n g h er m i n d t o th e C h i l d
wh o h a d b een l eft beh i n d wh en th e m oth er wen t
t hat way so m a ny m oth e r s t ravel ,
wh en l i fe h as
us t s ee m ed t o op en u t f o r th e m i t s sweet est a n d
j o

i ts b es t .

Yes ye s e e s ir i t we r e th e L o rd s wi l l ; bu t i t ’

, , ,

cam e ve ry h a r d ,
it did . A n d t h e goo d m arri age
S i r — S h e h ad a
’
tha t sh e m ad e ,
kie rp e t i n e r bed
”
roo m a n d a l l . M ist r ess H u rs t h a d a fresh access
O f weep i ng ; a n d th en d ryin g h er tea r s s ud d enl y sh e ,

co n ti n u ed ,
“
A nd t h e m any as ca m e to see h er
 MASTER HURS T
9

wh en sh e we r e a co r p ! Th e b ea u t i fu l c o r p sh e

m ad e wh e n sh e were l a id ou t, al l st raigh t a n d n i ce ,

ye s ee ; a nd b ea u ti fu l l i n en sh eets an d a ll . 0 d ea r !

i t were th e L o rd s wi l l ye s ee si r ’

, ,
.

T h e Parso n - h ad tu rn ed to th e O ld m a n .

H e k n e w best H u rs t eh ?”
, ,

’ ’ ’
Th at s wha t I m a l ays a -
tel l i ng of h im s i r ye, ,

’
s ee . I m s u re I reads t o h i m O f a even i ng a n d I ,

t e l ls h i m as ho w h e m ust rep en t a n d th e , co n s e

ke n ce s of s in , ye see— an d al l ,
ye see . B ut h e
d o an t
’
n eve r s ay n o t hin k, ye s ee . I n eve r s een h i m ,

th e r e ! I ain t ’
a- go i n g fo r to d ec eive yo u si r , ,

I n eve r see n h i m s ay s
’
p rayers n ot ,
I — he n eve r
s ay n o t h in k to m e H e says I ’
.
,
d o an t kn ow wha t
heow
’
h e th in ks ; b u t says I
, ,
S ir, I d o an t bel i eve as
”
a m a n ca n b e a C h risti a n a nd n ot d issolve on
’
t !
“ ”
But yo u p r ay , H u rs t ? sa id Parso n I ngrey ,

k i nd l y .

“ ”
A y, sir ,
ay l s i n c e m any a ye ar !
 C HAPTER I I .

P A R S O N I N G RE Y W A L ! S A B R O AD .

H E t h ough t t h a t h ad cr ossed Pa rso n

’
I n gre y s

b ra i n a s h e stood at M as t e r H u rs t s fi r es id e
,
’

ca m e b ack t o h i m as h e t ook h is way th r o ugh th e

wicket gat e a n d th e h ed ge o f o n io ns go n e t o s eed
-
.

H e was a s t ud i o u s a bsen t m a n wi th i r o n g r ey
, ,
-

h a i r a nd a p ai r o f k ee n d a r k eyes th at h ad al l i d ea
o f sha r p n ess t aken fr o m th e m by t h e gent l e t end e r

h o n esty a n d goo d wi l l t o a l l m e n th a t l ay beh i n d

-
.

H i s books k ept h is m i n d l a r g e a n d h ea l thy i n th e

n arrow ci rc l e O f th a t p ri m it ive vi l lage wo r l d H is .

l i f e th e l ove Of h is l i ttl e d a ughte r a n d th e a ffect io n

, ,

o f h is pe op l e k ep t h is h ea rt la rge a n d wa rm t oo
,
.

A n d ye t h e was fa r fro m b ei ng a m od el pa ris h

p ri es t
. H e s e ld o m o r n eve r vis ited h is fl ock If .

th ey s en t fo r h i m h e c los ed h i s book fo rthwi th

, ,

t ook u p h i s h a t a n d stick an d fi rs t l o o kih g ro u n d

, ,

t h e ga rd e n t o s ee th at J u d i th was th ere a n d s a fe , ,

h e wal ked O ff th i nk i ng al l th e way o f th e C ice r o

,
 PARSON I NGR EY WA LK S A B R O AD . I I

or th e H o ra c e h e h ad l e ft a n d a rrived cal m an d ,

k i nd an d d ist racted a t h is d esti n atio n .

A of
“
vaca n t Ah ! wa s gen eral ly th e fi rst S ign
co nsciousn ess . Th en ca m e th e n ecessa ry ex pla n a
ti o n fro m th e wi fe sist er h u s b an d as to wh o
'

or or

th e i nva l id was wh e r e h e , o r sh e h a d wo rked how ,

he or she h a d fa ll en i l l wh en Parso n h ad l ast s een

,

hi m or her and , so fo rth .

_
“
H e r as yo u s ee d las t m o nth ’

,
Pa rson , i f ye
p leas e s i r whe n ye was k i n d en ow
, , to prom ise a
”
d rop of bra ndy .

“ “
Ah ! —
l ong a nd sl ow . An d you l iked th e
”
brand y m y good fri end
, ? l ayi ng h i s h an d o n th e
s i ck wom a n s sh o u ld e r
’
.

“
P l eas e Pa rso n b eg you r pard on I m s u r e
, , ,
’

,
s ir ;

”
he ow m e m ry,
’
b ut I th in k as i t passed you r s ir .

Ah ! d ea r m e — i nd eed . Well ,
sen d fo r i t t o
m o rrow — a nd a nd — sen d th e n a m e too—
’

,
I have n t
got a good m em ory .

S h e s be e n s ewi ng a n d s ich like f o r M ist r ess

’

”
B ul le n con t i n u ed th e S i ster O f th e i nval id wi th
, ,

as m uch m i n u ten ess a n d ga rrul ity as i f i t d i d n o t

al l go th ro ugh o n e ea r (a n d th e Pa rso n s were big ’

o nes) a n d ou t o f th e othe r An d oh ! says sh e “ ‘ ’

.
,

I has s ich a pai n righ t across h ere i t d o s ee m to lay , ,

”
says sh e j u st righ t across b ore
,
‘
a n d th e speak e r ,
12 P A R S O l‘T . I N G RE Y

“
s u i t ed t h e a ct i o n t o th e wo rd . A nd says I , , It s ’

r h eu m ati z m y d ea r s ays I NO s ays s h e i t

’ ‘ ’ ‘
.
, , , ,

”
a i n t — it a i n t a righ t s o rt o f rh e u m at i z n o h o w l
’ ’ ’

H ere th e i nval id b r ok e i n chee ri ng u p a t t h e ,

s tory o f h er w oes .

“
I t a i n t rh eu m ati z I k n ows b eca u s e t h a t as
’ ’

, ,

s we ll ing — it s rh eu m a tics
’ ’
th at s wh a t i t i s ,
.

“
S ee n th e D o ctor eh ? wh ich by th e way was a
,

qu ery tha t m ad e u p th e greate r part o f th e Pa r

’
so n s co m fort a n d co nve rsat io n a t s uch t i m es .

”
“
0 yes S i r ! i n a to n e O f gent l e reproach fu l
,

d espa i r f o r i t was t he s i xth t i m e O f aski ng

,
.

D octo r h e says h e h opes i t wo n t b e as h eo w

’

, ,

i t wa s t u m on th s ago h e sa ys beca use th at was , ,

o rf zz l h e s ays
,
H e g ive h er so m e m ed ici n e h e d id
.
, ,

as se t he r u p a b i t A nd says h e Y o u m us t .
, ,
‘

n o u ri sh al l yo u ken — h e s ays yo u m us t ta ke a l l ,
‘

yo u k e n git h e s ays ,
.

B u t h i nts fe l l sh o rt O f th ei r a i m a n d t he m os t
’

l ive ly d eta i l s we r e a l l i n va i n Pa rso n I ngrey was .

as d eaf t o h is pa ri shi o n e r s l on g sto ri es— as soo n a s ’

th e b r oa d facts o f h ea l th o r i l l h eal th r igh t o r -

,

wrong h ad be e n l a i d b efo re h i m as was M aste r

,

”
H u rst t o th e “
c o ns e ke n c e s Of s in as l a id d own t o
h i m by h is wi fe . I t was m an y weeks s i n ce th e
lo w d oo rway O f H u rs t s
’
slou ch h a t h ad to uch ed th e
I 4
. P ARSON I NGREY

Th e Pa rso n stood st i l l . H e l ook ed n o r th ,

he
l ooked s o u th h e l ooked ea st a n d wes t
,
L astl y h e .
,

l ooked a t th e ch u rch s teep l e I t was n o t s u gg e s .

t ive I t d id n o t h el p h i m Fo r a m o m en t h e wish ed
. .

h e h ad a good m em ory Th en h e m ad e us e O f su ch .

fac ul ti es as h e h a d — h is l egs — an d t u rn ed back t o

M aste r H u rst s cottag e
’
.

”
Ah ! h e sa id pa u si ng a n d t ryi n g t o r ecol l ec t
“
,

w h a t h e h a d cal l ed fo r A h k n o w T r o tt er “ ’
— ! —
yo u s
End ,
M rs . H u rs t ?
“
A y, si r ! M i s t r ess B ul l en s ’

, s ir, s l ici ng O ff sh red s

O f o n i o n s i n to a pa n
Tha t was j us t wh a t h e wa nted t o k no w . He
ha d fo rgotte n th e n a m e a n d was ash a m ed t o ask , .

Ah ! j us t so . A n d ca n yo u te l l m e— h as M rs .

”
B ul l e n an y fa m i ly ?

L o r S ir ! wh y yes t o b e s u re si r
“ ’

,
T wo fi n e ,
.

yo u ng l ads s ir A m os a s s i ngs i n th e cho i r s ir

, .
, , ,

’ ’ ’
a n d J ess e th e b igge r u n as s i ts by s m oth er 0
, ,

S u n d ay i n th e big p ew bu t a C h ristm as a nd s ich !

’

t i m e s h e m ostl y s i t
B u t th e o n ion s flo ppin g gi n gerl y o n e by one i n to
o nl y a ns we r
’

th e pa n was M rs . H u rst s . Pa rs o n
h is way to T rott er s E n d ’
I ngrey was on .

I t was ful ly h a l f a m i l e fro m one ext re m e of th e

vi l lage to th e othe r ,
a n d th e Pa r so n a n d M is tr ess
 WAL! S AB ROAD . I ;

B ul l en we re th e se nti n els a t ei th e r e n d . I t was a

l ong way fo r a m a n with a ba d m e m o ry t o keep
h is erra n d i n s a fe cu sto dy wi th i n i t a l l th e t i m e .

Bu t h e st uck to i t brav e ly a n d r a ng th e bel l co m

,

p o se d l
y
,
a nd as ked u n erri ng l y i f M ist ress B u l le n
were a t h o m e .

Th e m a id , wh o h ad n eve r b efo re bee n so cl os e

t o s o great a p e r so n age a s th e Pa rson t ook t o ,

h e r h e el s (wh ich by th e way we r e b l ush i ngl y

ex posed as s he fl o u n d e re d al ong for t h e spac e o f
, ,

t wo hal f c rown s above th e cru sh ed a n d

-
fla ppi ng
Shoe ) a n d r et u rn ing i n a m o m en t gaspi ng a n d fl u s
,

t e re d ,
m ot ion e d th e vis i to r t o a l i tt l e pa r l ou r ,

l ook i ng o u t i n to a fl owe r ga rd en -
.

B y th is t i m e al l H as l i ngto n k n e w th at t h e Pa rs o n
was ca l l i ng o n M istress B u l l en A l l H as l i ngto n .

stood a t i ts d oo r s talk in g a n d wo nd eri ng An d .

whe n h al f a n h o u r h ad passed a n d th e Pa r so n ha d
,

no t r e t u r n ed H as l i ngto n p ricked i ts ea rs an d
, ,

b ega n t o co nj ect u re as wel l as to wo nd e r

,
Th e .

P a rso n h ad no t b ee n s ee n at Trot t er s E n d wi th i n
’

th e m e m ory o f m a n .

I n th e m ea n ti m e th e grea t su n l p e d s lowly
i n to th e west O ve r th a t fiat C a m b ri d gesh i re
cou nt r y h is r isi ng a n d h i s fa l l h ave so m eth in g tha t
i s pe c u l ia r t o th e p l a c e : n oth i ng breaks up o n his
I O PARSON I NGREY

grea t d isk u nt i l a wei rd po l la r d s t a n d s o u t b l ack

,

a nd ga u n t u p o n th e gl ow a n d a s l uggish s t rea m ,

l yi ng a l ongs id e t h e p ol l a r d ca tch es th e go ld l igh t

u po n i ts l a z y boso m — a n d vi l lagers watch th e fi re
b al l t o u ch th e h o ri z o n d esce nd d escen d t i l l
, , , h al f is
go n e — t i l l al l b u t a gol d en ri m is g On e — t i l l o n l y th e
m essage sh o t u p i nto th e i l l u m i ned h eavens r em ai ns
eh i n d It is l ike a s u ns et a s u n ris e a t in
'

b . or se a

p art : o n ly t h at th e r e i s a n u n b rok en cal m n ess h ere ,

tha t wh i te cr es ted -
,
da n ci n g ,
r estl ess waves ,
and
t wi nk l i ng sh i m m eri n g p ath s O f l igh t fo rb i d on tha t
o cea n of wh ich J ere m iah s ays tha t i t hath s o rro w ,

and so ca n n o t r es t .

Th e re was a bridge l ead in g to M i st r ess B u l l e n s ’

fa rm ove r j u s t s uch a sl uggis h wavel ess st rea m a s

,

th e su n l oves t o l ook i nto . Th e b rid ge a rched a n d , ,

cove red with ivy th a t t ra i l ed fro m i t a n d d ipped

,

d own t o th e wat er h e re a n d th ere i n grea t tangl e d

wreaths ,
l ead s on t o a cosy Ol d fash io n ed fa rm -
,

i vy cove red l i ke t h e b ridge bu t u n li k e th e bridge

-
, ,

d ecked ou t wi th t u m b led t ea ros es -

,
h a ngi ng th ei r
h ead s u n d e r th e weight Of th ei r o wn bea u ty ,
and
’
t rave l le rs j oy ,
th a t h a d c rept a lo ng t h e b ridge
wi th i n r each o f th e m ist ress s ha n ds wh o h ad ’

c a ugh t i t a n d k ep t i t a nd n a i l ed i t u p the s u nn y
, ,

wal l , whe r e J ess e a nd Am os ,

or th ei r cl oth es h ad ,
 WAL ! S A BROAD .
17

thei r sh a r e i n hold i ng th e m : fo r th e r e su re eno ugh

were s n i ps of A m os s S u n d ay best fi x in g u p a b ud
’

that was o pe n i ng i ts d eep ap ri co t gl ori es t o th e su n

!

“ ”
l i ke a gi rl a t h e r fi rs t pa r ty , co m i ng ou t whe n she
‘
'

o u gh t to be go i ng t o bed .

At a ny r a te th e su n th o ugh t s o, fo r j us t as th e
Parso n a nd M rs B u l l e n s tood l ooki ng a t i t wh e n
.
,

th e vis i t was ove r d ay d i ed a nd gave no t a no th er

, ,

twink l e of en co u ragem en t to th e d eb u t an t e .

M istress B u l l e n h ad fol lo wed t h e Pa rso n t o th e

gate a cross th e b rid ge . Th ere was a swa n sai l i ng
placi d ly a lo ng a m ong th e weeds fro m wh ich th e
gli n ts O f s u nl igh t were Sh i ft i ng a n d wa n i n g .

“
Yo u r l i ttl e d a
ugh t er wo u l d l i k e to feed th e ‘

swan ,
s ir, sa i d M istress B u l l en i n a vo ice that
b etray e d th e m o th e r .

“
Ah ! sh e wo u ld Tha n k Th en yo u l l ’
so .
yo u .

s en d d own th e boy to see me to -

m o rro w M rs , .

”
B ul l e n — a bo ut t welve a n d ,
th e Pa r so n h es i tated
— “
j us t t el l h i m to m e n t i o n h i s n a m e an d — a n d ,

what h e ca m e fo r . I h ave n o t a very good m e m o r y ,

u nfo rt u nat ely .

A nd t h e n th ey shook h a nd s ac ross th e l i ttl e gate ,

a nd M ist r ess B u l l e n wen t b a c k s lo wly a long th e

“

grave l wal k th i n ki ng ,
.
 C HAPTER III .

M I S T RE S S J UD I T H IS NO T M O ULD ED .

”
E L L l i ttl e m a n a n d wh o a re
, yo u ? was
’
t he Pa r so n s i n qu i ry as at twe lve O clock
’

p rec is e l y a r a p ca m e a t h is st u d y d oo r a n d Ru th ,

ush e r ed i n a wel l gro o m ed good l ook i ng

- -
b o y, wh o

s too d ca p i n h a n d b efo re h is h ost .

L ove i t i s sa id t ea ch es d ecei t even t o i n n ocen ce

, ,
.

S O d oes a b ad m e m o ry M r I n grey ro us ed s u d
. .
,

d e n l y i n th e m i dd l e o f P l ato s R ep ubl i c co u l d n o t ,

fo r th e l ife of h i m recol l ect to wh at eve n t h e owed

th i s u n l ook ed fo r i n trusi o n -
. B u t h e was s hy as wel l
as simple ,
a n d wh en J ess e B u l l en ,
m istak i ng h i s
” ”
fo r h o w, Qu i te wel l th a n k
“ “ “
wh o rej o i n ed , yo u ,
”
s ir, a n d s tood wa iti ng fo r fu rth er o rd ers or Observa
t i o ns th e P arso n sh u ffl ed m ea n l y
,
ou t of th e d i lem m a ,

s ayin g S i t d o wn s it d own m y l i tt l e m an I sh a l l
,
“
, , ,

’
b e w i th yo u i n o n e m o m e n t .

”
R u th ! sa i d h e a s s oo n as c a r eful ly
,

c l os ed s tu dy t el l who t h at
”
is ?
 M I S T R E S S J UD I T H I S NO T M OU LD ED . 19

Maste r B ul l en s boy— h i m as i s d ead ’

.

”
fl oo d— eh ? d ead ? i n a ton e O f i nc r eas ed
perp lex i t y ,
but l ight b r eaki ng i n th r o ugh th e
chi nks .

H im a s d i ed five yea rs si n c e — th a t s ’ ’
is b o y
. .

”
Ah ! sa id th e Pa rs o n l i fti ng u p h i s eye b rows ,
-

sagacious ly ; a nd ,
b low in g h is n os e t o l ook as if ~

h e ha d gon e for a ha nd ke r ch ie f h e r et u r n ed t o th e
,

s tudy .

’
H as l in gt on s ea r s p ri cked th em selves yet h ighe r
wh en a n h o u r wen t by a n d M istress B ul le n s lad
’

was st i l l u nd o ubted ly sh u t u p with th e Pa rson .

B ut o n ly th e fem i n i n e ea rs were at l iberty a n d n o t ,

all of M om ,
a t m id d ay -
. An d by eve n ing a l itt le of

th e m arve l h a d spen t i tsel f a m on g th e wom en .

A n d wh e n d ay a fte r d ay J ess e B ul len — always

J ess e — walked wi th h ead e rect fro m Tro tter s E n d ’

to th e Recto ry , H as l i ngto n beca m e used to the

pheno me no n . Fo r very soo n fact ha d pu t i ts fi nge r
on cu riosity ; i t had beco m e k nown that Parso n was
“ ’ ” “ ’
l arn in J ess e B ull en was a go i n to m ak e a ,
-

”
s c h o l ard o n him A nd a fter that l arn in a nd scho
’
.
,

l ard sh ip bei ng u n fa m il ia r th i ngs i n H asl i ngton th e ,

su bj ect was m o re o r l ess d ropped o u t O f th e vi l lage

gossi p And m aste r a n d p upi l with u n fa i l ing regu
.

l arit y m et a nd s tud ied i n the dark b egri m ed roo m

ao M I STR E S S J U D I T H

i nto wh i ch Ru th s ’
b r oo m a n d d u s t pa n we r e -
n ot

su ffe re d t o e n te r .

SO th i ngs wen t on fo r fu l ly a m o n th ,
wh e n one

m o rn ing a s h e s tood b y h i s w i nd o w d el i berat el y

,

d ress i ng h i ms e l f th e Pa rson s bra i n r ece ived a flash

,
’

of m em ory . A l i ttl e s u n bon n et a n d a ch i ld i sh vo ic e

-

r eca l l ed h i m t o h i ms el f a n d h is d u t i es as a fa th e r .

J u d ith h ad h a rd ly fi n ish ed h e r b r eak fast ; r o l l

i n h a n d sh e was go i n g s ta id ly d own th e gard en ,

B ul ly t h e h o us e d og j us t a ro us ed fro m h i s Sl u m be r s
, , ,

fol lowi ng h e r s l owl y a s h e s l e ep i l y wagged his ta i l

,

a n d yawn e d Th e l i tt l e h a n d wen t u p to th e la tch

.

of th e gate o n ce twic e o n t i p —to e ,

A l l i n va i n , .
,

th e l atch was beyo n d h er reach a nd B u l l y s too d ,

b y l ook i ng a l l so rts o f th i ngs b u t d o i ng n oth i n g

, , .

Th e s u n bo n n et tu rn ed r o u nd agai n a n d t h e b l u e
-
,

eyes l ook ed wist fu l ly t o th e d oo r .

“ ”
Ru th ! cri ed t h e ch i ld .

N O o n e a nswered a n d th e cry wa s rep ea t ed , .

Ru th
A n d th e n a r ou gh vo ic e mad e r epl y
“
B othe r e e ch i ld a n d M as te r H u rst t oo — b id e
’

, ,
’

”
t i l l I co m e I t el l e e ,
’
.

”
H o w l on g wi l l yo u b e ? aske d th e ch i ld .

Ti l l I s wash ed u p e d ish es a nd s arve d M as t e r

’ ’

I ngrey .
 22 M I STRESS J UD IT H

took t h e D el e c t us fro m th e h a n d O f t h e b oy ,

i n to whose face th e col ou r h a d co m e s ud d enl y .

? ”
“
ass — i s th at th e word
'

A s z o u s— an

Yes ,
s ir, t h an k yo u ,
s ir— I was n ot s u r e wh eth e r
”
it wa s A s z i z zz s
'

“
We l l yo u r e a goo d l ad t o co m e a n d as k
,
’

” “
J ess e ,
s ai d th e Pa rso n ; h ave yo u h ad you r
break fast
N ot ye t ,
s ir .

An d h ow l o ng h ave yo u b ee n d o i ng yo u r
”
l esson eh , ?
“
Abo u t a n h o u r ,
I th i n k .

wel l ye t a nd th e Pa r so n
’
Goo d l ad ! yo u l l 00 ;
was m o r e p l eased th a n h e l i ked t o S how .

”
“
B u t stop ! s a i d h e as J ess e t u rn ed t o go
, . An d
th e n h e ca l l ed fo r J u d i th wh o was m u n ch ing h e r ,

’
ro l l a t M ast e r H u rs t s k n ee an d m a ki ng ,
h is c o rd u

r oys h e r b r eak fas t tab l e -

.

V ery l oth s h e ca m e Sl owly a n d shyl y b ack

, ,

B u l l y fol lowi n g .

” “
“
J esse s a i d th e Pa r so n
, ,
h ave yo u eve r p l ayed
with a l i ttl e gi rl ? ”

Th e b oy b l ush ed agai n a nd s a i d s ir— we

“
, ,
No ,

”
h as n o s iste r .

Rem e m be r th a
t
’
sh Iz o o o, fu rs
’
Sh ,
l not ,
l ad ! .

”
W i l l yo u try a nd p la y wi th th is on e s o m eti m es ?
 I s NO T M OULD ED . 23

O ye s s ir — a l i tt l e h es it ati ngl y a s i f t h e t as k
, , ,

were h eavie r th a n a ny i n th e D el ect us .

”
’

“
J ud i th wi l l yo u p l ay wi th th is b oy h e r e ?
,

B u t M is tr ess J ud i th s fa c e h ad d is app ea r ed l on g
’

ago b e twee n B u l ly s S i lky ea r s a nd o n e by o n e o n e

’

, ,

b y o n e sobs ca m e that shoo k th e l i ttl e cr o uch ed

,

figu re a n d b r o ugh t t h e Pa rso n t o h e r si d e

,
.

H e d i d n ot k n ow qu i t e h o w t o co m for t h e r o r ,

wha t h e r t ro ub le co u l d b e H e h ad n o t th a t .

“
ten d e r kn ack o f tyin g baby sho es th a t o u r grea t
p oetess sp eaks O f A n d a l as fo r th ee poo r M is
.
, ,

t r ess J ud ith ! Sh e wh o h a d h ad i t wa s s l eep in g

sou nd ly beyo n d th e gard en i n t h e qui et ga r d e n o f ,

t h e d ead .

”
“
Was R uth u nk i nd li tt l e o n e ? asked t h e
,

Pa rso n .

NO — no — no b etween th e s obs .

’
Wh at a re yo u c ryin g for J u d ith,
? don t be a
”
foo l ish girl . J ess e B u l le n wi l l n eve r p lay wi th yo u .

”
“
S e n d h im away ! s en d h i m away ! c ri ed th e
ch i l d th r ough h er sobs k ick ing th e l i ttl e foot b e
,

h i n d he r i n h e r p assio n o f d istres s a n d tem per .

A nd J ess e co lo u ri ng f o r th e th i rd t i m e th at d ay
, ,

opene d th e gate a nd wen t u p th e r oad wi tho u t

l ooki ng back .

”
“
J ud i th ! sa id t h e Parso n wh en h e had gon e ,
24 M I ST R ESS J UD IT H

tak i n g h e r b y t h e h a n d c o m e wi th m e W ha t
“
.

i s th i s fo r th is n o is e a nd c ryi ng— eh
,

”
O fath e r ! fath e r ! a nd sh e cl u n g abou t h i s
k n ees — “
I wa n t I wo n t t o go t o M as te r H urs t ! I
,

d on t wa n t tha t b o y ! I d on t wa n t t ha t b o y t o
’ ’

p l ay wi th m e ! I wa n t to go t o m y d ea r M aste r
”
H u rs t !
A n d wh a t wi l l yo u d o wh e n yo u M as t e r
“
get tc

H u rs t ?
S i t ! ve r y pl ai nt ivel y th e so b s c eas i n g an d
, ,
t he

t h u m b go i ng i n t o h e r m o u th .

”
“
I s tha t a l l ?
S e e th e bees .
’

”
I s tha t a l l ?
L ook u p th e ch i m l ey .

”
A n d wh a t d o yo u s e e t h e r e ?
”
B l ack th i ngs .

Th e Pa r s o n s igh ed Th e r e we r e m o r e th ings
.

h eave n a n d earth h e th ough t tha n we r e d rea m t o f

, ,

i n h is ph i l oso ph y .

”
S ho u l d yo u l ik e t o l ear n t o read J u d i th ? h e
“
,

as ke d p r es ent ly op en i ng th e gat e a t wh ich h i s

,

d a ugh t e r qu it e awa r e tha t she h ad wo n th e d ay

,

s tood wai t i ng .

“ ’
Wh e n I m big .

H o w big ? wi th a sigh .
 I S NO T M O U LD ED . 25

As ol d as M as t e r H u r s t . P l eas e l et m e go ,

”
fathe r ! A nd as h e cou l d no t res ist a l oo k th a t
cam e i n to h e r eyes wh en she pl ead e d wi th h i m so
a look tha t h ad wo n away h is h ea rt years ago ,

wh e n a noth e r a nd a sweete r wo m a n tha n Ru th

was b r o ugh t to r u le th e ho u s e — a l ook th at h e ha d
l ost sigh t O f t i l l i ts re fl ected l igh t sh o n e back o n
him ,
as if fr o m h eaven ,
in h is ch i l d — Parson
I ngrey l e t h e r pass u nh i nd e r ed .

An d so fa i l ed h is fir s t a tt em p t a t m o u ldi ng
M i s tr ess J u d i th .
 CH A P T E R IV .

’ ”
TH ERE S A BO Y .

0 i t was no wond e r t h a t wit h a go od con

L .
scie n c e t h e Pa rso n co n t i n u ed t o m o nopol i z e
J ess e B ul le n n o r t ha t wi th a r egu l a r ity m atch ed
,

o nl y by th at o f h e r fath e r a n d h is p upi l ove r t h ei r

s tu d i es M ist r ess J u d ith c o n t i n u ed h e r vis i t s t o
,

M aste r H u r s t .

H a d R u t h h a d m o r e t i m e a t h e r d ispos al t h e ,

ch i l d wo u l d ce rta i n l y have b een d r agged ou t by th e

wrist for wal ks h e r h an ds sh oved i n to thos e r o u n d
,

fin ge rl ess gl oves th a t a r e th e t o r m en t of a l l ch i l
d r en ,
and h er su n- bo n net t i ed to ch ok i ng ,
half
a d o z e n t i m es d u ri ng th e d ay . A s it was ,
Rut h
h a d th e h o use to keep i n o r d e r a fte r h er o wn
fash ion th e d i n ne r t o c oo k
, ,
th e s u rp l i ce to was h
—a th o usa n d oth e r i m po rta n t i t e ms ,
ove r wh ich
sh e grum bl e d a n d t o il ed a l l d ay . A n d M istress
J ud i th ,
d ress ed a nd wash ed a n d t u r ned i n to t h e
ga rd e n a fte r b r eak fas t was l eft ,
to a gl ori o u s i nd e
p e n d en ce t i l l m i d d ay wh e n
-
, sh e was c al l ed i n to
 ”
“
THERE S A ’
BO Y . 27

h ave h e r d i n ne r . Th e gl oves we r e se wn s t o u tl y t o
h e r s l eeves — sh e c ou ld n o t pa rt wi th t h e m ; but th e
l ittl e r o u n d fi n ge r s h ad n o soo n e r b een i m priso ned
tha n th ey extri cat ed
“
th e mse lves th e su n bo n n e t
‘

-
,

we n t back on h er n eck th e s il k h a nd kerch i ef tha t

,

fl oat ed o n M as te r H u r st s
’
m ad e h er Oh ,
! so hot ,

b est gooseberry bu sh . I t was a go l d en t i m e i f Sh e ,

cou ld b u t h ave k nown i t S h e wo u l d n eve r h ave .

s uch fre ed o m m i nd o r b od y agai n

, , .

A l l th e vil lagers m ad e acq ua i n tan c e wi th h e r

th e re d rawn t owa rds h e r an d h er Ol d co m pa n io n
,

as th ey kep t each oth er co m pa ny (an d su ch goo d

com pa ny th ey th o ugh t i t) o n th e wood en ben ch
fro m wh ich M aster H u rs t co u l d watch h is bees .

Th ey h a d a l l a p ri d e a n d a n i n t erest i n h er fro m ,

”
M istress Gad d who h ad s ee d h e r b arn ye kn ow “ ’

, ,

t o th e l i ttl e girls i n th e fi rs t cl ass o f th e S u nd ay

schoo l wh o h ad been a l lowed o nce i n a way o n e ,

o r t wo Of th e s tead y o n es t o hol d h er h a nd s wh e n ,

fi rst M is t ress J ud i th b ega n t o kick o u t a nd fi n d

h er fee t .

L yd i a G oats i n a bat tered o l d b rown h at

, ,

b rough t h e r d ish a n d p eel ed h e r potato es i n H u rst s ’

gard en M is t r ess Ch arter p l a it e d st ra w as sh e

.

l ean ed h e r el bows ove r th e gat e a n d goss iped .

Th e grea t l i l i es gre w th e pop pi es bl oo med an d,

28
“
THERE S A ’
BO Y .
”

t u m b l ed t h ei r p eta l s ove r t h e r ow of p eas ,

t he

patch Of thym e fed th e b ees ,

a n d s cen ted a l l th e
ga r d e n a n d th e b ees th em s elves wen t b oom i ng u p
,

a n d d own ,
poach i ng i n th e gard en s by ,
co m i n g
h o m e aga i n sto ri ng u p th ei r sw eets a nd wh i rl in g
, ,

r ou n d a nd r o u nd th e i r m as t e r a n d h i s l ittl e co m
p an io n on t h e ben ch u nd e r th e vi n e a n d th e j es
,

sa m i n e .

A n d a bove a l l th e swee t s c en t s a n d s o u nds l ik e ,

th e c l ea r r ipp l i ng of water i n a q u i et p lace r ang th e ,

fr esh ch i ld ish vo ic e of M i st ress J u d i th . An d wh e n

h e r l i ttl e b abbl e o f qu es ti o ns o r h e r fa l l i ng an d r is i ng
t on es o f r eply ceased M aste r H u rst s vo ice l ik e a
,
’

t r e m u l o u s m in o r fi ll ed th e pa us e A n d so t h e h o t
, .

su m m er d ays p assed ; a nd M ist ress J u d i th was sen t o ff

l at e r a n d tak e n h o m e earl ie r ; a n d th e f ew tr ees i n
H as l ingto n grew b l ack a nd d ens e wi th fo l iage a n d ,

th e corn ri pe n e d an d was c u t a n d th e a i r g r ew ch i l ly ;
,

a nd th e Pa r so n a n d J ess e h ad a fi re n o w t o s t u d y
by a n d J ess e wa l ked as fast as h e co u l d — fo r J ess e
,

n eve r r a n — fr o m T r ot t er s E n d to th e Recto r y an d
’

b ack a n d ch a nge d t he D el e c t us fr o m ha n d to h a n d
,

th at h e m igh t bl ow o n th e o the r An d s ti l l h e d i d
.

n ot pl ay wi th M is t res s J ud ith a nd s t i l l M is t ress

,

’ ”
J ud ith wen t t o M as t e r H u r st s : th ough sitti n g
”
a nd “
l ooki ng a t th e b ees was forbi d d e n b y th e
 “
THERE S A ’ ”
3o BO Y .

O n e even i ng th ey h a d s at s o fo r a l i tt l e ,
and
t h e n M i st r ess J ud i t h wi th t h e fasci na ti on th a t
-
‘

,
th e
s e r pen t h as f o r his cha rm e r o r th e d og fo r ,
th e
m as t e r wh o b ea t s h im h ad ru n t o th e wi n dow ,
a nd
s tood l ook i ng .

“
Th e r e s a boy ’

,
Sh e sa id m ed itat ingly a fte r a ,

S i l en ce . M aste r H u r s t d i d n ot h ea r .

“ ’
—m u
Th e r e s a boy c h lo u d e r .

M aste r H u r s t t u r n ed r o u nd a n d said ,

”
“
E h l i tt l e m iss us ?
,

T h e n e ws was repea t e d
“
Th e r e s a ’
b oy !

S o M ast e r H u rs t t o t tered t o th e wi nd o w a n d
l oo k ed ou t

” “
“
Wh o be i t ? said he ; I th i n k i t b e M i st r ess
’
B u l l e n s l ad .

”
“
NO sa i d J u d ith e m ph at i c al l y wi th a
’

,
it is n t , ,

“
l ittl e i nd ign at io n i n h e r t on e
’7

; for th i s boy evi

d e n tly p lease d h e r bett er th an J ess e .

”
“
B oy ,
boy ! sh e b egi n s ca l li n g sh ri ll y . An d
th e n sh e aske d M aster H u r st t o o pen th e d oo r .

A n d th ro ugh th e s n o w wh ich was ,

not very d eep ,

’
Sh e t r ott ed t i l l sh e r each ed h e r fa th e r s gat e , at
wh i ch a boy with a satch el was wa iti ng .

C om e i n sh e sa id catch i ng h i m by th e s l eeve
,

poo r b oy c o m e i n a nd see m y d ea r M aste r H urs t

 “
THERE S A ’
BO Y
”
.
31

An d sh e d r agged h i m a l ong ,
wh il e h e ca m e
S m il i ng a nd bl ush i ng a l i ttl e beh i n d h e r , .

AS soo n as h e h ad co m e i n sh e h ad noth ing

m o re t o s ay to hi mb u t
r eti r ed t o M aster H u rst s,
’

k n e e a n d stoo d s h yl y l ook i n g a t h e r h a u l
, .

“
S u rely yo u b e M ist ress B u l le n s yo un g ge n l e ’ ’

”
m a n ? i n qu i red H u rst .

“
Yes m aste r
, . I b e h e r s e c o nd son .

A n d wh a t s ’
yo u r name ,
if I m ay b e so

”
bol d ?
“
A mos , s a i d th e boy .

”
Arte r h is fath er ,
b l ess h i m ! i n t erposed M is
t r ess H u rst , wh o ca m e i n fr o m th e back roo m ,

wi p ing h er h ands a n d p u l l i ng d o wn h e r Sl eeves .

yo u l l be n i ce co m pa ny fo r th e l i ttl e
’
An d
m iss u s h ere . E h m y d ea r ? wi l l
, yo u p lay wi th th e
”
you ng g e n l e m an ?
’

M ist ress J u d i th s u ck ed he r th u m b .

“
Wi l l yo u look i n to m orre r n igh t -
,
m y d ea r
? ” “ ’
boy M rs H u rs t went o n ki nd l y
.
!
sh e s sh y i s ,

’
th e l i t tl e m iss us . D o an t b e asha m e d n ow m y ,

d ea r t o tal k t o th e n ice d ea r boy

,
! Th ere no w!
T o be s u re he ou
’
favo u r th e fa m i ly ! I co ul d
h ave t ol d yo u a nywh ere I co u ld , ,
to be M istress
’
B u l l e n s boy . If ‘

yo u
’
ll t el l yo u r m a m m a m y cl ea r , ,

as h eow I m ak e so b old as a x yo u i n t o - mo r re r,
 “
THERE S A ’
BO Y
”
32 .

t o m ee t th e l i ttl e I m s u re we l l b e p r o ud
’ ’
m iss us ,

”
t o s e e you m y d ea r ! ,

M i st r ess J u d ith sti ll s uck ed h e r th u mb a n d l ooked

u p shyly u nd e r h e r eyel i d s a t A m os B u ll en s face ’
.

A nd i t was a h ope fu l Sign i n d eed th at she d i d n ot

l ay h e r n eck bet wee n B ul ly s ea rs a n d sob ’
.

I ai n t s u re i f I ca n co m e t o
’ ’
P l eas e m a a m
, ,

’ ”
m o rrow . I d o an t go t o schoo l every d ay .

“
An d yo u ’
re a -
c om i n ’
from s choo l ,
eh ,
my
”
d ea r ?
Y es I was wa i t in g agi n P a r so n s ga te fo r m y
’
“
,

”
b roth e r J esse .

H e s g ittin g a s ch o l ard I h ea r s ai d M istress

“ ’

l arn in
“ ’ ’
H u rst Ai n t yo u go i ng t o gi t n o fro m th e
”
Pa rso n ,
my d ea r ?

‘
Pl eas e m a a m
,
’

,
I h ave n o l ea rn i ng— J ess e h e s ,
’

to b e a good sch ol a r so o n .

A n d why wo n t yo u b e a ’
s c h o l ard , m y d ea r ?
“

Pa rso n h e d i d n t a sk m e ’
s a id A m os ge n t ly
“

”
a n d I h ave n t t i m e t o go to s choo l regu l a r
’
.

“
Why n o t m y d ea r ? ”
,

”
M oth e r wa n ts m e .

And d o an t
’
m oth er l ik e yo u t o l a r n m y d ea r ? ,

M oth e r s ays I m n ot c l ever — sh e says I m u st’

j us t l ea r n to b e go o d . A nd A m os p layed wi th the
b u tt o ns on h is coat a n d lo ok ed d own .
 ”
“
TH ER E S A ’
BO Y .
33

An d wh e n yo u r e big yo u l l l ook a rt e r t h e fa r m
’ ’

?
”
m y d ear
Yes . I looks a fte r i t a l ittl e fo r m oth e r n ow .

”
An d what broth e r b e m y d ea r ?
’
ll ,
asked M is
tr ess H u rs t i n q u is it ively .

“ ’
H e says h e l l b e a gen tl em a n .

B oy— my d ea r lad ,
sa i d M aste r H u r s t j oi n i ng ,

f or th e fi r s t t i m e i n th e co nve r s at io n a nd sp eaki ng ,

ea r nest ly as h e l ea n ed fo rward h is d i m m ed eagl e ,

’
eyes looki ng i nto A mos face th e m as i s gentl e
in thei r ways fea r s God h on ou r s th e k i ng m i n d s
, , ,

t he i r bus i ness — th e m i s g e n l e m en And I p r ay ’

.

you l l b e O l at s ort m y d ea r— o t h at s o r t
’ ’

,
’
.

M istress J ud i th h ad co m e r o u n d th at kn ee o f
M aste r H u rst that wa s n ea r est h e r boy “
.

S h e h ad a fel low feel ing fo r o n e who h a d go t n o

-

l earn ing a n d was t o p lay wi th h orses a nd cows

,

a ll h i s l i fe i nstea d b ooks ; o n e who wo u ld wea r

of

n o gloves eat h i s d i n n e r a nyhow a nd h ave n o s i l k

, ,

h andke rc h ief t i ed r o u n d h is t h r oa t .
 CHAPTER V .

M I S T RE S S J UD I T H IS NO T S H AM ED .

'

AD tho ugh it be ,
t h e t r u th m u st ou t : at
_ e igh t yea rs o ld M ist r ess J ud i th sti l l s u cked
h e r th u m b .

A n d s ti l l sh e h ob -
n ob b ed Ol d -
f as h io n e dl y wi t h
M aste r H u rst ,
e at h e r b reak fas t on h er way th e r e i n
th e m o rn in g a n d h op ed
,
t ha t Ruth wo u l d S pi l l th e
k ettl e j ust be fo r e t ea t i m e O n t h e even i ng b efo r e
-
.

h e r n i nth b i r th d ay i n fact th e r e we r e n o sign s o f

, ,

h e r b eco m i n g a r at i on a l a n d co nven tion a l l i ttl e

gi rl — in Ru th s op i n i o n sh e was as o wd acio u s as
’ “

ive r.

B u t a u d acio u s a s u s ed by R u th d id n o t m ea n
“

b o iste ro us o r even d a ri ng I t i s d i f ficu l t to s ay

,
.

wh a t i t m ea n t u n l ess i t exp ressed th e convi ct io n

,

l o n g ago d rive n ho m e t o th e Pa rson t ha t M ist res s ,

J ud ith r equ i re d m o u l d i ng a n d wo u l d n o t s ubm i t ,

to th e p ro cess .

S h e was ge ntl e en o ugh b y n a tu re H eaven k n ew ,

-

P a rs o n I n grey s g r ea t d i ffic u l t y wa s th e ex tr em e
’
 M ISTRE SS J UD I TH I S NO T SHAM ED .
33

s e n s it iveness of h is d augh te r wh o wep t c op iou sly

,

i f h e h i nted a t being angry with h e r a n d gave way ,

t o a perfect passio n o f tea rs i f by a ny c ha nce a

’

ha r p o r h a r sh exp r ess io n escaped h i m .

I t was seld o m e no ugh fo r h e was a t en de r ,

h ea r t e d m an a n d hated tea rs especial ly th e t ea r s of

, ,

l itt l e J u d i th A n d then h e r s i ns were s o sm al l S O

.
,

f e w a n d fa r betwee n ! S O l i ke th e sl ug gish st r ea m s
,

o f C am bridgesh i re h e r l i ttl e l i fe flowed o n ti l l u n c o n

, ,

s c io u s l y o n th e eve o f h e r n i nth bi rthd ay s h e hersel f

, ,

cas t i n th e fi rs t p ebbl e th at wi th o thers fro m othe r ,

h ands was t o ch ange a l i t tl e t h e mo no tony Of th e

,

co u rs e .

”
Fa t he r ! s aid sh e c o m i n g t o h is k n ee as h e sa t
,

u nde r th e m ed la r t r ee i n h is gard en an d sh ovi ng th e ,

great boo k u n c erem o n io usl y o ff h i s l ap o n t o th e

grass whe r e i t l ay a l l th e
, ,
co rn ers
‘

t u rn e d i n a nd
,

B u l ly waggi ng h is t a i l a n d s n i f fing a t it Father !

t o m o rrow s m y bi rthday— ma y I d o j es t what I l ike

-
’

”
fathe r ? eh fath e r ? n udgi ng h i m o u t o f h is d ay
,

d rea m .

Pick u p m y bo ok J ud i t h b i rth day eh Ah S O

,
-
, ,

i t is —who tol d yo u
M is tress H u r s t — M ist r ess H u rs t a n d M ist ress
“

G add An d M istress Gad d s ee d m e bo r n fa t he r

.
’

, ,

”
s o sh e m u s t k now .
36 M ISTRESS JUD ITH

’
S oe a yo u m y d ea r d ea r
’
, ! J u d ith ,
ch il d l — is
that th e way yo u spea k n ow ? Wh at o ugh t yo u
to s ay ? co m e no w! M istress Gad d d i d what ?
Th e th u m b t o th e r esc u e ,
a nd th e grea t bl u e
eyes c lo u d ed . A fter a pa us e ,
i n wh ich sh e ra n
th r e e k nots i n to th e s tri n gs of h er su n - bon n e t ,

’
S aw d m e barn ,
very slowly a n d h es i tati ngly .

Th e Pa rson wri thed i n h i s s t r aw ch a i r -

. H e d id
n o t s pea k for a m o m en t : a n d M ist ress J ud i th s ’

h ea rt to ld h e r th e S i l en ce was o m i nou s . I n th e
m ea nti m e h e wal ked s lowly u p a n d d o wn th e
wa l k h i s s louch h a t a l i tt l e p ush ed back his h ead
, ,

a l i ttl e i ncl i n e d forwa r ds ,

and h is ha nd s beh i n d
him . J ud ith was k n ott ing h e r bon n et st r i ngs a n d ,

B u l ly stood cock i ng h is ea r s a t th e cr ea ki ng O f t h e
n o w e m pty st r aw ch a i r -
.

”
“
J ud ith ! sa i d th e Pa r s o n a t l eng t h g r avely
“ co m e with m e ” .

That gr a ve vo ic e was r a r e t hough M r I ngrey , .

n eve r spok e l igh t ly M i st ress J ud i th d r ead i ng

.
,

so m eth i n g a nd n o t k nowi ng wh at feel i ng gu i lty ,

a n d n ot k n owing wh y fo l lowed S lowly t h u m b i n

.

, ,
‘

m ou th a n d d i d n ot O ffe r to s l i p h e r h a n d i nto h e r
,

fath e r s ’
.

Th ey we n t s i l en t ly a d own c as t p r ocession , ,

t h r ough t h e ga r d e n ; th e P a r so n i n fr o n t J ud ith ,
38 M I ST R E S S J U D I T H

tha t al read y Sh o wed s igns of t i m e a n d r o ugh u sage

fro m t h e weath e r .

J u d i th m ad e n o answe r .

Tha t is you r m oth er s grave “

I wi l l
’

,
s ai d h e .

n ot read i t t o yo u . Till yo u ca n rea d i t fo r yo u rs el f

yo u h a d b est l eave i t al on e . At n i n e yea rs ol d sh e

kn ew as m u ch as I k now no w ; a n d at n i n e yea rs
Ol d h e r da ughter ca n no t rea d th e wo r d s u po n h e r
”
grave sto n e
-
. H e re h e t u rn ed away . J u d ith ,
I
give yo u to d ay t o ch oos e th ree m ethod s O f m ak ing
-

u p fo r th e t i m e th at yo u have l os t . L isten to m e ;
”
h ere is you r cho i c e .

M i st ress J ud i th s h ea rt was i n h e r m ou th
’

,
an d
l
‘

er b r east h eaved .

“
Yo u ca n d o v ou r l esson s with m e every m o rn in g
wh i l e J es se B u l l e n i s h ere yo u c a n go to th e vi l lage
school o r, yo u ca n h ave a govern ess at h o m e . Tel l
m e to m o rr ow m orn i ng wh i ch yo u h ave
-
C h osen . I n

the m ea nt i m e yo u wi l l co m e with m e t o th e vi l lage

school wh e r e th e vi l lage schola rs wi l l Sh am e yo u
,

”
i n to a d es i r e t o l ea rn .

Poo r M is tress J u d ith ! N eve r i n al l h e r l ong l i fe

of e igh t yea rs h ad Sh e fel t so d owncast a n d c res t
fa l len . To b e sha m ed by th e vi llage ch i ld re n — by all
t h e l itt l e Gadd s a n d Wh i tbys a n d M ul berrys — it was
t oo h a rd , t o o h u m i l ia t i ng . B u t u n d e r n e a t h t h e sha m e
 I S NOT SHAM ED .
39

anoth e rfeel i ng was com i ng to b i r th : fast as Sh e

plo ughed along through th e ra nk grass Of the chu rch
ya r d a fte r She
h er fath er was th e feeling ripen i ng .

was not bei ng fai rly t reated — th i s was not j ust

s h e ha d not b een t augh t as th es e vi llage ch i ld ren

h ad — no o n e h ad ever spok en seri ously o f lea r n

in g to h e r b efo re N o w o n a sudd en h er ign o

.
, ,
'

r anc e was c ast i n h er teeth an d s he fel t t hat she

-
,

was n ot whol ly t o blam e .

I t d id n ot tak e word s o r fo r m th is fi rst rebel lio n ,

against th e su perio r j udgm ent o f h e r fath e r I t was .

a vague rankl ing a restl ess p rotest aga i ns t i nj ustice

,

r athe r than r ebel l io n agai ns t h i m . Th e feel i ng was

s po ntaneous n atu ral a nd
, ,
so t ru e : n o on e had spoken
t o M i stress J ud ith Of j ustice o r i nj usti ce ; b u t o u t O f
h e r u ntrai n ed l itt l e wom anhood o u t of h er u nguid ed ,

h u man i ty bu rst,
ou t th e l i ttl e flam e of i n d ignat ion a t
wrong d on e .

S i lently brood ing sh e fol lowed h er fathe r a nd

, ,

t h ey en tere d th e school h o us e d oo r -
.

There was a bu z z o f movem en t a nd a sc raping ,

”
Of form s a nd a H ish ! s i lence ! Sl ates d own ! fro m
,

M r C ocks school m aster as th e Parson ente ed

.
, ,
r
.

Th e Parso n an d M r C ocks h ad not met fo r so m e

.

s ix weeks o r s o a n d M r Cocks was proportiona t el y

,
.

wa r m i n h is g r eeting t o t h e Pa rson .
40 M I STRE S S J UD IT H

Very gl a d t o see o
y ,u s ir — ,
h op e yo u
’
re wel l ,

—a n d ”
Si r ,
th e you n g l ady ,
s ir !
”
“
Ah ! s a i d th e Pa rso n abs en t l y S i t t i ng d own , on

a b en ch, p u t t in g
'

on h is gl ass es wh i c h h e o nl y u sed
,

on - ve r y r a r e occasi o ns a n d t ak i n g a Sl at e ,
ou t Of
one of th e ch i l d r en s h a nd s ’
. H e ha d fo rgo tt en to
’
s ay H OW d ye d o ?

”
Wh a t cl as s a r e yo u t ak i ng no w Mr
, . C oc k s ?
h e aske d ,
a fte r an u nb ro k e n s il en ce of some mo
m en ts .

“
A ri th m et i c at p r esen t ,
b u t wh a t yo u p l eas e
s ir ; ,

s ir . A n d h e too k ou t his wa tc h “
W e h ave B i bl e
.

c l ass n ext S i r ,
.

“
Ah ! ve ry wel l ! B ib l e cl ass L e t m e h ea r wh a t .

t h ey c a n d o Wel l m y l i t tl e m a n a nd wh a t i s yo u r
.
, ,

”
name ?

L ittl e Ted dy M u n cey s ai d a squ eaky vo ice a n d , ,

l it tl e T ed d y M u ncey s fo r elock a lways p end a n t wen t’

, ,
’

n ea r t o m ake a cqu a i n ta n ce wi th th e b ig boots h e h ad

b een p u t i n to t o co m e t o sch ool .

”
Yo u r ga r d e n er s boy s a id M r C o cks exp l ai n i ng
’

, .
, .

O h — a h l— a n d yo u m y m a n — wh a t s yo u r ,
’

nam e
A sh a r p fai r h a i r ed l ad t al le r th a n th e r est wh o
-
, ,

was l ea n i ng ove r a d es k wri t i ng lo oked u p t ugged , ,

h is h a i r a n d s a i d l a c o n i c a l ly
,
 I s NOT SHA MED .
41

M i l e b oy -
.

M i l e boy -
i n q u i r ed t h e Pa rs o n s u avely ,
. M il e
”
ooy, M r C o cks . ? Th ere h a d evi d en tly bee n t i m e
for so m e n ew o ffi c e t o b e m ad e a n d Offici a l app o i n ted
s iII c e t h e Parso n h ad l ast vi s ited th e school .

“
Th e boy a s ca r ri es th e m il es ,
”
s a i d M r C ocks .
,

agai n ex plai n i ng as b ri ngs th e m il es fro m C a m

”
br idge t o e re ’
.

Th e t ru th flas h ed u po n th e Pa rso n a t l e n gth .

— ”
Th e m a i l s ! Oh a h ! th e m a i l boy H e h ad l ived -
.

S O m u c h m ore wi th books th a n wi th vi l lage rs t ha t h e ,

h ad fo r go tt e n t h e o r th od o x p ro n u nc iat io n o f H as
l in g to n .

We ll ah ,
l— B ibl e cl ass M r C ocks ,
. what d o th ey
do no w
“
Col l ick fi rst S u nday i n Ad ven t— L o rd s Prayer
,
’

wi tho u t a m istak e — C reed , ,

a n d — a nyth i ng m ore ,

gi rl s ? ”
M r Co
cks t u r n ed po mp o us ly t o
. h is sch olars .

”
P l ease si r fi rst com ma n d m en t s i r
, , , .

A nd t hi s gi rl ,
s ir, s ays the fi rs t co m m a nd m en t
”
witho u t a m istake S i r , .

“
I n t h e v ulga r tongu e ,
sai d t h e Pa r son a bsentl y ,

feel i ng h e was quot in g fro m so m e one or some

wh ere .

“
O yes S ir i n th e vu lga r to ngu e s a id! M r
, , ,
.

C o cks wh o l ly i n noce n t o f an y othe r ; a nd a li ttle

,
42 M I STR ESS JUD I T H

sta rt l ed by t h e i d ea th at t h e Pa r so n s r u mo ur e d ’

e rud itio n was abo u t t o b e brough t t o bea r u po n

him .

“
Ah — give m e a B ibl e ,
sa id th e Pa rso n ; who
h ad a s ecret h orro r of bei ng co nfo u nd ed by th e p ro
ve rb ial acu ten ess of ch i ld ren a n d feel ing h e shou ld
,

b e sa f est i f h e co u ld co nfi n e h i ms el f t o q u estion s
th e answers to wh ich were u n d e r h is eye .

“ ”
Th e h isto ry O f D avid ,
sa i d th e P a rson .

”
Th e is to r y O f D avid c al led M r im
’
! . Cocks
e rio u s l y
p .

Al l th e c h i l d r e n s ta r ed Open m o uth ed a n d -
d id
n ot m ove .

Ah ! th ey h ave no B i bl es I se e — wel l ch i l d ren

, ,

”
and t o begi n w i th was D avid ?
wh o — —

D ead si l e nce At l engt h a l ittl e gi rl

. of eigh t
st r etch e d o u t a s k i n n y a r m i n t ok en th a t sh e was
p repa red t o a nswe r .

”
“
S p ea k u p th en ,
ch il d ! cr ied M r C o c ks . eu

c o u rag in g l y .

“ ’
Im a s d i ed l as t ’
arve st .

Th e Pa rso n l o oked b ew i ld e r ed : M is tr es s
up
J ud i th s ’
s ol em n gravi t y gave way a n d a s m i l e ,

bubbled ove r h e r po ut i n g m o uth B ut a l l th e .

c h i ld re n we r e g r ave a s S ol om o n — as g r ave as \

S ol om o n wo u ld h ave b een c o ul d h e h ave h eard

 '

I s NOT SH Am 43

t o us e a pa r ad ox — th e s il e n ce wh ich r eigned wh en
th e qu est i o n O f wh o h is fath er Wa s, was being p u t to

one h u nd red l ittl e d u n ces .

A tal l e r boy expla i n ed .

I s m oth e r sews ,
kive rs ch eers a n d s ofers a n d ,

s ich l i ke H e were ca l l ed D avi d P r att . It

’
s him
s he m ea
ns .

Pa rso n I ng r ey ,
a l it tl e staggered wen t ,
on ex
“
pl ai n ing wit h exe m pla ry fo rbeara nce . D avi d was
a She ph erd boy— he was a b rave boy — G o d chos e
h i m fo r a grea t o f fic e — wh at was th e O ffice Go d
”
chos e h i m for ?

NO o ne an swe r ed .

”
C o m e gi rl s ,
! co m e ,
b oys ! sa id Mr . C ocks ‘

”
sp eak u p wi l l yo u ,
?

Wh at o ffi ce is h eld h e r e i n th is cou nt r y by
th e Quee n ?
Th e “
m i l e boy -
,
wh ose wi ts we r e u n n at u ral ly
sh arp en e d by d a i ly i n terco u r se wi th th at grea t seat
Of l earn i ng C a mbridge was m aster
, ,
of th e o ccas ion .

Post -
o ffic e said h e j oyfu l ly .

’ ”
Mr sh, sh
“ ’
S h,
’
. C ocks cou gh ed u neasi ly . l

sa id h e d ep recat i ngly sh ak ing h is h ead ,

.

“ ”
If yo u p l ease ,
s ir, h e exp l a i n ed t o th e Pa rson ,

a con fu si o n h e h as m ad e wh a t with Qu ee n s
’ ’

it S ,

h eads on t h e l e tt e r s a n d a l l — ,
he
’
s th e m i l e b oy -
,
44 M I STRESS JUD ITH

”
yo u s e e, s ir
. A n d M r C ocks s t epped back s a t is
.

fie d to h is van tage g r o u n d a t th e e n d -
of th e r oo m ,

wh ere h e s tood wi el d ing a s l ate pen c i l as a s c ep tre -

,

a nd m a nagi ng h i s l ively s u bj ects wi th no a ppa r

en t d i fficu l ty .

Th is h el pe d Pa r so n I ng r ey a l i tt l e . By d i n t Of
d rivi ng a nd qu es tio n i ng a n d h el pi ng
, , o u t, a nd tel l
i n g th e ch i ld re n were b ro ugh t t o ack nowl edge a n d
,

”
t o grasp th e fact tha t M r C ocks was a ru l e r .
“
in
H asl i ngto n s c ho o l . Th e i n fe r enc e Was d ed u ced th a t
”
Qu ee n was i n E ngl a nd a nd tha t D avid
“
th e ru le r ,

”
was r ul e r i n I srae l
“
.

”
“
An d n o w sa i d th e Pa r so n th in k i ng h e had
, ,

m ad e great way a n d th a t J u d ith was yet t o b e

,

” “
“
sha m ed ,
I h ave told yo u h o w D avi d was
chose n as a sh eph e r d boy a nd a no i n ted with o il , ,

a nd s en t back to h i s fath er t i l l s uch t i m e a s G od ,

shou l d r e qu i r e h i m I s t h is th e u su a l way o f
.

m aki ng ki ngs
N O a nswe r .

“
C o m e sp ea k u p ch i ld r en ! G i r ls sp ea k u p ! I s
,
’

”
k i ngs m ad e s o n ow — a d ays ? -

Th ey u nd e r stood th is fo r m o f i n t e r rogat io n b e tt er ,

bu t s i lenc e s t il l p reva il ed .

Pa r so n I ngrey ra c ked his b rai n f o r a si m p l e m ea n s

o f ex t o r t i ng a r eply .
 C H A P T E R VI .

M I S T RE S S J UD I T H H AS NO BI R T H DAY .

T was a s o rr owfu l b i rt hd ay h o weve r t h i s ,

i th
n n

b i r th d ay— tho u gh M is tr es s J u d i th h a d n o t been

u tte rl y sh a m ed
“
.

Th e Pa r so n p oo r m an fo rgo t a b ou t i t al togeth er
, ,
.

H e h a d forgo t t en i t wh en h e t ol d h i s ch i l d
“
J ud ith I give yo u t o da y t o m ak e yo u r c h o ice
,
-
,

i m plyin g t ha t t o m o rr o w th e n ew cou r se o f st ud y
-

was t o b egi n o r a t l east t h a t a h ol i day a n d d o in g

,

”
“
j es t wh a t s h e l i ked was fa r r e m oved fr o m th e
g r asp O f M i st r ess J ud ith Ru th wh o had b een th e
.
,

con fid a nt e o f t h e l i ttl e gi rl s s ch em es — n oth ing l es s

’

i n n oce n t th a n t ea wi th M as te r H u rs t a n d Am os
B ul l e n fo r a p l aym a t e — l ook ed u p o n th e m wi th
,

d issat is fact i on a n d i t was pl a i n tha t s /z e wou l d n o t

,

i n a ny way en l iven th e Pa r son s m e m o r y

’

”
“
S e e t h b e a go dd ch il d sai d s he ro ugh l y
’

, ,

’
twi tch i n g M ist ress J u d ith s cloth es o n e by o n e o ff
t h e floo r an d t o ss i n g th e m o n to th e c hai r wh i l e th e ,

l it t l e g i r l wi th p i n k feet d a ngl ing ove r th e s i d e sat

, ,
 M I ST R E S S J UD I TH H AS NO B I RTHD AY .
47

on a n e r ec t io n Sh e h ad m ad e wi t h t h e b ol s t e r a n d
pi l low and s l owly p ushed h er a r m s i nt o th e sl eeves
,

O f h e r n igh t d r ess wh i ch owing to R u th

’
-
, , s fashio n
a
n
O f t oss i ng i nst ead of fol d i ng ,
were by th e way
al way s t ur n e d o uts id e i n S ee t h b e a good ch i l d
.
“ ’

— s a t h prayers — m o in d wh at a P a rso n says a n d

’ ’

y ,

w h at I says — n iver m o in d abou t b irthd ie s a n d su c h

l o ike — wh a t l l c c keer i n t u years h o w yer passed
’ ’

yer b irthd ie ? Ph il osophy wh ich s i l enc e d b u t d i d ,

n ot co m fort M i s tress J ud i th who s igh e d h e r l itt l e

, ,

s el f to s l eep wi th o u t a ttem pti ng furthe r a rgu m en ts ,

a nd d rea m ed th at s h e co u l d n ot re m e m b e r fa ther s
’

na m e a n d tha t fath e r was very a ngry

,
.

N ext d ay cam e a n d wi th i t n o b i r thd ay g r eet i ng

,

fr om th e Pa r so n . t i pto e wi th eyes rath e r

J ud i th on ,

d own c as t we n t to give h i m h is m o rn i ng kiss wh i l e h e

,

b reakfas ted H e h ad fo rgot ten a l l abo ut th e co urs e

.
“

o f stu dy
”
al l abou t th e bi rthd ay H e Was go ing O ff
,
.

t o Ca m b r idge i m m ed i atel y a n d l e ft h is d aughte r ,

d ol eful ly fi sh i ng wi th h e r fo r efi nge r i n h is t ea cup -

as h e d r ove awa y .

B ut al l d ay th e h eavy gri eva n ce — th is s ad n egl ect

O f th e d ay o n wh ich sh e h ad h i th erto been a l l owed to

“ ”—
d o j est wh at sh e l i ked l ay at th e h eart O f M istress
J u di th A mos B u l len whose m ot h er s m od esty p re
.
,
’

ve n t ed h is c o m i ng co ns t a n t ly as h e sho u ld h ave ,
48 M I ST R E S S JUD ITH

l i ked , to am u s e M is t ress J u d ith l ook ed ove r th e ,

h edge t h is d ay ,
h avi n g p e r m issi o n
i n trud e i f to ,

Pa rso n a l l owed i t a n d th e yo u ng m is t r ess was wil l i n g .

B u t a wo e f u l fac e l ooked th r o ugh t h e p rivet a n d

‘

a s ad b ut r es ign ed vo i ce s ai d gent ly
“
A m os yo u c a n t p l ay with m e t o d ay — it is n t ’ ’
-
,

”
a b i rthd ay I m n o t t o h ave a b i rth d ay a t a l l
’
. .

”
Wh y n o t p l eas e M ist r ess J u d i th ?
, , _

Fath e r s fo rgo tt en a nd ’
sh e s t op ped an d ,

h u ng h e r h ead .

“
A n d wha t ? aske d A m os k i n d l y
”
.

’
s tu pi d — m ea n I h aven t l ea r n t ’
And I m t oo I
my l esso ns a n d ,

An d wha t M is tr ess J u d i t h ,

B y t h is t i m e th ey we r e ea ch ,
on e ith e r s id e t h e
h edge ,
d rawi ng c los e t o t h e l owe r gat e of th e
ga r d e n wh e r e th ey m et fa c e t o fa c e
,
.

— a g r ea t gu l p — “
w
“ ’
And I ve got t o l ea r n no

h a r d l esso n s — wi th r vo i c e was sh ak i ng
,
wi th —h e

wi t h a govern ess o r a t th e s ch ool o r h ere

, ,

M is tr ess J u d ith fai r ly bu r s t i n t o a fi t O f s obbin g ,

wh i l e Sh e t ri e d t o s ay wi th fa t h e r an d J ess e
”
B ul l e n .

“
P l ea s e d o n t e e c r y l i tt l e m ist r ess s a id A mos
’ ’

, , ,

p u tt i ng d own h is s atch el “
Wi l l yo u c o m e a n d .
,

”
I l l te l l yo u s u m m u t o u t h ere ?
’
—
 H AS NO B I RTH D AY .
49

”
Why c a n t yo u t el l m e h ere ?
’
sh e asked d ryi ng
,

h e r eyes wh i l e h e Op en ed th e gate
, .

I d u rs t n t
’
b e co m i ng i n h ere — m o t h e r s ays not .

H ”
es s e co m es ! i nd ign a n tly .

Ay l b u t pl ease ,
M istress J u d i t h ,
Pa r so n h e s ’

a sked h i m an d J ess e ,
he
’
s go i ng to be a schola r .

M ist ress J ud ith was n ot qu i te sat isfi ed

S h e co n .

s id ere d h e r th u m b wh i ch was a l itt l e t o o d i r ty to

,

s u ck j ust th en S h e h ad been m aki ng m u d p u d

.
-

d i ngs .

”
D o es sch o l ard s h ave bi rthd ays ? asked she pre
s en t l y ( P
. r ovid en tia l ly th e Pa r s o n i s o n h is way t o

C a m bridge ) .

“
I d o an t kn o w W h eth e r th ey h as b irthd ie s
’

M ist ress J ud ith ; b u t I k now as h ow th ey m u st go

’
to s ch oo l — l eastways J ess e h e s go i ng , .

”
“
Wh o says th a t ? wi th both eyes wid e Op en ,

very i ncred u l o usl y .

“
J esse h e says it— Pa rson h e to l d h i m h e h as
, ,

”
teached h i m a l l h e k nows h e ca n t t each h i m m o r e
—
’
.

”
Th en I d o n t b el ieve th at l i n d ign a n tl y
’

B u t it s qu i te tru e s a id a cl ea r vo i c e b eh i n d
’

he r ; a n d M ist ress J ud i th look i ng u p s aw J ess e , ,

B ul l e n s m il i ng at h e r as h e l eapt fr o m th e s t u d y
,

wi nd o w .

“ ’
Tha t yo u re a goi ng t o school m ay be said -
, ,
50 M I STR ESS J UD I T H

b u t I d o an t k n ow as
“
how
’
Am os a l i ttl e b l u n tl y
, ;

a bou t th e Pa r so n h avi ng l ea r n ed yo u al l he
kn ows .

Yo u b es t l ea r n t oo sa i d J esse t u rn i n g away a
’
d , ,

l i ttl e h au gh t i ly ; wh en I ge t back fro m scho o l w i th

“

”—
p ri z es I S han t keer
,
h e co r r ect ed h i m s el f i ns ta n tly
’

’
“
I sha n t ca re to h ave m y b r oth er s ayi ng l e a r n
’

whe n h e sh ou ld s ay te a c h ‘
.

A m os d i d n o t a nswe r B u t p r es en tly h e asked .

’
Wh ere are e e go i ng l ad ? ,

”
T O W emb y
'

M o t h e r ask ed u s t o b e h o m e be t i m es sa i d ,

A m os ;
“
yo u k n ow t h i s is t h e n ight fath e r d i ed ,

’
a n d sh e s lo n eso m e .

B u t J ess e wa s fa r u p t h e r o a d wh istl i ng , .

”
A m os l s ai d J u d ith p r es en tly s t re t ch in g ,
ou t her
a r ms ,
“
b e nd d own I ve go t a sec ret ! ,
’
H e l ean t
ove r t h e gat e wh ich h e h a d sh u t aga i n wh e n h e re
,

m e mb ered h is p r o m is e t o h is m oth e r of bei ng h o m e

b et i m es ; a n d h is r u ss et h ea d ca m e cl os e to th e r o u n d
b ri m o f M ist ress J ud i th s wh i t e ’
su n- bon n et wh i l e t h e
,

fa t a r m s wen t r o u nd h i s br o n z ed n eck .

’ ”
tha t a n i c e s ecret ?
'

Th ere ! zs zz t Sh e asked goi ng ,

d own fro m h e r t i ptoes a n d l o osing h e r h ol d .

Am os col o u red a l i tt l e ei t he r a t t h e S ec r et , , or th e
e m br ac e ,
or both .
 H AS NO B I RTHD AY .
51

We wo n t t el l a n y
’
o n e, A m os — a n d I l l ’
ask fath e r
—wh en ’ ”
i t s d o n e bei ng m y b i rth d ay .

I t was n i n e o cl ock tha t e ven i ng a n d th e P a rso n

’

was s itti ng ove r h is books by th e l igh t of h is l a m p ,

wh e n he re m e mb e r ed M i stress J u d i th s b irth d ay ’
.

H e r m oth er s pi ctu re h u ng above h is m a n tel sh el f

’
-

h is eye fe l l u po n i t : h e tho ugh t of h er . Fro m h er

h is m in d wa n d ered t o h is l i ttl e d aughte r . A n d th en
h e r e m e m be red ho w h e had fo rgotte n !
H e p ut away th e bo oks on e by one ; for h e h ad
m eth od abo u t o n e th i ng— h is bo oks . Th en t ak i ng h i s
l am p h e we n t so ftly u psta i r s
,
.

Th e d oo r was op e n . Th e toss ed c l oth es l ay in a

h ea p o n t h e ch ai r by th e wi nd ow . Th e m oo n
l igh t was st r e a m ing in i n a wh i te m ist u po n th e

fl oon

Th e r e was a l i t tl e so u nd . Could s he b e awak e

th at h e m igh t t el l h er ?
No : i t was o n ly a ba t ch i rr u pi ng i n t h e r oo f .

W i th r ou nd a rm s th rown ac r oss th e p i l low th e h a i r ,

lyin g h a l f i n d iso rd er h al f k not ted

,
u
'

p th e b l ue eyes
cl o s ed ,
a nd th e Sl igh t l i tt l e figu r e d isposed i n th e
swee t aba ndo n m en t of S l eep — th e r e Sh e l ay ca ri ng ,

n oth i ng fo r th e m oo n l igh t or th e bats ch i rrupi ng ,

n oth i ng for th e c r eaki n g of th e o ld boa rds u nd e r

h eavy fee t n oth i ng
,
fo r th e fu l l l igh t of t h e la m p
52 M I ST R ES S J UD I TH H AS NO B I RT H D AY .

as i t fel l u po n h e r ; n oth i n g now fo r th e b i rt h day

t h at was ove r .

Ah ! i t was too l a t e H e cou l d n ot wak e h e r ;

.

an d i f h e had wha t word s co uld h e h ave us ed ?

,

Th e Parso n fel t i t wa
s wel l tha t s h e sl ept as h e ,

t u rn ed a way qu i etly ca rryi ng th e l a m p A n d yet h e

,
.

p aus ed b efore h e closed th e d oo r— was that a sou n d

a fte r a l l ? C ou l d s h e h ave awoke ? An d was t h e r e
s t i l l a ch a nce tha t h e m ight tel l h er ?

N o : i t was t o o l at e Th e s u n h ad se t a nd the
.
,

m oo n r od e h igh i n h eaven I t was qu it e don e b eing

.

M ist r ess J ud i th s bi rth day

’
.

P oo r l ittl e M ist r ess J u d i t h ,

wh o had no m o t he r to
k iss her ,
an d em em b e r
r .
54 EIGHT Y EAR S AFTER .

Y e s,t h e r e sh e s t a n ds aga i ns t th e wick e t ga t e a n d ,

l ea n s u po n it — th e gat e th a t wh e n we Saw h e r ,

l ast s h e s too d o n t ip to e b u t t o r each

,
.

M a id s grow a n d flowe r s b low ; a n d We wo u l d n o t

h ave i t oth erwis e .

“
We l l I d o n t k n ow y e s ee M is t ress J ud i th
’

, , , ,

says M ist r ess H u r s t sc r a p i n g t h e h e m , of he r a p r o n

011 th e oth e r S id e th e gat e ; yo u se e , fo r th e
m y d ea r i t a i n t t h e s a m e
’ ’
l o ike s fo r
’
0 yo u , ,
as t is
”
s i ch a s u s m y d ea r ye , ,
see .

“
B u t I wen t l as t yea r M r s H u rs t , . .

We l l yes my d ea r
, ,
b e s u re ; b u t , so ye d id , to

yo u re gitti n o n i n yea rs m y d ea r ; a n d ye s e e
’ ’

i t l as t es s o l a t e m y d ea r ; a n d t he re s th a t d a n ci n
,
’ ’

saloo n u p a gi n th e m h o u se n as b elongs t o M istress

B u l l en a nd ,

“
Yes ; th a t s j u s t wh a t I wa n t t o s e e b r ok e i n
’

M is tress J ud i th i n co rr igi b l y .

“
We l l m y d ea r ye s e e a n d M is tr ess H u rs t p u t
, , ,

h e r h a n d ove r h e r eyes f o r th e s u n a n d s q ui n ted ,

u p s id eways a t J ud i th wh i l e h e r vo i ce b eca m e ,

“
co nfid e ntia l ; fo r s i c h a s yo u ye s e e t h e Pa rso n , ,

h e d s ay yo u o u t t o h ave a m a n a l ong o f yo u
’

a nd
Wel l a n d sh a n t we h ave M as t e r H u r s t ! C o m e
,
’

M a r y d o n t m a ke i t o u t s o h a r d a n d d i fficu l t
,
’
.
 EI GHT YEARS AFTE R .
55

S h a n t we h ave M as t e r H u rst a n d a m n t I go ing to

’

,
’

wh ee l him u p i n th e cha i r ? ”

M i stress H u rst l a ugh ed a p l eased l a ugh a n d ,

c ou l d o n ly begi n feebly Ye s e e m y d ear ,

“
,

“
And i f we wa n t a noth e r m a n why th ere ’s A mos , ,

B u l le n H e l l co m e
. I l l s e e h i m a t ch u r ch to
’
.
’

m o rrow a nd t hen I l l tel l h i m S O I l l co m e ove r

,
’
.
’

”
a t five M a r y r em em be r
, ,
.

A nd M istress H u r s t sh aki ng h e r h ea d a n d say

,

“
i ng ,
Ye s ee m y d ea r ,
was l eft u n ce re
m o n io u s l y by M istres s J ud ith wh o s eein g a b r own , ,

baby bei ng ca r ried i n th e d ista n ce passed d own ,

th e r oad l i ke a s o ft b r ee z e a n d took i t o u t o f th e ,

m oth er s a r m s ’
.

”
“
O yo u n ic e l i ttl e b aby ! s ai d s h e ca r ess ing
it. O h b u t yo u a ren t n i ce ! I t d oes n t kn o w i ts
“
,
’ ’

god moth e r M ist ress Gad d d o es i t ? P l eas e tak e i t

, , ,

wo n t yo u ? i m plo ringly as th e brown face p uckered

’

u p ti l l i t l ooked l i ke a s qu ee z ed ba l l a nd th e s q u e e n y ,

h a l f ope n eyes grew s mal le r tha n eve r

~
.

A n d be fo re M istress Ga d d th e you nge r wh o , ,

h ad bee n Si x weeks a p ro ud m oth er h ad had ,

t i m e t o r eply sh e fou n d h er Offspring resto re d to

,

h e r a n d M istress J ud ith was gon e

,
B u t th e O ff .

Spri ng howl ed l on g a fte r t h e d epa r tu r e o f its god

m oth e r .
56 E I GHT Y EAR S A FT ER .

M is tr ess J u d i th h a d n o t to wa i t t i l l S u n d ay to

s ee Am os B u l l en a n d to cl a i m h is p r o tecti o n
,
for

H asl ingto n feas t .

As sh e wen t l ightl y up a n d d own t h e ga r d en ,

p i c k i n g r oses a nd d r opp i ng t h e m i n to th e baske t

th a t B u l l y c a r r i ed be t wee n h is t eeth a s t ep O n t h e , ‘

r oa d m ad e h e r pa us e a n d l is t en S h e l o o ked u p .
,

by t h e way a t eve r y step , . M os t p eop l e d i d i n

H asl i ngto n . B u t th is t i m e th e r e was s o m e i n t eres t
l ook i n g ou t of h e r exp ress ive fac e .

”
“
A m os ! said S he, wh e n sh e was certai n ; and
th e n r a n t o t he gat e B u l ly st rewi ng th e pat h
sh e ,

b eh i n d h e r with r os es th a t we r e t i l ti n g o n e by ,

o n e o u t o f th e basket as h e ca m e bo u n d i ng a l on g
,

i n u n ne c ess a r y h as t e a nd exc i tem en t a fte r his m is

t ress .

’
Ah I m gl ad i t s yo u A m os sa i d sh e ; a n d sh e
,
’

, ,
’

op e n ed t h e gat e a n d b e c ko n ed h i m t o co m e i n B u t .

h e h es i t ated .

C o m e i n sh e sa id a l i tt l e i m pat i en tl y
, , S u r el y .

th e t i m e is ove r fo r yo u to s t a n d h a ngi ng o u tsi d e

b e c au s e M ist ress B u l le n t el l s yo u n o t t o b e for
wa rd ! S h e d oes n t t el l yo u th a t n o w A m os d oes
’

, ,

”
s he ? A n d s h e s m i l ed .

A fi n e yo un g gi a nt wi th a russe t h ead l a id d own

, ,

a c r ook ed s ti ck h e was h old i ng a n d ca m e shyly i n t o ,

 E I GHT YEARS AFTER .
57

t h e ga r d en wh e r e h e d rew a l ong b r eath a n d stoo d

,

l ook ing r o u nd wi th o u t sp eak in g .

“
O n e wo u l d th i n k yo u h ad n o t s een th e gard en
b efo r e A m os sa i d th e gi rl t u rn ing r ou nd t o pic k
, , ,

u p th e sp i l t ros es B u t yo u have see n al l I ’ve do n e

.
,

’
h aven t yo u ex cep t th e h o neys uckl e o n th e wash
,

h o u se ? A n d Oh ! I ve pl a n ted a c l i mb i ng tea ros e

’
-
,

on th e wa l l b en eath m y wi ndow ; c o m e a n d see !

The r e— tha t s th e last r os e B u l ly drop t — s tu p i d B u l ly !
’

Th a n k yo u Am os — n ow co m e a nd s e e t h e rose
, .

“ ’ ”
I t s t o lo o k i n t o m y wi nd ow Sh e sa id as th ey , ,

“
wen t toward s th e h o us e I wa n t th e s m el l o f i t t o
.

co m e i n wh e n I wak e i n th e m o rn i ng— o n ly th i n k ,

one of thos e great s o ft sweet th i ngs l ook in g i n th e

fi rs t th in g i n th e m o rn ing ! a l l th e scen t o f i t co m ing
fa n n ing i n wh e n Ruth Op en s th e wi nd ow a nd the ,
d ew
”
ha ngi ng o n it— a l l h eavy a nd sparkl i ng .

Th ey h ad reach ed th e wa l l no w . J ud ith p ut h e r
h a nd aga i nst i t .

“
Th e r e ! j u st feel ho w wa r m i t i s — j ust as i f there
were a fi r e beh i nd i t . O n ly th i n k how th e ros e wi l l
”
gro w o n it— eh A m os ? ,

Th e russet h ead was t u rn ed fi rs t u p to th e wind o w

th at was M istres s J ud ith s — th e sa m e sh e t ri ed t o step ’

ou t of as a l i ttl e ch i ld a n d t hen to a g r ea t cri mson,

ros e so m e ya rds o ff .
58 E IGHT YEARS AFTER .

”
Is t h a t it M is t r ess J u d i th ? h e asked
,
.

T /z az ! wh y A m os tha t wa s th e r e be fo r e I was
‘
, ,

b o r n ! I t el l yo u I ve j us t p l a n t ed my r os e : i t s a
’ ’

”
g r ea t Z ea r os e n o t a r e d o n e
-
,
S h e stooped d own .

a n d p arte d t h e grass a t th e foo t o f th e wa l l Wa i t a .

”
A nd as s h e
’
m i n u t e no th a t s a weed ! h e r e i t is !
—
,

h el d th e w a ves o f grass o pen with h e r h a nd s th e

r u ss e t h ea d b e n t d own a nd wi th the h el p o f a pa i r o f ,

l a rge d rea m y eyes A m os wa s ab l e t o d is c e r n a l i tt l e

,

r os e s h oo t with a h an gi ng fad ed h ea d
-
,
.

“ ”
D o yo u t h i n k i t l l l ive M is t r ess J u d i t h ? h e ’

ask ed s cept ica l ly

, .
.

L ive ! wh y o f c o u r s e ! it s o n l y j us t p u t i n !
,
’

”
t h at s wh y i t h angs i ts h ea d !
’

S h e spok e eagerl y a t fi rs t b u t h e r voi c e s a n k ,

a l i ttl e a s i f s h e we r e d isappo i n ted a n d s h e l e t

, ,

th e grass go b ac k over t h e r os e shoo t a n d p i c ked

-
,

u p h e r bas ke t .

A m os ,
qu ick i n eve ryth i n g th a t h ad to do wi t h
t h e feel ings a nd i n n o th i ng els e s aw th e ch ange
, , ,

a nd th e exp r ess i o n o n h is own fa c e al te r ed a l ittl e .

B u t h e sa i d n ot h i ng .

Th ey wa l k ed away t o th e h o n eys uckl e o n th e wash

’
h ouse a n d wh en h e h ad l o ok ed a t i t a nd sa id I t s , ,

”
ve r y fi n e , M is tr ess J ud i t h ,
t h e r e s eem ed n o t hi ng
m o r e to s ay .
 E I GHT YEAR S AFTER .
59

I sh o ul d give yo u a p i ece ,
said sh e , p ick ing a
sp rig a n d s t icki ng i t i nto h e r d r ess ,
but yo u d on t ’

”
care fo r fl owe rs A m os , .

A m os fe l t i t was a rep roach ,

a nd h e k n ew tha t
i t was d es e rved in pa rt . B ut h e sh o u ld h ave l i ked
a bi t of tha t ho n eys uckl e ; a n d b eca us e h e was
pai n ed , or b eca us e h e wa nted th e flower h e said !
,

n oth ing . S o m e fol ks a re fash io ned so , a n d they

’
are n ot a lways th e l ea st worthy of G o d s so n s a n d
d a ughte rs .

“
Bu t I was fo r gett i n g wh at I h ad cal l ed yo u in
”—
fo r— I m ea n she co r r ected h ersel f as sh e fel t th e
l a rge eyes t u rn ed r ath er s u d d en ly (fo r A m os) u po n
“
h er I m ea n wh a t I h ad i n m y m i n d to as k yo u
wh e n I h ea rd yo u r s tep . T he big eyes tu rn ed aga i n .

”
“
A nythi ng I ca n d o fo r yo u,
“

M istress J ud ith ,
he
sa id re v
,
e re n tly a n d h is ton e h ad m o re ch eer i n i t .

“
O n ly t o co m e wi th u s t o th e feas t o n Frid ay ,

A mos ; wi th M aste r H u rst a n d h i s wi fe a n d m e , ,

.

Y o u k now h e s t o o i l l to wa l k n o w ; b u t fath er l et
’

m e tak e t h e ch ai r o n wh eel s th a t was lyi ng i n th e

stabl e a n d h e gets abo u t beau t i fu l ly i n th at
,
. I too k
h i m u p to s e e yo u r m oth er yester d ay ; he
- ca l ls h e r
h is ‘
blessed l ady .
’
I th i n k i t is a very good n a m e ,

A mos d o n t ,
’

yo u ? Wh ere were yo u yes terd ay whe n

”
I wen t u p t o th e fa rm ?
60 E I GHT Y EA R S A FT E R .

C hoos i n g c ows a t Paxto n M is tr ess J ud i th , ,

s ai d
Am os .

”
A n d d oes yo u r m o t h e r t r u s t yo u to do th a t ? s he

asked s m i l i n g
, .

O h ay l s h e t r us t s m e ; b u t it s n o t f o r m o t h e r ’

exactl y now i f yo u p l eas e M is t r ess J ud i th — it s al l

, ,
’

”
J esse s n o w
’
.

S i n c e wh en 5 ‘ ’
asked J u d i th s u rp ris ed
es s e s , .

S i n c e S u n d ay week, wh e n h e ca m e n i n eteen ;
fathe r le ft eve ryth i n g t o m oth er t i l l s uch t i m e a s
J esse c a m e n in et ee n N ow i t s a l l h is th e h o us e
.
’

a n d fa rm a n d s to ck a n d everyth i ng
, , .

”
An d wh at i s yo u rs A m os ? ,

Th e o n e fi eld b eh i n d th e ch u rch (th e r e s t wo ’

of
’
e m yo u k n ow M i st r ess J u d i t h b ut i t s t h e righ t
, ,
’

h a nd S id e i s m i n e th e oth e rs J ess e s ) a nd th e o n e o n’ ’

, ,

t he Pa xto n Road o pposi te th e P e m b r ok e A r m s wi th

, ,

”
a st i l e a t th e far co rn er .

”
“
An d i s th a t a l l ? ask ed J u d ith i n a t o n e o f ,

greate r s u rp r is e tha n she was co nsci ou s of .

A m os as was h is ba d cu sto m c ol o u r ed h ot l y a n d
, , ,

B u t h i s t el l —tal e
’
sa i d qu iet ly ,
Yes tha t s al l .

vo i ce tol d h e was h u r t or sad d en ed ,

or to uch ed i n
so m e we a k pa rt .

’
“
And so yo u r e m a n agi ng it al l for

J u d i th wen t o n, s ea t i ng h erse l f on t h e ga r d en b en c h ,
smile .

G oo d l ad s a i d h e qu i et ly
,
. Go o d lad ! I fo rget
wh e re h e was t o be J u d ith eh
, ,
?

”
O p e n i t a n d s ee yo u forget fu l fa th e r ! Sh e sai d
, ,

k iss i ng h i m aga i n a n d th e n sh e r est ed h e r ch i n upo n

,

h is i r o n —gr ey h ead t o r ea d J ess e B u l l en s l e tter

’

.
,
 C H A P T E R VI I I .

WH Y J E S S E CH A N G E D H IS M IND .

H O P E t h e r e s n oth i ng w r o ng wi th J esse
’

,
sai d
M ist r es s J ud i th to A mos a s t h ey stoo d aga i n
out Sid e th e d oo r un d e r th e po rch a n d th e shad e o f
,

“ ” ’
t h e t u m bl e d trave l l ers j oy tha t fel l rou n d th e m
l ike a ve i l A mos h ad a whol esom e d read o f Parso n
.

’
I ngrey a n d h is s t u dy s i n c e the d ay wh e n J u d ith s
great secre t h ad e n d ed i n h is bei ng m ad e h e r co m
pan io n a t l esson s a nd that a las ! h ad e n d ed i n his
, ,

be i ng give n u p as a n i n co rrigi bl e d u nd erh ead who

was n o t u p t o m o r e t h a n b r eed i ng ca t tl e a nd s owi ng
oats .

Th e Pa r so n ha d no t cl oth ed h i s d ecis io n i n l ike

wo r ds T O M ist r ess B u l l en h e h ad b ro ke n th e sad
.

fact a l m os t t en d erly a n d s h e h ad on l y showed an y

,

feel i ng on t h e s ubj e c t by a p i nk s o o t o n ei the r

'

ch eek a nd a few m o m en ts
, of S i l en ce ,
befo r e s he

expressed h e r g r a ti t ud e fo r what th e Pa rson ha d

a l ready d o n e fo r h e r el d e r so n J ess e . Th at g r ati
t ud e h ad s i n ce h ad foo d to g r ow u po n i n d eed . Fro m
64 WHY J ES SE

th e d ay th a t J ess e h a d a ppea r ed ba reh ead ed i n th e

st ud y , a n d h a d b ee n ask ed “
Wh o a re yo u , my
l ittl e m a n ? th e Pa rso n h ad t augh t h i m ,
h el p ed
h im , watch ed h i m wi th u n ceasin g i n te r e s t a n d aff e c

t io n .

Wh e n h e fel t t h a t i t was t i m e th a t th e b oy sh o u l d
d ecid e h i s o wn fu t u r e th e Pa rso n b roach ed th e su b
'

je ct with a qu i e t b u t d eep a n x iety . Th i s c l ever cl ea r ~

h ead ed yo uth with h is keen i nt e r es t i n th e classics

, ,

i n m ath e m ati cs i n h isto r y i n gen era l i n fo rm at io n

, ,

wh a t m igh t h e n o t do ? wh a t ca reer m igh t n ot b e

Op e n to him ?
H i ms el f con t en t wi th th e c al m es t a n d qu i et es t O f
cou n t ry l ives ,
h e co ul d fo rese e fo r th e boy whos e
wel fa re h e h ad t ake n so s t rongly to h ea rt a l i fe fa r
oth e rwis e o r d e r ed .

H e wo u l d sen d h i m to a good sch oo l — a fte r t ha t a

’
s ch ola rsh i p a t ! i n g s wo u l d be a m atte r of ask a n d
h ave . A n d th e n — a p ubl i c l i fe . A grea t preach er a n ,

o ra to r a stat es m a n — a nyth i n g
, t h at sh ou l d us e a n d
sh ow fo r th th e grea t t a l e nts w i th wh i ch G od had
gi fted him .

P a rso n I ng r ey was con servat ive — fo r i nstan c e h e

d isa p p r oved o f n ew se rm o ns —b u t h e h ad tha t l a rge
,

m i n d ed n ess th at may ex ist i n a ny pa rty a n d is a pa rt ,

fr o m a l l H e app r oved
. of good m easu r es fr o m bad
 CHANGED H I S M IND . 65

govern m ents a nd h e kn ew th a t good m eas u r es we r e

being brough t a bo ut
’
no w
.

H e was B road C h u r ch i n th e sens e O f havi ng a

h ea r t wid e en ough an d eyes fa ith fu l eno ugh to rea d
and to r eceive good wh eresoever i t m igh t b e fo u nd .

An d si tting i n h is corn e r u nbiassed by p ubl i c ,

o pi nio n o r by fri en d s wh o were i n powe r h e l ooked ,

o u t ke en ly o n th e C ha nges tha t were go ing o n i n

th e wo rld beyo nd h i m I n m any s enses h e was as

.
,

o u r S avi ou r sa id we sho u l d be
“
in th e worl d a nd ,

”
yet no t of i t .

I I I h is yo u ng d ays h o w stagnan t l ife was i n

com pariso n to th is ! Why t il l h e h ad co m e to ,

H asl i ngto n th e servi ces h ad been d on e o r l eft u nd on e

by a gal lop i n g cl ergy M i stress B u ll en r em embe r ed
.

as a ch i ld goi ng with h er fathe r o n S und ays to th e

”
r is i ng grou n d s i n ce cal l ed Pa rso n s S igna l wh e r e
,
’

a flag was posted i f t h e r e were a s u fficien t n u mbe r

i n ch u rch t o j usti fy t h e equ estria n m i n is t e r s paus ’

i ng a t H as l ingto n A nd i f H asl ingto n h ad h i m why

.
,

Pa xto n a n d W e m b y m ust go wi tho u t .

Po l i t ics ha d been ri fe at t im es ; an d fact ion s a n d

pa rti es thos e S l eep less i ncarnat io ns o f restl ess ness
,

a n d s i n d id n ot fai l O nl yG od s S p iri t s eem e d to

, .
’

h ave be en d riven away— o n ly Go d s s e r vants we r e ’

asleep a n d d rea m ing

, .
66 WH Y
-
JESSE

N o w, if pa rt y s p i r i t waxed h igh ,
z ea l fo r t h e
good a nd the n obl e was ast i r to o . I t wou l d n o t
s l eep — it wou l d m i x i tsel f with al l m en s m atte r s
’

wi th al l pol it ics ,
with all qu esti o ns g r ea t an d
An d wh e r e C h ris t s S p i r i t is m en grow
’
s m al l .
,

l i beral . A n d so th e age i s l ibe r a l ; a n d m e n s t art

a n d t a ke a ffrigh t a n d th i n k i t i s
,
an o d i ous pa r ty
”
wo rd th a t L i bera l
“
Perh aps i t i s a p a r ty wo rd
.
-

n o w— wo rd s ge t twis t ed i n t he u s ing B u t f or a l l .

th at to b e l i bera l i s C h ristia n C h ris t l i k e ; s o f o r ,

-

G od s s ak e l e t us h ave a l i ber al age !

’

P a rso n I ng r ey fel t th at th e Ol d t i m es had b ee n

aga i ns t h i m : th a t h e h a d n o en e r gy t o s ta r t u p
from th e l eth argy Of th e C h u r ch i nt o whi ch he h a d
fal l e n a n d th at i f h e wer e you ng agai n h e sh o ul d
,

l ack th e e n ergy s t i l l B u t J ess e with h i s h o t blood

.
, ,

a n d h is qu ic k keen i nsigh t a n d h is fai r j udgm en t , ,

a n d h is u n qu es ti o nab l e t al en ts — sh o u l d n ot h e
asto n ish th e worl d ? F r es h yo u ng b lood i n h i m t o o ,

n o t r u n o u t a nd d ri ed u p by reaso n o f th e age O f
h is fa m i ly — th ough i n th ei r o wn way t h e B u l l en s
we r e Ol d e nough t o o The r e ha d bee n B ul l ens a t
.

Trotte r s E nd a n d B u l len s ch u rch wa rd ens o f H as

’

l in gt o n l ong b efo re m os t o f o u r en nobl ed fa m i l i es

,

we r e r ise n o u t o f th e d us t .

B ut t h e n a fi n e h ea lthy o l d r a c e i t was — n o t
 CH A N G E D H I S MIND . 67

h avin g sco r ned t o m i x with a lways fresh co u nt ry

b loo d ,
n ot c i rcu mscri bed by ra n k in to ever l ess en i ng -

c i rcl es an d en d i ng wi th a pal e si ckly s ma l l bon ed

,
-

h e i ress , bou nd d own by th e weight of h ere d i tary

h o no u rs a n d l an ds a n d s o m eti m es by he r ed ita ry
!

th ings l ess p leasa n t .

I nstea d of th at — wh y l ook a t J ess e a n d A m os .

A m os es pecial ly wha t a fi n e m a n h e was

, ! E ven
th e Pa rso n tho ugh t A m os a fi n e a n i ma l .

S o J esse had everyth i ng o n h is s id e i n cl ud i ng ,

’
Pa rso n l n g re y s pu rs e ; fo r h e kep t sayi ng to M i s
t ress B ul le n wh o o nl y hal f en tered i n to the sch em e
,
-

“
H e l l wa n t a l l h i s m o n ey by a n d by M ist ress
’

B u ll e n — s e e tha t yo u a nd A m os d o th e best with

”
th e fa rm A nd s o a l l th e school expenses fel l on
.

th e Pa rso n .

I t was j us t as J ess e was l eavi ng s ch ool a yea r ,

be fore th e Pa rso n received th e fo reign l etter a nd ,

whe n J esse was e ighteen th at t he Pa rso n received , ,

poo r m a n a n oth er l ett er t el l i ng h i m tha t a l l h i s

, ,

h opes O f th e grea t p u bl ic ca reer were at an en d

-

J ess e ch os e t o be a s ol d ier .

I t was a respect ful d u tifu l l ett er Th e lad bowed

,
.

h is j udgm e n t t o th e s u perio r j u d gm en t o f h is pa tr o n
a nd d ispa raged h is o wn powers B u t h e had kn own .

a s h e w r ot e th e l etter that there was b ut o n e a ns wer

68 WHY JESSE

l i kel y to b e r et u r n ed
t hou gh so m e pos t s m igh t
,

p ass b e fo r e t h e l e t te r was written D O a s you ,

“

p l e as e J ess e l ad
,
I a m gri e v
,
.ed that yo u l ose
h ea rt a bo u t co l l ege f o r yo u wo u l d h ave d o n e
,

so m eth i ng th er e B u t it wi l l b e f o r th e best
. ,

lad n o d o u bt ; a n d yo u sha l l go ab r oad as yo u

, ,

sa
y ,
a n d learn l angu ages .

A n d th e n with s o m e qu i e t ea r n es t warn ings

,

a n d n o r ep r oach es th e l ette r fi n i sh ed by t el l in g
,

J ess e wh e re h e wo u l d fi n d r e m i tta n ces th e a m ou n t ,

to be l i m it ed on ly by J ess e h i ms el f .

A fte r t ha t th e Pa r so n ha d tol d M is tr ess B u l l en ,

a n d a ft e r t h a t h e to l d J u d i th ,
f o r h is h ea rt wa s
t oo h eavy j u st a t fi rs t t o a l l ow th e s u bj ect t o s l i p -

fro m h is bad m em ory An d a l as ! th e wors t o f

.

m e m o ri es c a n t m ak e u s fo rget so m e th i ngs — wh a t
’

w e sho u l d re m em b e r we fo rget a n d we c a n no t f o r ,

get wh a t we wo u l d n o t r e m em b e r .

”
Fath e r sa i d J u d i th look i ng r athe r s ta r t l ed wh en
,

h e h ad tol d h e r i t s a ve r y s u d d e n ch ange Of
J esse s is n t i t ? H e was h ere o n ly th e o th e r d ay
’

,
’

wh at co u l d m a k e h i m ch a nge so s ud d en ly ?
Pa r so n I ngrey h ad b ee n won d eri ng t o o P e r haps .

t h at gh ad s o m e sh a re i n h is d isap po in t m en t B ut h e .

t r ust ed J e s s e an d was s at isfi ed th a t h e co u l d n o t h ave

,
‘

m ad e up his m i n d wh en h e was h e r e a week ago .

70 WH Y J ES SE C HANGED H I S MIND .

H e said n oth ing fa t h e r , ; n eith e r d id Am os . B ut

th e n a fterwa rd s J ess e sa i d to m e ,
as i f h e d been ’

th in ki ng of it M istres s J ud ith ,
d o yo u th i n k a
sch olar i s b e t te r tha n a sold ie r ? ’
a nd I sai d— ‘
I

I k now fo r m ys el f I d
’ ’
d o n t kn ow for yo u J ess e
, ;
’
as l i ef have a m u m m y as a bookwo rm . And then ,

“
s he we nt o n, h e sa id ,
‘
Yo u r fath er s a schol a r ’

M ist ress J ud ith .

’ ‘
Yes ,
’
s ai d I ,
‘
a n d I wou ld n o t
h ave h i m oth e r wis e . But no one ca n b e l ike fath er ,

an d I d rath e r h ave a goo d so l d i er tha n a ba d schola r

’ '

an y d ay .

An d d o yo u t h i nk h e m ad e u p h is m in d the n ,

”
J u d ith ? asked th e Parso n p ush ing h is han d th r ough ,

h is h a i r wi th the sa m e qu i et twi n kl e— tha t J ud i th

,

cou l d n o t see — in h is eyes .

“ ’
I d o n t k now fath er— ,
I th i nk — consci en c e was
forcing i t ou t agai n a nd conscience seem ed t o
, m ake
’
a grea t s truggl e , so tha t M is tress J ud ith s ch eek
fl am e d —
“
I th ink h e sa i d qu i te l o w, u nd er h is b reath ,

‘ ’
Then I l l b e a sol di er ,
M ist r ess B ut I
ca n t be ce r ta i n father ; h e m ayn t have sai d i t a fter
’ ’

”
all .

Th at was a yea r ago wh en M ist ress J u d ith was ,

S h e i s sevent ee n n o w an d J esse has

j u s t s ix te en .
,

b ee n a yea r away A n d s h e is u n de r th e p orch wit h

.

Am os .
 C HAPTE R IX .

UND E R THE PO R CH W I T H A MO S .

M O S l i ked that po rch a nd th e t ravel l ers j oy ’

.

H e stoo d fi ngeri ng i t fo r a long t i m e by

’
J u d ith s S id e .

I t was n ot t il l t h e d ay b ree z e d ied a n d th e long -

,

wh ite wreath s lay s ti l l i n th e wa rm even i ng a i r that ,

h e re me mbered h i ms el f a n d started a nd took up h is

, ,

h at fro m t h e gree n b ench o n wh ich J ud i th sat kn i t

ti ng a nd the n bega n
, to m ove h is g rea t pe r son slowly
away sayi ng ,

“
Good —n ight i f , yo u pl eas e M ist r ess J u d ith
,
.

” “
I f you pl eas e Am os , , sh e retu rn ed ; I am not
t i r ed of co m pan y I ca n t el l yo u
,
. Th e d ays a re ve ry
long so m eti m es wh e n fath er goe s t o
,
Ca m bridge o r ,

whe n I s it alon e h ere i n th e po rch a nd h e is rea d ing ,

or writing i n h is s t ud y . I a m l east lo neso m e h ere ,

I th i n k ; th e fl owers seem to keep m e comp any— an d

as for the n ight i ngal e h e s ings so m eti m es as i f th e
,

very gates of h eave n h ad op ened t o l et h i m th rough ,

an d h e had o nl y a l i ttl e t i m e to s ing d own h ere , a nd

72 UND ER TH E PORCH

so m u s t si ng b r avel y . I cou l d n o t sl eep fo r h i m l as t

n igh t ; I got u p a nd cl osed th e wi nd ow at last . A nd ,

A m os —
Sh e l i fted h er h ead a n d l ooked a t h i m do
yo u k no w l w a l igh t u p a t T r otter s
sa
’
E nd — th ree
in t h e m o rn i n g Am os a n d s o m e on e was s i tt i ng u p ?
, ,

Y o u m us t b e ve r y h a r d o n L yd i a a nd J ae l i f yo u
m ak e th e m s p i n o r swee p at th os e h o u rs — o r was i t
yo u r m oth e r d o yo u th i nk Am os ?
, ,

A m os m ove d h is foo t u n easi ly o n th e g r avel wal k .

H e s eem ed as i f h e wou l d n ot a nswe r Th en s u d .

d en l y h e th r ew u p h is h ea d a n d th e r usset l ocks ,

fel l back ,
as he t u rn ed a n d m ad e a nswe r l ooki n g ,

a t J ud ith wi th thos e cl ea r bl u e eyes t h r o u gh wh ich

tr uth a n d pu r i ty l ook o u t .

“
I t was I th a t s at u p M is t ress J u d i t h
,
.

”
Wh at fo r ? asked she asto n ish ed s til l li fti ng h e r ,

fac e a nd l ooki ng o n h i m Th e m oo n was r is ing ove r

.

th e edge o f th e h o ri z on a n d th e s u n h ad ha rdl y yet

,

fad ed o u t o f th e s ky Th e si lve r a n d th e go ld en
.

l i gh t s we r e j u s t m ee t i n g a n d parti ng a n d th e ea r th ,

l ay st il l th e sh i ft ing sh ad ows pl ayi ng ove r h e r a n d

, ,

th e n ceasi ng — ti l l o ne l igh t a n d o n e o n l y sh o u l d b e
, , .

i n th e asce n da n t aga i n .

S i n c e yo u as k m e wh a t f o r M istr ess J u d i th sa i d
, ,

A m os s i tt i ng d own o n th e b ench oppos it e h e r fo r h e

, ,

n eve r t ook u po n h i mse l f to s it b e s id e h e r ye t si n c e

 WITH AMOS .
73

yo u as k m e wh a t f o r, I wi l l t el l yo u . I t s a l o ng
’

t i m e si nce — at l eas t i n so m e ways i t seem s very long ,

’
a nd i n oth ers i t d o n t — si nce yo u sai d i t was a pity
th e re sho u l d b e s uch a d i fferen ce between m e a n d
I d id n t that exactly M ist ress J ud i th d o
’
J esse . se e , ,

yo u m i nd ? But yo u sa id ,
‘
Th e r e a re so m e ways i n
wh ich there n eed n t b e a d i fferen c e A mos
’

, ?
’
D o yo u
r e m em b e r M ist ress J ud ith
,

M is t ress J u d ith was agh as t over her kn ittin g at th e

fi d el ity with wh ich h e r l igh t wo r ds h ad been rem em
b e r ed S h e d i d no t an swe r
. .

”
“
Afte r th at sa id Am os t alk in g with a d ecisio n
, ,

a n d a lack o f shyn es s th at for l ong h ad fo rsaken h i m

i n J ud i th s p r esen ce
’
— “
A fte r th at we ta l ked a lon g
wh i l e I wa s foo l ish M istress J u di th
.
,
I t ri ed t o .

p e r s u ad e m ys el f that l ea rn i ng ha d noth i ng t o d o with

”
a m a n— noth i ng t o d o wi th h i s h eart a nd a nd , ,

h e h es itated n o th i ng t o d o with th e Opi n io n that

h is n eighbo u rs wo u l d m ak e o f h i m D o yo u m in d .

”
o n th at M is tress J ud it h?
,
A n d n o w h e pa used a n d ,

wa ited fo r a n a nswe r .

“
Wh y yes A m os ; I th in k I m i nd
,
S h e was .

b egi n n i ng to b e m o re t ha n as to n ish ed al m ost frigh t

‘

’
e ned by th e r esol ut i o n i n A m os face
,
.

“ “
We ll h e wen t o n
,
yo u Spok e to m e M istress
, ,

J ud i th a nd m ad e m e th i n k d ifferen t Y o u showed
,
.
74 UND ER T H E PORC H

me G od
h ad given m e power to b e m ore than a
s tou t labou rer ; that i f I chos e I cou ld bette r m y
s el f learn to read a nd write wel l h old m y h ead as
, ,

h igh i n the worl d as father d id if n ot as h igh as ,

”
J esse .

“
NO c o u ld ho ld th ei r h ead h igher than you r
one

”
father Am os sa i d J ud i th gravely
,
f o r h e was ,
“

good .

“
Yo u sa id s om eth i ng l ike that then M ist r ess ,

J ud ith ; i t se t m e th i nki ng a nd I ve n ever stoppe d ,

’

s ince I ve t u rned i t over i n my m i nd a h u n d red

’
.

t i m es a n d m ore S o m eti mes when I hea r J esse

.

bei ng pra ised s o, a n d getting a gentlema n a nd ,

s eei ng foreign parts a n d s uch — I h ave a n i l l feelin g

,
-

that I can t m aste r I wond er a t G o d wh o m ad e

’
.

h i m to h ave a l l th e good things— th e farm and th e

s t ock that pays s o well a n d m other s beauty com i ng
, ,
’

o u t i n h im an d the quick cl ever ways a nd the ways

, ,

of m aki ng h i msel f l oved a nd such l ike I t s no t,

.
’

”
that I m d ispleased t o be h ere M istress J ud ith
’

A m os looked d own a t h is big foot an d m oved i t

agai n o nly I s om eti m es th in k i f I cou ld have a ,

t ur n a t the wheel — why I m strong m uch stronge r ’

’
th an J esse i n m y body ; an d I ve got o n a bi t wit h
r ea d i ng a n d writi ng an d s uch — an d i t was that I
,

was going to tel l you M ist ress J u d ith i f you p l eas e

, , ,
 WITH AMOS .
75

si nc e yo u s ee m ed to wa n t t o know what fo r I si t
up of I d o i t to l ea rn t o rea d a n d to ge t
n igh ts .
,

u p a bi t O f L at i n A n d so m e n igh ts I wri t e ; a n d
.

I l ea r n a b i t of g ram m a r . I th i n k so m e t i m es i f
th e wh ee l tu rn s a n d I ge t m y h a nd o n i t as wel l as
,
’

J ess e — why it may b e of u se t o m e a nd give m e a

,

h a nd on . An d i f n ot wh y i t m a kes m e m o re fi t
,

to b e i n yo ur co m pa ny M ist ress J ud i th , . Th at s ’

’
why I bega n it— I ca n t tel l yo u a l i e . I bega n
i t beca us e I tho ugh t I m igh t stan d h igh er wi t h
’
you beca u s e I
,
d u rs t n t co m e i nto th e gard en an d

feel I was o n ly a coa rse st u p i d labo u re r —

that s ’

wh at J ess e to ld m e I was a fter h is o wn fash i on l as t , ,

t i m e b ut o n e th at h e was h e re . A nd th o ugh th e
a mbi t io n r ose— wh a t th ere i s o f i t s i n ce th en
’
s s —i t ’

a very s m a l l pa r t o f m e I k now I m m ostly con .

’

t en t i n th e fi eld s wa tch i ng th e r eapi ng a n d th e

s owi ng t h a t I ve n o m i n d to be a sch ol a r l ike J ess e
,
’

— no r a sol d i e r B u t I ca n l o w i n you r
’

ye t t sta nd .

s ight M istres s J ud ith a n d I d as l i ef n ot sta n d l o w

, ,
’

with J ess e A n d I m n o t too d u l l n o r t oo goo d t o

.
’

h ave a t ho ugh t of th in gs h igh er tha n k eep i ng th e

fa rm fo r h i m an d — Am os h ad cove red h is fac e
;
w ith h is ‘

h a nd , b u t J u d i th co u ld h ea r h is voic e
’
t r e mb l e
’

a n d wh e n I th i n k m y l i fe s goi ng a n d
,

ho w m u ch m ay h a ng o n m y d o i ng s o m eth i ng fo r
 76 U ND ER THE PORCH

m ysel f a n d th a t — wh y t h en G od fo r give m e M is t r ess , ,

J ud ith I have evi l th ough ts aga i ns t G od a nd J esse

,
.

”
A m os sa i d J u d i th h o ld i ng o u t h er l i ttl e ha nd t o
, ,

h i m whi l e h er ba l l o f wo r st ed ra n o u t i n to th e m oo n
,

l ight a nd s ta rt le d B u l l y fro m h i s d r ea ms p r ay Go d
t o m as te r th e th ough ts f o r you a n d d o n t h ave evi l ’

th o ughts aga i nst m e wh ateve r L et u s two b e

, ,
’
fri e nds a n d h el p each oth er o n We ve kn own each
, .
'

o th er fo r a l on g wh il e A m os I a m very gl a d
, .

’ ’
yo u ve s poke n o u t S O fre e t o m e to n igh t I ve g o t -
.

’
n o s iste r yo u see A m os a n d I ve evi l thou ghts as
, ,

wel l as yo u I so m et i mes th i nk I d l i ke to s ee
.
’

t h e worl d t oo ; b u t l et us bi d e a t o u r posts fo r a wh i l e ,

A m os a n d th e n G o d wil l sh ow u s th e way M ay be
,
.

fath e r l l b e a B ishop a n d go to L ond o n an d wh ere l l

’

, ,
’

’ ”
yo u b e A m os eh ?
, ,
Wha t s th at ? sh e s a i d s u d d en ly ,

a n d befo re A m os co u l d stop h e r s he h a d r u n d own

th e path a n d was a t th e ga rd e n ga te
, .

”
“
Com e oael? ! M ist ress J u d ith ,
sa id A m os u nd e r h is
b reath . Com e b ad e B u t h e ret rea t ed u nd er th e
sh ad ow of th e po rch i ns tea d of fol lowi ng h er .

S h e ca m e back fo r sh e d id n o t l i ke th e fa c e th a t
,

m e t h e rs as sh e l ooked ro u nd th e co rn er d own th e
r oa d A n d repo rt ha d st rength en ed h e r d is l i ke
. .

“ ’
I t s Pa xto n D ick sa i d sh e l o ok i ng r a t h e r
, ,

“ ’
frigh t e n ed H e sa i d h e d sp il t h is baske t b y th e
.
 UNDER T H E PORCH WITH AMOS .

”
H o w ca m e yo u t o t r i p j u s t n ow ? as ke d A m os ;
’
yo u a re n t ge n era l ly so ap t t o s t u m bl e eh , ? and
yo u ca m e d own very l ig ht l y s i n ce I d id n t h ea r ’

?
”
yo u
“
M ay b e yo u h ea rd b ett e r th i n gs ! h e r epl i ed
wi th a r ep u ls ive g r i n as h e sh o u ld ered h i s bask et
, .

”
E ls e I we r e n o t we l l O ff ! r et u rn ed A m os s t er n ly ;
t ook t h e r oa d t o
’
a nd so T ro tt e r s E nd .

J ud ith co u l d no t k eep awak e t i l l th ree ; a n d sh e

t ook ca re t h e m o o n l igh t sh o u l d n ot awa ke h er agai n .

’
B u t a t e l eve n O cl o ck S he l ooked ou t O f h e r la ttic e ,

and th ere was th e l igh t a t Trott er s E n d twi nkl i n g ’

t h ro ugh th e t rees .

Paxto n D i ck wh o k ep t u ns e aso n ab l e h ou rs s aw
, ,

t h e l igh t t o o I t h ad b ee n a m a tt e r o f i n t er est
.

t o h i m f o r a long t i m e p as t .
 CH APTER X .

J ESSE B U LL EN S L E T T ER .

B U LL E N S lette r fro m Pa ris lay ope n

’
E SSE
th e Parso n s tabl e O ver i t sat th e Parso n
’

on .

i n a d ay d rea m -
.

S ay rath er a nigh t d ream ; for i t was pas t twelve

-

O clock a nd th e O il o f h is la m p bega n to show sign s

’
,

of being exhausted a n d spu rted a nd fl i ckere d spas

,

m o d icall y, th rowing long sh adows over th e wal ls a n d

d rawi ng th e m back agai n as i f i t were conscio us , Of

it sl ittl e power over t he real ms o f da rkn ess an d wer e ,

p layi ng o u t its ga me befo r e i t gave its last s o b and

d ied .

Th e Pa rso n was a n earl y r ise r a n d a lat e Sitte r

up H e d id what f e w ca n d o wi th i mpun ity
.

l ength ened h is days at both ends .

Wh en fi rst h is wi fe had d i e d h is vigi ls had been ,

s ad enough : s itt ing u p i n th e s il ent h o u se lookin g ,

ou t of h is s tud y wi ndo w to catch th e gli m m er o f

,

th com fortl ess co ld sta r s ; a n d seeing i nstead a

e

neare r gl im m e r th r own athwart the gard en — a gli m

8o J ES SE BULL EN S LETTER ’
.

m e r fr o m th e wi nd ow i n th e gabl e end tha t t ol d ,

h i m (wh e n a fit f u l wa i l d id n ot ) o f th e l i ttl e m oth e r

l ess ba by th at s t r ange han ds were t end i ng fo r h i m

u p th e r e .

I t was r ath e r a weigh t to h i m th en th is h elpl ess ,

l it t l e l egacy . H ow sh o u l d h e b ri ng h e r u p h e wh o ,

’
k n ew n oth i ng of wo m en a n d wom e n s ways ?

Now th e vigi ls we r e n ot s ad , th ey we r e ve r y pal m

a nd p eace fu l : a n d w r ap ped i n th ough t th e h o u rs
we n t q u ickl y by . Th e l i tt l e l egacy h ad co me II p

so m eho w ; for h i s l i fe h e c o u l d n ot tel l h Ow !

H e h ad h ad m as te r s fo r h e r h ad h e ,
? No t h e .

Mr . C o c ks h ad o m e fr o m t h e vi l lage
c , h ad bee n
g ive n a word of wa r n i ng a n d r ep r oof a t t h e ign o r

a nce o f h is schola rs h a d exc used h i msel f

,
on th e
p l ea of the i r s tu pi d i ty a n d h a d ag r eed t o u n d e r
,

t a k e th e ed ucat io n of M ist ress J u d i th .

Fro mtha t m o m en t th e Pa r so n was h appy . M is

t r ess J ud ith was ed ucated . M r Cocks was a p r o ud
.

m an .

Wi th bo ot s pol ish ed fac e s oaped h is l im p sh i rt

, ,

c u ffs t u r n ed bac k a nd adj u sted an d h is m oist h a n d ,

fi l led wi th s uga r pl u m s d a y by day h e cross ed th e

-
,

ch u rc h vard , k nocke d a t th e d oo r scrap ed h i s th roa t ,

as he s at wa it i ng i n th e d i n i ng room a nd t hen -
, p ro

ce e d e d to se t M i s tr ess J ud i t h s s u m s ’
.
 J ES S E BU LL EN S L ETT ER
’
. 8I

“
S hyly h e al ways a d m i n is t e r ed h is good i es an d
at fi rs t th ey were ea gerl y ac c ept ed a n d eat en B u t .

a n u n u su al ly ho t d ay m ad e M ist r ess J u d ith cha nge

h er m ind ; th e good ie s i n th ei r t r a ns fe r across th e
ch u rchya r d h a d cem en ted the m selves i n to a sh i ny
'

l um p , a nd th e col o u r rush ed h otly i nto h e r face

wh en as u su al th ey were O ffered to h er .

S h e h ad a l ittl e s truggl e wi th h ers el f f o r a n

i nstan t Wh i l e t h e u n i nvi t i ng m o r s el s t uck b e t ween
,

h e r fi nge rs .

“ ”
D o n t yo u l i k e t h em pl ease M is t r ess J u d i th ?
’

, ,

I nqu i red M r C ocks scra pi ng h is th roa t u n eas i l y a s

.
, ,

h e s en t h is p en c i l s wi ftl y a cross th e s l at e wi th a
s creech a nd th e n sc r ap ed h is th roat aga i n at havi n g
,

done it .

“
Pl eas e sa i d M is t r ess J ud i th a t las t very h u m b l y
, ,

th ey re r ath e r wetted to —d ay — p leas e I d r athe r

’

,
’

n ot.
A n d afte r th a t th ey a lways ca m e twi s t ed u p
i n pape n
B u t M ist r ess J ud ith wh e n o nc e sh e h ad p ut h e r
,

Sh o u ld e r to th e wh eel was a n a pt s chola r ,

At .

fo u r tee n M r C ocks d ec la red h er ed uca ti o n t o b e

‘

fin ish e d A n d fi n i sh ed i t was as fa r as h e was

.

co n cern ed F r o m h encefo rth she read l ea rn e d books

.

with h e r fath e r (th o ugh s h e h at ed

Ope n ed h e r grea t eyes o ver th ei r won d ers, Ope n e d
F
82 JESSE BULLEN ’
S L ETT ER .

h e r g r ea t ch i ld l i k e h ear t t o th ei r t eachi ngs g r e w

-
,

wis e beyon d h e r yea rs i n so fa r as boo k l earn i ng

and th i n ki n g wen t ,
a n d rem a i n ed a ch i l d s ti l l ;
ign ora n t of th e wi s e ways t h e wick ed wo rldof ,

i gn o r a n t o f co nven t io n a l i t i es j u dg i ng r igh t a n d wrong

,

by God s Word fi r st by h e r o wn p u re h ea r t n ex t
’

, ,

by h e r fath er s a n d M as te r H u rs t s exa m pl e l as t
’ ’
.

Th e re were certa i n sh e lves i n th e bookcase wi th

o ld d usty vol u m es i n th e m th at sh e h ad beco m e
a s fa m i l i a r wi th a t s eve n teen as wi th t h e r os es i n
,

th e ga r d e n . S h e d id n o t k n ow wh ich s h e l oved
b es t ; th e o l d m usty books wi th th ei r qu ai n t s ay
i ngs a n d sta rtl ing r evel at io n s o r th e grea t d ewy ,

r os es th a t s h e d rea m t abo u t a nd s m i l ed over i n ,

h e r s l eep — th at sh e wo k e t o s e e look i n g u p a t h e r
o u t o f th e ga r d en cal l i ng t o h e r wi th th ei r s peech fu l
,

s i len ce t o co m e o u t a n d b e t he i r s u n .

I d a r esay sh e r ea d so m e evi l th i ngs i n thos e

m u sty boo ks so m e d ays N O o n e fo rbad h e r n o .
,

one l a i d a b a n o n t h is b oo k o r o n tha t But .

as r oses grow o n d un g h eaps a n d fa i r l il i es u po n

-
,

graves a n d a r e u n ta i n ted s o was i t wi th M ist r ess

, ,

J u d i th a n d h e r c h i l d l i k e m i n d -
M uch th a t s h e .

r ead th a t wo ul d have b een vi l e t o s om e h ad n o ,

m e an in g f o r h e r m u ch passed fr o m h er l i ke a t r a n
,

“
S i en t t r ou bl ed d r ea m T he r e a r e b ad th i ngs i n
.
 JE S S E B U LLEN S LETT ER ’
. 83

th e world tha t s certa i n wo u l d

’

, , sh e s ay to h ersel f ,

sh u tti ng h er bo ok a n d gett i ng on a cha i r to pu t

“
i t back . A n d th ere are b ad m en to o . But I
’ ’

, d o n t kn ow wh at th e th i ngs are a nd I d o n t wa n t ,

’
t o k now . A n d I m n o t l i kely to co m e a cross ba d
fol ks beca us e t here a re so
,
few o f th e m l eft i n th e
wo rld .

B l ess ed M ist r ess J u d ith ! wh o j udged o f th e worl d

by h e r o wn h eart by h e r fath er a n d M aste r H u rs t
,
.

”
SO s he h ad co m e u p “
s o m e ho wz God a n d
n at u re ha d ta ken h er i n h an d .

A n d i t was O f h e r t hat th e Pa rs o n s at th inki ng

by h is fl ic ke ri ng l a m p th ough J ess e B u l len s letter ,
’

l ay Op en be for e h i m .

Pa rtl y of h e r a n d pa rtl y of t he l ett e r .

As sh e stood ove r h i m wi th h er wa rm l i ps h is on

fo r eh e ad sayi ng , ,
“
Open it and se e, yo u forget fu l
fathe r ! h is eye had fa l len on so m eth i ng i n th e
l ett e r wh ich h e d i d So not ca r e fo r h e r to read .

h e ha d t a ke n i t fro m h er a n d sh e on ly hopi ng , ,

”
n oth i ng was wron g wi th J ess e ha d gon e o u t ,

w ith A m os u n d e r t h e porch .

J esse B u l l e n s l ette r was t o i n ti m at e th at h e was

’

co m i ng h o m e I t was J u l y n ow ; h e sh o u ld b e ho m e
.

”
by th e m id d l e o f Au gus t A l ong with ha rvest .
“
,

J esse s fathe r wo u l d h ave sa id for a l l th i ngs a n d

’

,
84 JESSE B UL L E N
’
S L E TT E R .

t i m es i n H asl i ng t o n d a t ed fro m a nd to h a rves t B u t .

J ess e h a d b ee n n ea rl y a yea r ab road ; J esse was

go in g t o be a n O ffi ce r ; J ess e h ad q u ite given u p
H as l in gto n ways a n d wo r d s .

Th e r e was s o m eth i ng i n th e t on e o f o n e p a r t
of J esse s l e tt e r th a t m ad e t he Pa r so n t h i n k o f
’

J u d ith. M e n eve n a b s en t m en p r i c k u p t h ei r
, ,

m en t al e a r s a n d th i nk wh en so m e o n e s tr e t ches o u t
,

a fee l e r ever s o d e l ica t el y a n d i t po i n t s t o wa r d s

,

th e i r o n e tr eas u r e t h ei r o n e ewe l a m b
,
-
.

J ess e B u l l en d i d n ot n a m e M i s t r ess J u d i th t i l l t h e
cl os e O f th e l e tt e r wh e r e h e s en t h e r h is r espects ;
,

ye t th e P a r so n fel t th a t th e th o ugh t o f h e r h a d
col o u r ed t h is l ette r A nd J ess e m ea n t i t t o b e s o
. .

J ess e was ve ry c a ut i o us ; i t was o n e o f h is s tron g

p o i nts. H e m igh t h ave b een a S cotch m a n B ut .

h e h ad s o m eth i ng m Ore us e fu l a nd with h i m m o re ,

p r o m i n e n t th a n ca u tio n : i t was tact H e k n ew .

exactl y h ow m u ch t o s ay witho u t givi ng th e Pa r

s o n a l arm o r o ffen ce ; exactly h o w m u ch t o s u ggest

Wi th o u t co m pro m is i ng h i m sel f a t a l l I t was a .

yea r s i n ce h e h a d s e en M istress J u d ith ; h e was a

m e r e sch oo l boy th en N ow— an o ffice r a t l east o n
.
,

th e eve o f beco m i n g a n O f fi ce r Th e n ex t exa m i n a

.

t i o n wo u l d d et e r m i n e h i s c a r ee r Abo u t th is very
.

p o i n t o f th e exa m i nat io n h e was n o t qu i te a t r es t ;

,
86 J ES SE BULL E N S L ETTE R
’
.

gl ass h e had b r ough t h e r fro m C a m b rid ge was h o l d

i ng u p s iste r roses t o th e l a m p l igh t -
. P i ns wer e
scattered h e r e a n d th ere ; l ittl e scisso rs l ay aga pe o n
’
V i rgil s back . A n d m esh e s-

of b l ac k th rea d we re
wi nd i n g th e m sel ves r o u n d th e Pa rson s feet as h e ’

cross ed a n d u ncross ed h i s l egs u n co nsc i o us ly a n d ,

pass ed h i s fi ngers th ro ugh h is h ai r .

H e n ot ic e d n o n e O f th es e th in gs ; yet som ehow

’
h e was awa re O f th e m a l l . A wo m a n s p resenc e
ha d grown u p i nto h is l i fe ; th ere were th e m arks o f
h e r a l l abou t h i m . Wo m a n ly a r r angem en ts wo m a n l y ,

u n tid i n ess es wo m a n l i n es s i n a l l i ts fo rm s a n d ph ases

,

wa s th e r e .

H OW co u l d h e pa rt with h e r ? W el l ,
h e n eed
n ot th i n k ab o u t th a t yet H e t oo k th e r oses b e
.

twee n h is l arge fi ngers gi ngerly a n d s m el t th em , .

H e d id not ca re m u ch fo r fl owe rs ; n o t very m u ch ;

h e th o ugh t th ey we r e u n i n tel l igi bl e t h i ngs ve ry ,
.

But w h e was a lways s e e in g the m — a lways

'

no

l ivi ng a m ongs t t h em . A n d J u d i t h had pu t t h e r os es

t h er e .
 C HAPTER XI .

ANO THER L ETTE R .

H AT sa m e n igh t wh i l e th e Pa rso n d r eam ed i n

,

h is a rm ch a i r a nd Paxto n D ick wa tched th e

-

l igh t at Trott er s E nd
’

,
th e russet h ea d O f A mos
B ul l e n was be n t ove r a l ette r th at wa s n ot J ess e s ’
.

B ut i t wo ul d b e J esse s very soon ’

.

A m os s great ha n d was m ovi ng stea d i ly a nd ca r e

’

fu l ly ove r th e pape r . H i s s m ooth b rows were b en t

h is great e l bows were s qu ared . Th ere was n oth i n g
t o b e se e n of th e l a rge clea r eyes fo r th e sh ock of

locks fal l e n forwa rd s a nd th e i nten tn ess wi th wh ic h

,

h e p u r s u ed h is task ; bl otti ng each page as i t was

fi nish ed wi th a r eso l ut e thu m p a nd s m oo th ; n eve r
_

pau si ng t i l l th e fo u rth was e nd ed a nd h e h ad s ign ed ,

“ ”
a grea t A m os B u l l en ,
p u t a d ash u nd e r n eath i t ,

a nd chose n a good cl ea n envelo p e ,

on wh i ch h e
d abbe d a sta m p a n d t h u m p ed i t be fo re w r i t i ng th e
, ,

ad d ress .

S uch a n e a t cl ea n m a n l y l etter i t was wh en i t

, ,

was fi n ish ed M r C o cks wo u l d h ave b een p ro u d

. .
88 A NOTH E R LETTER .

i f h e co u l d h ave t u rn ed ou t a n y sch o la r with s u ch

a fi s t as t h at ; b u t poo r M r C o cks lost al l h i s boy
.

p u p il s a t eigh t yea rs o ld . Th ey co uld earn h a l f a ~

crown a wee k th e n fol l owi ng th e p lo ugh l ead

'

, ,
or

i ng g r eat h o rses by th e m a n e ,
or rid i ng th e m wi th
th e i r h a r n ess j i ngl i ng a l ong th e d u sty ro ads . And
A m os h a d n o t bee n a t s cho o l s i n ce m a ny a day .

h e n eve r was m ea n t t o b e a sch ol a r a n d eve ry o n e ,

too k th a t fo r gra n ted , a n d gave h i m no h el p .

N o n e — ti l l M is t ress J u d i th was pas t s i xteen ,

and
A m os a yea r o l d e r : t he n i t wa s th a t l ights bega n
to twi n kl e n ight ly a t Tro tte r s E n d a n d A m os too k ’

h el p i ng h i msel f
“

to .

H e h ad n ot spok en Of it to any o n e, n o t even t o ‘

h is m o th e r . An d A m o s a n d h is m oth e r h a d m os t
th i ngs i n co m m o n . B u t so m eth i ng k ept h i m fro m
ta l k i ng t o h e r or an y one of th is . A ft e r a l l wi th
,

all h is l abou rs h e wo u l d b e b u t wh ere a ny l ad

, of

h is age— a man no w i n d e ed — sh o u l d b e
, .

B ut of th is l ette r h e h ad s po k e n t o h is m o t h e r
i t a ffecte d h is o wn l i fe grea tl y : i t m igh t a ff ect h e r s
n ot a l i tt l e . ! nowi ng n o th in g of th e co n te nts of
—
,

’
h is b roth e r s l ett er h e h a d m ad e u p h is m i nd t o
,

wri t e to h i m a n d t el l h i m tha t h e fel t th a t th e

,

t i m e ha d co m e f o r h i m t o b e d o i ng so m eth i ng fo r
h i m sel f : that th e five h u n d red po u nds a n d th e t wo
 90 A NO TH E R L ETT E R .

M is tr ess B u l l enc o nve yi n g m o r e assu r ance t o h e r

,

boy tha n Sh e fel t s h e h ad t o g ive away .

S o th ey h ad pa rt ed a t t h e b ot to m o f th e sta i r ,

a nd A m o s w r o t e h i s lette r .

H e co u ld n ot h el p th i n k i ng as h e c los ed i t of

J ess e s s u rpris e a t th e fi rm n eat a dd ress a nd th e

’

, ,

s t i l l fi r m e r l et te r i ns id e (fo r th e sta m p h ad co m e a
l i ttl e i n th e way O f th e ad d ress a n d th e M aste r ,
“

”
J esse B u l l e n h ad t o t a i l o ff across i t ) A m os was .

n o l ette r wri te r : h e l eft th a t t o h i s m oth er ; a n d

-

t his was th e fi rs t t i m e h e h ad t ake n h i s p en to

wri t e to h is b roth e r s i nc e th ey h a d p art ed a yea r

b efor e H e h a d th e fa rm a cco u n ts by h i m t o , be
s u re read y to Sh o w t o J es s e — a s fa r m e r l i ke a n d
,
-

b usi n ess l i ke accou n ts a s m igh t b e wish ed by a n y

-

”
o n e, th o ugh A m os was n o “
sch o la r B u t J ess e
h ad n o t s e en th es e yet .

M ist ress B u l len l a y ve r y l a t e awak e th a t n igh t

”

a n d th e st i rri ng o f t h e fa rm a t ea r ly m o r n i ng wok e
her ou t of h e r fi rs t s l eep .

S h e got o u t of bed a n d sto o d by t h e wi nd o w ,

wh ich sh e Open ed Th e s m el l o f h ay fro m th e

.

great r icks ca m e s wee t a n d fresh o n t h e m o rn in g

air . The r e was n o b r e e z e yet ; n igh t h a d h a rd l y
d ied , a n d d ay was n ot yet b o r n . Th e r e was j us t
t h e s t i l l pa u se of d awn .
 AN OT H E R L ETT ER .

S l eepy J e phtha Pa r cel l t h e ,

pl o ugh m a n was l e ad ,

i n g o u t th e great bay h o rs e to wa te r . Th e cock

sh oo k o u t h is feath e r s fo r h i s fi rs t cro wO ver th e
.

fl at h ori z o n th e su n s p i nk ’
l igh t wa s r is i ng an d
creepi ng ; l ittl e by l i tt l e th e s ky caugh t th e glory
fi rst i n th e fa r grey d is ta nc e l i ke a
, ,
clo th
’

of go l d
i t fel l ove r th e s l eepi ng l a n d ; th e n over th e fi eld s ,

th e h edges ,
th e wei rd pol l a rd s ,
t h e l a z y st rea m s .

L ast ly i t to u ch ed th e Rec to ry gab l e wh ere M ist ress

,

J ud i th s wi nd o w was
’

”
S wee t h ea rt ! sa i d M istress B ul l en m ay G o d
gree t h e r a s th e s u n d o es a n d d efe nd h e r fro m
,

”
t ro u bl e ye t awh i l e !
A nd j us t th e n A m os B ul l en s t r od e o u t o f th e l o w
d o o rwa yat th e back (tha t was fro nt d oo r t o J e pht h a
Pa rce l l the p lo ugh m an wh o l ived u n d e r th e sa m e
, ,

roo f) a n d l i fted h is h at as h e s tood l ooki n g o u t ove r

,

th e farm H is eyes wen t fa rth er th a n th e fa r m

.
,

whe re h i s m oth er s h ad go n e b efo re h i m

’
.

“
B u t n o swee t h ea rt ca m e t o h is l i ps — h e o n l y
stood l ookin g a m o m en t a t th e wi nd ow pa n e al l -

a—fl am e th rough th e t rees Th e n J e ph t ha cam e

.

l u m be ri ng u p fo r o rd ers a bo u t th e d u n ma re ; an d
A m os saw a ga te o pen that sh o u l d be closed ; a n d
th e r ou t i n e o f a n oth er d ay had begu n .

B u t i t was o nl y fo r a l it tle wh i l e l onger th ough t ,

92 ANOTH ER LETTER .

A m os . A n d wh eth e r t h e th ough t we r e swee t or

bit te r h e c o u ld n o t t el l Only he m ust go — bette r

.

h i m s el f so m eho w ; d o so m eth i ng t o ris e a b i t i n th e

wo rl d . S om eh o w o r a n oth e r a m b i ti o n — th at goo d ,

fri en d a n d tha t h a rd m is tress — h ad fou nd o u t qu ie t

A m os B ul l e n a t Tro tter s E nd ’
.

M ea nwh i l e wi th a gl o ri o u s a n n u n ci at i o n th e
, ,
ne w
su n was fl ood in g M istress J ud i th s roo m She had ’
.

d r awn th e cu r ta i n h al f a c r oss h e r wi n d ow to kee p

o u t th e m oo n l igh t bu t th e wi nd ow was O p en a n d
, ,

a s th e wi n d s b ega n t o st i r i n th e ivy a n d th e b ree z e ,

_ ’

r os e a n d s igh ed a m o ng th e t re e s it s t irre d th e l igh t ,

cu rta i n too an d s e n t i t wavin g so ftly t o an d fro

,
'

l i ke a h al f -
fil l e d sail .

A n d th e s u n pou red i tsel f ou t a t h e r fee t a s s he

lay t he r e s l eepi ng h er fu l l swe et fac e fra m ed by th e
,

wh i te s o ftn e ss o f th e p i l l ow ; a nd h e r a b u nd a n t ha i r
l yi ng a bove h e r l i ke a n a u reo l e . An d s ta rl i ngs gi b
b ere d a n d c h a ttered o n th e wi n dow si l l -
,
a nd th e
s u nbea m s crep t a n d crep t an d th e grea t r os eb u d s ,

we re o pe n i ng i n th e ga r d en ,
wa i ting fo r M ist ress
J ud i th t o co m e d own .

B u t a n h o u r a nd ,
t wo h o u rs , a n d t h ree h ou rs
p asse d be fore Bu l l y a n d M is tr ess J u d i th r a n d own
th e s ta i r t og et h e r .
94 A N O T H E R L ETT E R .

forbid I sh o u l d b e tak e n away ! Wh a t m ak es yo u

”
th i n k s u ch th i ngs as th at ?
“
f b e l i ke r t o be t a e n a way ’

,
M ist ress — t h a t I
”
be . Bu t fo l ks ta l ks M is tress,
— fo l ks tal ks .

Ta l k o f wha t b ega n M i st ress J u d i th . But

sh e check ed h e rsel f a n d sa i d ,
s he wo u l d be back
to see h i m be fore even i n g .

A n d as sh e we n t a cross th e road a n d l oo ked u p ,

a n d d own a n d saw n o o n e ,
s he s a id to h ersel f t ha t
A m os was righ t wh en h e s a i d P ax to n D i ck ha d a n
”
“
i l l to ngu e . Fo r lee m us t h ave s et fo lks t a lk i n g
a bo u t h e r bei ng “
t a en awa y
’

,
a n d wh o by excep t ,

by A m os
An d yet , sh e sa id i t was n o t
, so bad of Pax to n
D i ck t o say th a t after a l l . I t was a fo ol ish story
e n o ugh b u t i t d i d n o t h a r m a ny
,
S h e d i d n ot one .

see th at s h e co u l d a cc us e h i m o f a n i l l t o ngu e .

S h e wo u l d ask A m os so m e d ay wh a t h e m ean t
b y th a t ; wh a t p eop l e d i d wh o we re bo rn wi th
i l l to ng ues S ho u ld sh e tel l h i m wh a t peop l e sa i d
.

”
a bou t h e r be i ng ta e n away ? O n th e who l e
’

she tho ugh t s h e wou ld n o t b u t s h e wo u l d s e e , .

Wh e n a n opp ort u n ity ca m e perhaps s h e sho u l d ,

n ot b e abl e to k eep fro m t el l i n g h i m wh at Pax

D i c k ha d s e t abo u t a n d th e s i m p l e fol k
'

ton ,
 A N OT H ER L ETT ER .
95

h ad b ee n so Si l ly as t o c red i t . I t wo u ld a m us e
A m os s o.

H e r e M istress J ud ith too k a bo u n d i nto th e ho use ,

an d kissed h e r fathe r S h e was n o t qu ite s u re

.

wh eth er s h e w e re s peak i ng th e t ruth t o h ers el f .

W o u ld i t a m us e A m os wo u l d i t ?
—
 CHAPTE R XII .

H A S L I N G TO N FE A S T .

H E N M is tr ess J u d i th a n d Am os m e t aga i n ,

”
i t was t h e d ay -

O f H asl i ngto n “
Feast . By
th a t t i m e every one k n e w tha t J es s e B u l l e n was
co m ing h o m e .

B u t wh at was J ess e o r a n y o n e els e t o da y?

-

Wh y h ere was t he Feas t ! th e Feas t th a t o n l y

,

l aste d two d ays ; th e Feas t th a t ca m e o n ly o n ce a

yea r o n th e d a y o f th e p at ro n S a i n t
,
.

H a d n ot al l th e h o u s es b ee n newly wh i tewashed
i n h on o u r o f i t ? F o r d ays pas th e vi l lage h ad
t
l ook ed as i f i t h a d be e n p u t u p t o a u cti on ta b l es ,

a nd cha i rs t u rn ed o u t o f d oo rs a nd bu sy h ou s e
,

wives s ta nd i ng O n ch a i rs sweep i n g O ff th e cob webs

a n d p u tti n g o n th e wh i tewa sh A n d n ow th e O l d
.
98 HA S LI N GTO N FEAST .

’
M ea nwh i l e M istress J u d i th sat i n M aster H u rst s
ga r d en wa iti ng fo r M i st ress H u rs t
, to d o n h er bes t
gown a n d t ucker . H e was d ressed ou t as b avel y
r

as an y b ea u : a pa i r o f Sh eph erd pla id t ro u sers a -

,

la ck s ati n wa istcoat fl owered with r ed a n d a coa t ,

of fi n e bl u e cl oth that h e h ad wo r n t o b e m a rri ed

in .

”
Ah ah, ! h e sa id sh ak in g h is h ead
, ,
as h e l i fte d
h is stiff l eg w i th both h a nd s a n d pu t i t d own gi n
“
g e rl y; th e r e s m o re d ress n ow
’
-
a days
-
th a n th e r e
we r e i my
’
O n y wea red a s m ock I d i d al l
time .
’

, ,

m y t i m e arte r I m arri ed ; n i ce cl ea n s m ock I wo re .

’
A n d th e n ye s e e M i ssus i f th e cloth es was n t s o
, , ,

good ye s e e th e s mo ck h e m a d e e m better—; kive re d

, ,
’

e m u p l i ke
’ ’
Ah I h ad a p i nch f o r t som eti m e
.
, ,

I h a d twelve sh i ll i ng a wee k pay th e r ent a nd eigh t ,

”
O f a fa m i ly .

S ich a h eavy fam i l y m y d ea r ye s e e sa id

“
, , ,

M istress H u rs t fro m u pstai rs wh ere s h e was h ook ing ,

h er d ress a n d ra m m i ng h e r n ether ga r m en ts i n to i t
, ,

by th e wi n d o w .

’
B u t yo u ve go t a fi n e bl u e coa t M aster H u rst , ,

”
s ai d J u d ith ; fathe r h as n t go t a bett er ’
.

D id n t b uy i t m y blessed l ady n o r ye t d id n t
“ ’

, ,
’

ask fo r i t .

We n eve r ask
’

fo r n oth i n , m y d ea r ye , s e e, fro m
 HAS L I N GTON FEA ST .
99

M istress H u rs t st i l l u ps ta i rs a nd sti l l st ruggl ing wi th

, ,

th e h ooks a nd ta lki ng th ickly wi th t wo pi ns i n her

, ,

m outh .

“ ’
I m s u re yo u d i d n t ’

, M aste r H urst ; I don t ’

b el ieve you ever asked fo r anyth i ng i n you r l i fe

exce pt fro m G od sa i d J ud ith , .

“
th a t s r igh t fr om
’
That s right m y d ea r , ,
’

M istress H u rst u pstai rs , .

“
A y, th at s right M iss u s ; n eve r ast cep t fro m
’ ’
,

God .

And Maste r H u rst wen t on shak ing h is h ea d ,

ho l d i ng h is kn e es look i ng a t h is boots a nd li ft ing his

, ,

l eg by t u rns wh i l e h e m u m ble d feebly

, ,
’
cep t fro m
God ; neve r ast cept from God ’
.

A nd the n th e gard en gat e cl icked a nd th e l i ttl e ,

gard en walk shook u nd er the grea t approachi ng feet

O f Am os B ul le n .

A fterwa rds there was a t i m e wh en J ud ith reme m

,

be r e d the l ook tha t his face wo re th at d ay ; rem em

bered ho w h is eye h a d r es ted on h er fi rst with a n ,

expressio n tha t had s ta rt l ed h er a n d m ad e h er th i nk ,

i t was a hotte r day tha n i t had been befo re Rem em .

bered h o w fai r and Open h is eyes ha d been as he

stoo d by M aster H u rs t s cha i r with h is hea d u m ’

covere d wh il e th e , o ld ma n bl esse d h i m ; rem em bered

too h o w th e ol d m an bl i nki ng u p o ut of h is dim
, ,
I OO H A S LI N GTO N F EAST .

eyes ,
th at st i l l had th e eagl e —l ook i n th em , had
’
s earch ed A m os s face with t h e t en d e r p i erc i ng s crut in y
th at i s th e espec ia l p rivi l ege O f age wh i l e h e sa i d ,

th i ck l y ,
f o r h is s peech no w was very th i ck ,

“ ’
I h ea rs a s ee b e goi ng away ; wel l ,
G od H e
’
k nows ; I kn ows I d l ik e ye were go i ng to b id e h e re
I l i k es th e l ooks o yo u — yo u favou r s you r fath er ’
,

I wis h
’
yo u du ,
a n d h e were a good m a n . ee cou l d
’
b id e wh i l e I l as t e s ; b u t I ve go t m y bl essed l ad y
’
h e re ; sh e l l m i n d m e ’

,
th a t she wi ll ; sh e l l t a k e
k ee r ’
0 me .

“
H e th i nks a d ea l O f M ist ress J u d i t h tha t h e ,
du ,

s ir, s a i d M i s tress H u rs t wh o had ,

no w go t to h er
bo n n et s tri ngs .
“
H e th i n ks a S igh t m o re of her
’
an he do of me .

A m os l o ok ed a t J u d ith : sh e th o u gh t h e l o oked a
l i ttl e so rrowfu l S h e was n o t O f th at m i n d : sh e fel t
.

ve ry m e rry a nd gla d .

“
H e d o es n t th in k anyth i ng o f m e M aste r H u r st
’

, ,

s h e sa id m isch i evo u sl y po in t ing t o A m os

, .

M as te r H u rs t l o oked u p a l m os t wrath fully a t

A m os a nd sh o ok h is h ead
,
.

I f e e d o an t ; why th en i t s t i m e e e d u m aster ;
’

, ,
’ ’

i t s ti m e you m i n d ed wh at s h e sa id ! I ve m i nd ed
’ ’

m a n y a d ay wh at sh e sai d ; s i n ce s h e we r e a l it tl e
’
’
uh ,
c o uld n t h a r d ly ta l k ; sh e rest es her ha n d h ere
1 02 HAS LI N GTON F EAST .

O h W h a t a pi ty ! N o t t i l l n igh t ? I sh ou ld so
,

h ave l i ked to see the m d a nc i ng ! I n eve r s aw a l ot

O f p eopl e a l l d a n ci ng t ogeth e r — d id yo u ? What
ca n we d o th en Am os ? O h I kn o w ! get so m e
, ,

th i ng fo r J ess e H ere h ere s a gi ngerb rea d m an ’

.
,

th a t l l d o fo r h i m ; a nd h ere s a wo m an a gi nge r
’ ’

bread wo m an — that shal l b e fo r yo u A mos ! H e r e , ,

tak e yo u r wo ma n ! I m go i ng to keep th e m a n fo r ’

J ess e .

The n sh e we n t an d bough t a pa i r o f m i tten s f o r

M a ste r H u rs t .

”
G ree n m y l ad y o r wh ite m y l ady ? ask ed t he
, , ,

frowsy b ro n z e d wo m an at th e sta ll v
.

“
Wel l gree n I th ink sa id J u d ith m ed i tat in g
, , , , .

I ca n k n it m ys el f yo u k now ; o nl y i t takes m e a
,

l o ng t i m e M aste r H u rst wou ld catch col d befo r e

.

I h a d go t th e m d o n e That is Maste r H u rs t i n t he.

chai r there ; yo u ca n s ee th e s ort O f s i z e of h an d h e

”
h as got A nd the n sh e p u l l ed o u t a l on g kn itted
.

p u rse th at Ruth h ad m ad e h e r wi th steel ri ngs upo n ,

it a n d took o u t a n e w S ixp ence t o pay for the m i ttens

, .

Afte r tha t sh e bo ugh t a hood fo r h er l ittle Gad d

god ch i ld an d a toy fo r th is ch i ld a nd a ya rd o f
-
, ,

fl a n n el for a nother that was s ickly .

Th en Tom m y B u ll en who was n o r el at ion o f th e ,

farmer s o f Trotter s E nd excep t i n so fa r as a s o rt of

’ ’

,
 HASL I NGTON F E A ST . I o3

cla nsh i p m akes r el ati on s bu t a grea t pe t J ud i th s

’

,
of ,

was bro ught u p to choose wh a t h e li ked .

Th ere we r e a great m any th i ngs on th e sweeti e

sta l l that m ad e h is l i ttl e m o uth wat e r b u t m other ,

h ad tol d h i m t o b e s u r e a n d choose “
sum mut to
put o n, i f M ist ress J u d i th sho ul d be so ki n d a s
O ffer h i m a keepsak e .

The re was a p i l e O f go r geou s h a nd kerch i efs lyi ng

’

on t he d raper s booth ; th ey had wh i te gro u n d s l i ke ,

oth e r h a nd kerch ie fs b u t u n l i ke oth e r h a nd kerch i efs

, , ,

th ey we r e e m bl a z on ed with goo d ly pictu res ; u nder

each pi ctu re was a l o ng i nscri p tio n a n d i n every ,

p i ctu re a n d i n every i nscrip tion was a mo ral .

L i ttl e To m m y B u l l e n l ooked l ong a nd l ovi ngl y a t

the m E ve ryth i n g els e was s o d ul l a t th at sta l l
.

bo ots co rd uroys stock i ngs pattens

, , ,
.

”
“
We l l To m m y s ai d J u d i th
,
wi l l yo u h ave o n e
, ,
“

o f th es e ?
’ “
Pl eas e am sa id Tom m y Shyl y
, ,
i s i t s um m u t ,

to — t o p u t o n
’
I t s s o m eth i ng t o wea r sa id J ud i th gu essin g , ,

what th e cas e was H e re A m os cu t th is o f f wi l l

.
“
, , ,

o u fo r l i tt le To m m y ?
y ,

A nd A m os cam e fo rward a nd ben t over th e s tal l

besid e J ud ith whi l e h e m ad e a sl i t with h is b ig kn i fe
,

in the chose n h and ke r ch i ef An d j ust the n Paxto n .

1 04 HA SL I N GTON F EAST .

D ick pass ed by w i th h is bask et ful l O f eggs a n d n ews

,

papers .

Paxton D i ck a lways seem ed t o h ave a l ee r i n h is

face wh e n h e looked u p . U s u al ly h e wen t a l ong wit h
his h ead d own as t ram ps d o B ut n o w h e look ed u p
, .
,

a nd th e r e was th e l eer s ure enough , .

Am os co u l d h ave sta m p ed wi th vex at io n th at j u s t ,

as h e stood c l ose to M is t ress J u d ith cu tti ng th e h an d ,

ke rch ie f sh e h eld ,
th a t i l l tongu e
-
sh ou l d hav e
pa ss ed by .

V e ry soon th e d el ights of th e Feas t we r e ove r for

J ud i th . I t was past s e ven o clock a nd th e m en wh o ’

had co m e ho m e fro m work were j o i n i ng th e wo m en ,

”
a n d in to th e L am b s H ead ’
a nd go ing ou t .

’
It s time yo u were hom e M istress J ud i th ,
sai d
Am os .

“
“
Y es, sa id sh e , I th i nk i t is ; beca us e perha p s
’
fath e r s got h o m e from C a m bridge
’
. Yo u l l wa l k
’
back with u s A m os wo n t yo u a nd p ush th e C ha i r ?
, , ,

Am os knew th ey sho u ld pass Paxton D ick agai n .

B ut there was n o ch oice ; h e co ul d n ot r efus e to

p u sh th e cha i r .

Whe n t h ey h ad seen M aster H u rst ho m e Am os ,

crossed th e r oad a n d Open ed th e Rectory gate f or

J u dH h .

“
Wait one m i n u te ,
sa id sh e as h e bega n to say
,
I o6 HASLI NGTON FEAST .

ea r . A m os s t o pp ed . H e s natch ed M is tr ess J ud ith s ’

ha n d su dd e n l y a nd h el d i t .

”
“
A m os ! s a id she, i n a t on e of frigh t e n ed su r

pr i se .

“
I ve d o n e wro ng
’

,
M ist ress J u d i th ,
h e s a id ,

recove ri ng h i msel f h as ti ly a n d d r opp in g h e r h a nd

, .

“
Th e boot h i s n o pl ace fo r yo u t o s ee . Y ou m us t
”
go h o m e .

A n d j u s t t h en t r a m p tr a m p Pa x t o n D i c k p assed
, , ,

by .
 CHAPTER XIII .

HA R VE S T I N G .

H E ave rsio n of A mos an d th e H asl ingto n fol k

a t l arge to th is Paxto n D ic k n eeds so m e
expla nati on .

I n the fi rst place — a n d i t was no s m al l o ffence in

H asl i ngto n — Paxto n D ick was a s t r a nge r . Wha t
r igh t had h e to s ettl e i n th e place— h e who d i d not ,

eve n belong t o Paxton bu t h ad been a stra nge r

,

t here too — he wh o h ad s ettl ed the re th en l eft i t

, ,

b ecaus e th e pl ace was too h ot to hol d h i m an d ,

h a d b ro ught h is wares h i s grea t bas ket a nd h is i l l

, ,

t ongu e to H as l i ngto n ?
Th e fact O f h is bei ng a stra nger tol d even mo re
aga ins t h i m tha n th e bad cha r acte r h e brough t .

\Vh y being a s trange r was a bad character i n

,

itsel f !
B u t th e t al e that stuck to h i m a nd that ma d e ,

m e n sh u n h i m wa s a si n O ften u np u n ishabl e a n d
, , ,

so a ll the m ore frown ed u pon by p ubl ic Opi n ion ,

1 08 H ARVESTI NG .

wh ich h as a fte r al l i ts o wn cod e ,

a n d i ts o wn '

p u n ish m en ts .

Pa xto n D ick wi th ,
th e m al ic e that h ugs i tsel f i n
its el f, a nd l oves evi l fo r th e sake of fi nd i ng i t ou t

a nd b ri n gi ng i t to l igh t h ad by a s mal l m od icu m

, ,

of t ru th a th ou sa n d sn eaki ng ways an d watch ings

, ,

a n d th e p rop i ti o u s co ncu r r ence o f ci rcu m sta nce s ,

b een e nabled t o blas t th e p rosp ects an d fou l th e

n am e of t wo s eparate p eopl e i n Paxton .

H avi ng acco m pl ish ed that m as terl y fea t ,

s i n ce
wh en th e l ee r h a d n eve r l eft h is sh i ny cou n tena nce ,

h e h ad s u d d e n ly fou nd h i ms el f u npop u la r . Th e m e n
h e h ad r u i n ed we re sa fely away— on e i n prison th e,

o th er sel f ba n ished fro m th e p lace

-
. B u t i t s eem ed
as i f h is rose m u st have i ts tho rns . Wo m en shu n ned
h i m feari ng fo r th ei r good n a m e
, ; m e n sh un n ed h i m ,

for th e sa ke of h i s own good na m e that was gon e .

SO h e awok e one m o rn ing t o fi n d Pa xto n too hot

t o h ol d h im as we h ave sa i d a n d t ra mped o h
, ,
‘

h astil y to H asl i ngto n .

H e was th e o n e m a n i n th e pl ace with wh o m th e

Pa rso n was n o t po pu la r Th e Pa rso n i n d eed ha d
.

a grea t d isl ik e t o th e m a n m o re fo u n d ed o n h is ,

a ppea ra nce a n d sneak i ng ex p re s sio n tha n o n a ny

tal es —for th e tales passe d q u ick ly en ough fro m h is
,

m i n d a nd h e co ul d h ard ly h ave t old wheth e r h e

,
 H A RVE S T I N G .

n ow N owh e r e . Th e r is ing s u n was J esse ,

d oub tl es s .

An d Pax t o n D i ck (perh aps b eca u se h e kep t u nseaso n

a bl e h ou rs ) l oved ris ing su n s i n gen eral Fo r a l on g .

t i m e pas t h e had m appe d h is path a nd n ow h e wa i ted ,

wi th n o l i ttl e i m p at ien ce fo r G en tle ma n B u l le n s ’

a d ve n t
Th is was b e wi th h arves t and a m onth a f te r
to ,

H asl i ngto n Feast th e fi rst s ick l e was l ai d t o the co rn .

I t was th e s eco n d we ek i n Augus t A fi ne long .

su m m e r wi th j u st ra i n e no ugh a n d pl en ty Of s u n h ad
, ,

r ipe ned th e crops t o a go ld e n perfectio n .

N o w a l igh t a u tu m n b r ee z e h ad s p r u ng u p an d
wen t so ftly s igh i ng th ro ugh t h e waving fi el ds ; th e
oppressio n o f J u ly was ove r th e yea r was pois ed o n
th e bord e r l a nd b etween s u m m e r a n d a u tu m n — sh e
-

h ad give n a ha n d t o each an d s tood coyly bal anci n g

,

h ersel f l ook ing fi rst o n e way th en a noth e r fr o m d ay

, , ,

t o d ay a n d h o u r t o hou r .

I t i s a glo ri o us t i m e th is A ugust th is t i m e o f ,

h arvest ing J u d i th I ngrey Open ed h e r eyes o f seven

.

t ee n s u m m ers a n d saw i t a l l as fo r th e fi rst t im e

, ,

b ea ut i fu l n e w sou l satisfyi n g —a s poets s e e i t

, ,
-
, .

H ad sh e live d b efo re th i s t i m e I t s ee m e d to h e r
t h a t s h e had n o t a t l east n ot i n a ny m u ch h ighe r
,

sen se tha n h e r ros es i n th e ga r d en N o w l i fe was .

t h r obbing i n h e r i n a t ro u ble d ha p py t u m u lt S h e
, , .
 HARVEST I NG . I I I

l ook ed abo u t h e r a nd sigh ed fro m th e m ere

’

eou s ez ou s
,

u es s of a l ivin g ,
brea th ing con scio us ness . H o w
bea u t i fu l th e wo rl d was — h ow go od was G od Z— h o w

4 h a ppy s he was wh o,
l ived to s ee i t al l
S h e was i n a n at m osph ere o f s uch p eace a nd i n no

cenc e an d p u ri ty that sh e l ook ed o u t fro m h e r d o ve co t

a n d s aw n oth i ng els e A n d yet s h e was conscio us of
.

so m ethi ng m o re tha n peace a n e w i nterest s ee m e d to

h ave co m e i n to t h e world a n ew l ight seem e d h over ,
’

i ng ove r co m mo n th i ngs a n d qu i ck en i n g th em trans

, ,

fo rm i ng th e m J ud i th d i d n o t qu esti o n hersel f a bou t

.

”
th es e th i ngs ; sh e on ly sai d I l ive a n d was happy ,
“
, .

S h e sa id t ru ly ; h a d s h e sa i d m o re i t h a d n ot bee n
t ru e S h e di d n ot love farth e r tha n th at wi th h er
.
,

”
n ew l i fe a n e w grea t l ove fo r al l th ings a n d s easo n s
“

a nd fa m i l iar faces h ad ris en wi th i n h er B ut th e h a z e .

a l ittl e o f th e gol d en ha z e — tha t h u ng above h e r ,

th ough s h e d i d n o t s tay t o qu esti o n i t ca m e fro m ,

so m eth i ng o u tsi d e o f h ersel f : tha t was love .

H o t s u m m e r d ays th at red d en ed a n d s wel led ea ch

,

ea r o f corn h ad ri pen ed th e h ea rt o f A m os B ull en

, .

H e k n ew n o w s i nce h e co u l d n ot choose b u t k now i t

, ,

si nce h e was eve r bat tl i n g wi th i t strivi n g aga i nst i t , ,

fal l ing u nd e r i t that t h e f ace O f M ist ress J u d ith ha d

,

co m e i n to h is so ul a n d tha t h e l ove d h e r W ith a l l

’

.
,

th e st r ength O f a st r ong pu re m anh ood a n d o f s i lenc e

, , ,
I I 2 H A RV E ST I NG .

h e l oved h e r . t h a t was
An d sh e s u n n ed h e rs el f i n it ,—

all . A n d s he was M istress J u d i th t o h i m s t i l l .

B ea uti fu l — far above h i m fa r o u t O f h is vu l g af r each

, .

Far m e r B u l le n h e sa i d t h e wo rd s b i tterl y ; i f h e
we re G e ntl e m a n B u l l en l i ke J ess e h e m igh t p e r
“
, ,

h aps asp i re — m igh t d a re t o h o p e B u t G o d had g ive n .

th e ta l e n ts to o n e a n d the l ove t o th e othe r A mos

, .

tho ugh t G od s ways were past fi nd i ng o u t

’
.

I n th es e d ays h e was very sh y o f th e Rec t o ry a n d

th e Recto ry gat e Fro m a fa r O ff a t ea rl y m o rn i ng h e
.

l oved to s e e th e s u n sa l u ti ng th e t r ees th at gre w abo u t

h e r ho m e th at sh elt ered t h e flowers h er h a nds h a d
,

pl a n t ed Fo r th e wi n d ow i tsel f i t wa s n o t afl am e
.
,

no w as i n e arl y s u m m e r . Th e s u n ha d go n e a grea t
way r o u nd a n d ha rvest was co m e
,
.

Y es h a rves t was co m e—
,
a b u sy gol d en beau t i fu l
, ,

time . N owh e re m o re b ea u t i fu l t h a n i n H asl ingto n

a nd i ts S ist e r vi l lages wh ere n at u re h as n o t b ee n p ro
,

d iga l o f h er gi fts wh e r e t h ere a re n o h i l l s a n d f e w

,

t rees a n d wh e re th e co lo u ri n g of s u n a n d s ky a n d
, ,

ch angi ng s easo ns a n d th e b usy scen es O f co u n t r y l ife

,

h ave a n u nb r o ken th eat re to pl ay u po n .

O n a S at u r d ay m o r n i n g M is t ress J u d i th wh o h ad ,

b ee n s itting o n th e wi nd o w sea t i n h e r fathe r s st udy ;

~
’

fl un g d own h er boo k h ast i ly a n d p u l led d own h e r ,

s tr aw h a t fr o m th e peg i n th e h a ll S h e h ad be en .
1 14 HARV EST I N G .

”
S ocrat es fath e r ,
— wh at d i d h e sa
y? very t ea rfu l ly

Crit O I ,
o we a cock t o Ascl epi u s — th at is wh at
”
h e sa id ,
repl i ed th e Pa rso n d ri l y wi th th e t wi n k l e ,
O f

a s m il e i n his eyes a t wh ich M istress J u d ith h ad fi rs t

,

“ ”
sa i d O le ! i n a to n e of grea t d isa ppoi n tm ent a n d ,

t h e n h ad l augh ed a nd go n e t o b ed , .

N o w sh e wa s t ry i ng to rea d a D ia logu e by d ayl igh t ,

b u t i t was s u e/z d ayl igh t ho w co u l d sh e ? SO she

“

th re w d own th e P lato a n d took t h e s traw hat .

S h e wen t to M as te r H u rs t s b u t th e d oo rs we r e
’

cl os ed .

H ow stupid she s ai d “
th i s is th e fi r s t gl ea n
’

f
’
i ng d ay — O co u rse eve ry one is ou t . I l l go a nd see
”
th e m gl ea n .

SO sh e ca l le d ou t good m o rn i ng to M aster H u rst ,

“
wh o was l o ck ed u p ups tai rs t i l l h i s m iss us ca m e
h om e . And then S he m ad e fo r th e fi eld .

I t wa s n o t t e n o cl ock ye t Th e ha z e o f m o rn ing
’

h a d n o t pass ed away an d th e d ew was sti l l t r em bl i ng

,

on everyth i ng a l o ng h e r pa th . Th e road s were d u s ty

en o ugh b u t th r o ugh th e l ittl e vi l lage s t reet a n d
, , ou t

beyo n d th e l as t h ou se th e t races o f th e h a rvest l ay ,

th ickl y st r ewn ove r th e gro u n d . I II go ld e n sh i n i ng

p atch es l ay th e h eavy ea rs of ba rl ey t ha t h ad fal l en
fro m th e grea t l ad e n waggo n s as th ey passed . F ro m
 H ARV EST I N G .

th e t r ees i n a sh im m e r i ng wavin g frin ge th e l on g

, ,

s te m s th at h ad been cau gh t u pwa rd h u ng a l l al ong

t h e ro ad ; th ey m ad e a s o rt of fai ry fi l m y a r ch fo r
M ist ress J ud ith as sh e wen t b l i th el y by .

Th e sky wa s cl ea r a n d bl u e a n d cl o u d less a nd fa r
o ff ; the a i r was fu l l o f th i st le d own th at fl u ttered a n d -
,

rose a n d fel l l igh tl y a n d ,

of d a r t i ng d ragon —fl ie s tha t
wh eel ed a n d boo m ed a n d s ettl ed — a nd th e n wh eel e d
a nd boo m ed a ga i n . P i n k co nvo lvu l us h a d s wa th ed
a l l th e h edge s u p a n d d o wn b rio n y wi th i ts b erri es
,

r i pen ing i nto red a n d i ts b ea ut i fu l l eaves h angi ng

, ,

t u m bl ed ac ross th e privet h ere an d th ere .

Far O ff was th e so u n d o f th e sweepi ng s ick l e O f th e ,

voi c es o f ch i ld ren o f th e c r eak i ng o f h eavy wa i ns

,
.

O n o n e s id e a fi eld o f b ean s b ro wn c u t a n d sh eaved , ,

a l r eady o n th e o th e r rud d i est ri p es t ba rl ey h al f

, , ,

r eaped Furth e r o n a fi el d th at h ad been ca rri ed

.
,
“

th e eve n i ng be fo re .

I II th is l as t fi el d al l H asl i ngto n was gl ea n in g . Men

th e re we r e n on e fo r th ei r s trong a rm s were n eed ed a l l
,

th e d ay a nd a l o ng d ay i t
,
is i n ha rves t . B u t wo m e n
of a l l ages with ch i ld re n o f a l l ages h ad co m e l i ke
, ,

R uth t o th e fi el d O f B oa z .

Fat bab i e s la y coo ing o n th ei r backs h e r e a nd th ere ,

l itt l e girls with O ffic io u s z ea l rush in g s ud d en ly u po n

th e m s etti ng th e m u p r ight
, ,
pu l l i n g th ei r pi n a fo res
1 16 H ARV EST I N G .

d own a n d t h e i r backs u p m ak i ng t h e m Open th ei r

,

e yes wid e befo re th ey relapsed i nto th e o ld posi t ion ,

wh ich was so m u ch m o re com fo rtabl e a n d fr ee .

Wh e n M ist r ess J u d ith cam e i n to th e fi el d th ere was

a ch oru s O f k i nd ly greeti n gs a nd of cu rtseys .

“ ”
I am not goi ng to gl ean ,
s a id she , b u t I m igh t
”
p ick u p s o m e o f th e babi es .

B u t as soo n as sh e s a w h o w very h appy th e babi es

we re k ick i ng
, ou t freel y on th ei r ba cks a n d st udyi ng
t he h eavens s h e s at d own o n th e s tubbl e I ns t ead
, ,
an d

t al ked t o the wo m en as t h ey p assed her .

”8 GLEANING .

Ah t h a t h e wi ll m e m ; b u t I h ow
’
, d o an t k n ow as
th e g l e an in b e t he n Fol ks s ay as th em ch i n es is
’ ’
ll .
’

’
a co m i n i n a n d cl ea ns u p a plac e terrib l e clos e they
-
, ,

There wo n t b e m u ch l eft fo r poo r fol ks no t th en

’
du .
,
.

”
I h o p e th ey wou z co m e h ere th en sai d J u d i th
’ ‘

wa rm ly S h e was s itting with h e r h a t p ush ed back

.

fro m h e r face a n d th e ro u nd straw bri m fra m ed i n th e

,

ova l l i ke a h al o ; h e r ha nd s clas ped ro u n d h er kn ees ,

a n d B u lly lyi ng pa nt i ng bes id e h e r S h e was a l i ttl e .

s u nbu rn t i n th os e d ays a n d ye t Sh e l ook ed a l i ly ,

b es id e th e b ro n z ed wo m e n wh o were r o u nd h er .

“
Th a t l l b e as h o w M ast e r B u l l en l i kes I tak e i t
’

, ,

sai d a n oth e r spea ke r .

“
I f h e favo u rs i s fa th e r he l l b e good to poo r
’

,
’

fo lks sa i d a th i rd
, .

’
Fa rm e r B ul l en i t s h i m as favou r s the o ld g e n l e
,
’

”
m an , s a id a fo u rth .

As th ey pass ed o u t O f J ud ith s h ea ring th ey tal ked

’

with st il l g reat e r fr eed o m o n th e sam e topic H er e .

was S at u rday : o n M o nday G entlem a n B u l len was

co m i ng h o m e N o wo nd e r th ey we r e a l l agog with
.

exc ite m en t a n d Specu lat io n .

The r e b ea n t no d o ub t b u t h e S a co m i n M ond ay
’ ’
-
,

b e th ere
N ay no t l i kel y ,
S uk ey s h e been u p a wash i n fo r
.
,
’

M ist ress B u lle n th is t wo d i es an d sh e tel l m e as h ow ,

 GLEAN ING . n o

’
they b een wash i n of th e wi nd er cu rt i u s as h asn t ’
a -

”
be en u p si nce th e Old d ied ’

g e n l e m an .

”
My m a n sa id M is tress M u ncey th e blacksm ith s
, ,
’

wi fe s pea ki ng co nfi d en tial ly an d wi th th e i m porta nc e

, ,

that becam e h e r as th e b ea re r o f s o va l u abl e a n ad d i

ti on to th e facts o f th e case M y m a n h e h ave been ,

ti p— Mast e r Am os h e h ave s en t for h i m a n d h e tel l ,

m e as h e h ave g rin d e n a l l th e kn ives a nd o il e n th e ,

b oil e r a n d s ich a nd p u tten a n e w n ob o n th e poker

,
.

N o w i f tha t bea n t a S ign s u re a n d sart i n as th e you ng

’

m a n s a co m i n M o nd ay m y n a m e bea n t L yd i a
’ ’ ’
-
,

”
M u ncey .

Wel l a nd i t az u l l ik e th ey d m ak e s i ch t u rn o u t
’
’ ’
“
,

an d th at a n th e yo un g g e n l e m an weren t a co m i n
’ ’ ’
-

h om e M o nd ay ech o ed a n eighbo u r ,
.

’
“
What s m ore sa i d M ist r ess Gad d
’
I see d , ,

M istress B ul le n a airin o f s u m m u t i th e gard i n A n d -

’ ’
.

’ ’
th i nks I to m ysel f i f th e m bea n t h i m sh eets I m , ,

greatly m isto ok O u ay I k n ows the i r ways a n d s i ch

.
,
.

I see d e m barn bo th o n e m b less th ei r hearts ! a nd

’ ’

,
’

” ’
fi ne ch ild e r th ey was both o n em .

M aste r A m o s h e b e a fi n e m a n s u r el y sai d o n e ,

O f th e wo m e n An d k i nd h ea rted l ike h is fathe r

.
“ - .

W e l l spa re h i m ill wh e n h e t akes to go away I

’
.

d u n n o b u t I d o es n t see m to tak e so k i nd ly to t o th e r
,
’

’
’
nu on em .
1 20 GLEAN I N G .

“
H e d o se e m co n s e kial , s ai d a noth e r tha t com es
’ ”
O goi n g t o s tra nge parts a n d s i ch , .

Wel l yo u th ey g us c o n s e kial wh en th ey gits

‘
,
se e

’
to a ny bign ess m y boy h e ,
d o an t kee r n ow fo r wh a t
”
m e n o r h is fath e r says n o t h e ,
.

”
C o m e gi rls co m e
, ,
no w! c ri ed M ist ress J ackl i n ,

th e wag of th e vi l lage b ustl i n g u p wi th a bu n d l e i n

,

h er l a p a nd a n o th er ba la n ced on
'

h e r h ead . I t was
t he fash i o n to l augh a t wh a t M is t r ess J ackl i n s a id ;

so t h ey a l l l a ugh ed b efore sh e h ad sai d a nyth i ng

”
m o re wi tty th a n C o m e gi rl s co m e
, , .

”
H is h t ,
B ecky ! s a id on e or two ,
th e r e b e M aste r
’
A m os co m e i t h e fie ld .

And so h e h ad . H e l ifted h is h at wi th one ha n d

as h e st rod e th ro ugh th e st u bbl e a nd p u sh ed back h is ,

h a i r wi t h th e o th e r ; passi n g J u d ith wi th ou t see in g

h e r h e j o i n ed th e k n ot
,
O f wo m en wh o we r e fasten i ng
up th e i r b u n d l es i n great c l oths .

Th e re h e s tood wi th h i s back t o J ud i th a n d ta l ked

t al ked fi rs t t o one a n d th e n t o a n oth e r ; asked th e m
h ow th ey h a d fa red , l ook ed a t th e grea t bu n d l es ,

a n d s m i l ed . A n d a s th ey passe d out o f th e ga te
fo r th e grea t ch u rch —b el l was ri ngi ng t o t el l th e m
(
gl ea n i ng t i m e wa s over a n d a fter th a t n ot a n ea r
-
,

was gath e red ) ,

J ud ith co u ld h ea r th e m tal ki ng of

A m os sti l l .
1 22 GLEANI NG .

h ou s e key fro m h e r pock e t a nd d isapp ea red b u nd l e

-
, ,

a n d a l l u nd e r h er
,
d oo rway low .

A m os B u lle n wi th h is head bent fol lowed the m

, ,

sl owly across th e fi eld .

M ist ress J ud ith looked u p fr o m he r kn itting .

”
Good m orn i ng Am os ,
.

H e st arted a nd to ok o ff h is hat as h e r et u r n ed he r
,

greeting .

I s u ppos e yo u wo n t b e m a ny d ays l onge r at th e

“ ’

h a rvest ing Am os ? yo u l l go soo n a fter J esse com es

,
’

’
wo n t yo u
“
J esse ha s n o m i n d I sh oul d h e a nswe r ed sm il ing , , ,

b ut sp eak ing a l i ttl e wa r m ly al l th e sa m e He .

th i n ks I m igh t as wel l bid e h ere a nd m i n d lez s

’

”
bu si ness .

“
O h A m os h e ca n t b e so s el fish s u r ely ! H ave
, ,
’

yo u h ad a l ette r fro m h i m
M othe r h as M ist r ess J ud i th a n d h e s en t a
, ,

’
m essage t o m e th at h e h oped I wo u ld n t give u p th e
’
fa rm as h e co u ld n t m i n d i t h i msel f H e s a gen tl e
,
.
’

m a n n o w yo u know M ist ress J ud i th

, ,
.

A m os d o n t s p ea k u nki nd ly l ike th a t — it is n t l i ke
,
’ ’

”
yo u to d o i t A n d M i st ress J u d ith h al f asha m ed o f
.
,

r eprovi ng h i m kep t h er h ead ben t ove r h er k n i tt in g

,
.

Th ere wa s s i len ce fo r a m o m en t except fo r th e ,

boo m o f th e g reat d ragon —fl ie s wi th the i r b l u e bod ies ,

 GL EAN I NG .

a nd s i lve r wi n gs th at sk i m m ed pas t th em a n d th e
, ,

c reak ing O f th e wa i ns i n th e bea n -

fie l d h a rd by . Th en
A mos a lways sta nd i n g u p b efo re J u d ith a nd k i cki ng
,

th e wa r m st u bbl e wi th h is foo t sa id gen tl y ,

“
I h ave n o m i n d to spea k h a rd ly o f J esse M ist ress ,

J u dit h H e s m y b roth er a nd h e s n eve r d on e m e a

.
’

,
’

b ad t u rn ye t O n ly I was s o re a t h is m essa ge
.
,

’
M ist ress J ud ith I d o n t d en y I f yo u ha d wri tt en th e
,
.

l etter I d id an d fel t as I d i d a nd p u t t h ings as p la i n

, ,

’
as I d id yo u d be a l itt l e sore to o Not eve n a n
,
.

a nswer— on ly a m essage tak i ng i t so l igh tly I t read , .

to m e l i ke th is M istress J u d i th : I a m J esse a n d m y
,
‘
,

a ffai rs go best wh il e I i m p r ove yo u rsel f a nd wh i l e yo u

m i n d th e fa rm After a l l yo u a re o n ly Am os
.
, .
’

ho w ho w
’ ’
Tha t s i t read M istress J u d i th
, ; tha t s it
”
read to m e .

Th at was j ust how th e l ette r lz ad r ead ,

an d h o u r

th e l ette r h ad bee n wri tten . A m os i m p rovi ng h im

s el f ? t ravel l i ng ? Why h e n eve r co u ld i m p rove ! H ad
n o t th e Pa rson t ried h i m a n d h i s m oth er t ried h i m , ,

a n d J esse t ri e d h i m a nd ha d i t n ot a lways fa i l e d ,
?

J ess e t u rn ed th e n ea t l et t er ove r i n h is n ic e ri nged

h and — he ha d bo ugh t a ri n g i n Pa ris — a n d wond ered
h o w A mo s had got to writ e l i ke that : i n sp i te of

b ei ng i nca pable O f i m provem ent ,

ho w ha d h e go t to

wr it e l ik e th at ?
 1 24 GL EAN I NG .

H e fel t a l it tl e a n n oyed th a t A mos sh o u l d h ave go t

s u ch foo l ish n oti o ns i n h i s h ead . S u rely i t was a l itt l e
p res u m pt uo us on hi s pa r t to th i n k O f as ki ng h i m ,

J ess e t o co m e h o m e a n d m i nd th e fa rm wh en al l ,

J ss e s fut u re d ep end ed on h is p r epa ri ng fo r a n d

passi ng h is e xa m i n ati o n . Wh e n h e h ad passed a n d ,

had t i m e t o th i n k of i t h e m igh t p u t a s tead y h ead

,

m an u n d e r h i s m oth e r a t T rotter s E nd a n d th en ’

why h e s u ppos ed A m os cou ld go wh ere h e l i ked

,
. In
th e m e a nti m e Am os m u st stay . Th at was i m p erati ve .

H e sh o u l d h ave a sa l a ry i f h e ch os e fo r d oi ng th e
work ,
or a p erce n t age O II th e p r oceed s of th e fa rm .

B u t stay h e m u s t til l a fte r th e exa m i n atio n J ess e .

was gett ing n e rvo u s abo u t th a t exa m i nat i o n h e fel t

h e cou l d n ot be wo rri ed a b ou t o th e r th i ngs j us t n o w .

M i stress B u ll e n wa s n ot easy a bo u t h e r so n s l ette r ’

.

S h e fo r esaw a clo u d n o t b igge r tha n a m an s h a nd ’

b u t st i l l a cl o u d ris i ng i n th e east A n d M ond ay

, .

was to h ave be en so j oyful . Th e fatt ed ca lf was t o

be ki l l ed a n d th ere was n o p r od iga l i n th e m a tt er
,
.

M i st ress B u l l e n thought J esse was co m i ng back to h e r

a fte r a l ong a bsenc e a b road j u st ,
as h e h ad l eft h e r .

S h e wish ed no w t n at A m os wou l d b e cont en t to sta y

at home an d h ave n o d i sc us s ion wi th J ess e . A n d ye t
no w a n d th en , wh e n i t h ad co m e ac r os s h e r s udd en ly,
Sh e th ou g h t i t wou l d be best i f h e we r e t o go .
1 26 GL EA N I N G .

gl ea n i ng , of ch u rch o f J ess e
,
. A n d A m os g r own very
,

s i l en t s tood b es i d e h e r l ea n i ng u pon t h e gat e

, .

I t was n o t ti l l sh e sa i d ,
“
I m u st go no w; fath e r
wi ll be wa i t i ng fo r h is d i n n er ,
th at h e awo ke out of

h i s s i l e nc e a n d spok e .

M ay I co m e a l o ng wi th yo u, M istress J ud i th ?
a n d I l l sh o w yo u th e ros e th at
’
Y es wh y n o t ?
;
h as co m e out th is m orn i ng .

’
I t s th e las t t i m e m ay b e
, ,
h e sa id a s th ey wa l k ed
,

d own th e r oad a nd h e d rew a b u n ch

,
O f gra i n fro m
th e t re e i t h u ng u po n a n d th e n t h r ew i t
, O II the
’
gro u n d u n d e r J ud ith s fee t .
 C H APTE R XV

C H UR C H .

[S T R E S S J U D I T H woke n e x m o rn i ng t o
fi n d th e s u n fl oo d i ng h e r roo m a nd t o k n o w
,

by t h e s i l en ce th a t i t was S u n d ay . N o b el l fo r th e
gl ea n ers ra ng o u t i n b us i n ess l ik e fash i o n a t
-
S ix

o clock fro m th e o l d ch u rch steepl e

’
-
; n o ca rts wen t
t o a nd fro ; th e r e was n o sou n d o f m en s vo ices an d ’

of great wh i ps c rack i ng u p a n d d own th e road s a n d

,

i n th e fi e ld s .

Th e yel l ow h al f rea ped fi el d s

-
umo
l ay baski ng n

l es ted i n th e su n A n d th e m o rni ng h a z e h a d co m e
.

aga i n a n d was m el lowi ng th e fla t gi ld ed l a n d sca p e

,

i nto a rich t u ne fu l h arm o n y .

“
I t is a n O ld s i m i l e th e s m i l e o f th e s u n o r
, ,

o f th e ea rth Ye t wh at e ls e d escri bes th e b l iss fu l

.

ra d ia n ce o f m orn i n g s u n u po n a fert i l e co un t ry ,

especia l ly i f th e s easo n b e h arvest a n d W ha t d e ,

scri bes th e l ook th e ea rth wears bett er tha n to sa y

sh e s m i les ?
An d ove r fiat C a m b ridgesh i r e th e sm il e ca n be s o
1 28 C HURCH .

b road . T h e fa r b l u e d ista nc e s m i l es an d th e s t rea m s ,

s m i l e — above all ,
the r u dd y co rn —h eld s s m i l e a nd
smile ; u p to th e gard en wh e r e th e ros es an d th e ,

d ah l i as s m i l e a nd th e w in d ow panes that flash back

,
-

th e gl o ry s m il e t oo .

M ist ress J udi th loved S u nd ay ; it was a b ea uti fu l

qu ie t d ay to h er yet wi th m o re sti r i n
,
it tha n oth er
d ays b rough t wi th the m
Fi rst th ere was b reakfas t ; th en S u nday s c hoo l -
.

A fte r S u nd ay sch oo l -
sh e d rove h er fl ock across th e
gard en a n d th e ch u rchya r d i nto ch u rch . Th e great
b el l we n t cl angi ng an d boom ing ; th e qu iet d ece nt
, ,

ch ee rful fo l k ca m e crowd ing an d gath ering ; th e O l d

fas h ion ed pe ws fi l led ; th e bel ls stoppe d ; th e barre l
O rgan b e g a n to pl ay . M r C ocks wo u nd th e barrel
.

o rga n with great p rofi cien cy .

I t was t i m e fo r the Parso n t o be a t h is post . But

n o Pa rson ca m e .

H e h as forgot ten ,
s a id J u d i th to h ers el f a nd ,

sl ipp ed ou t of h e r great s q uare box n oisel essly to go

an d t el l h im
Yes h e had fo rgotten
,
. H e was bu dd i ng a r os e i n
th e gard en . H e h ad l ea rn t fr o m J ud i th h ow to bu d
ros e s a nd he was t rying a li ttl e experi m en t
,
in that
l i ne for th e fi rs t t i m e .

Th e be l l s s topp ed fath er s aid J ud i th p u tt ing

’
“
, , ,
I 3o CHURCH .

or t wice a n d so cl ea r t h e d ifl icu l ty H e wen t h app il y ‘

.

i n t o ch u rch fol lowed by h is d a ugh t e r fu l ly fi ve

, ,

m i n u tes a fte r th e ba r r el o rga n h ad give n i ts l as t -

groan a n d h e read h i s s erm o n a l l th e way u p th e

,

a isl e a n d m ad e h is co r rect io n s m en ta l ly
, .

I t was a bea u t i fu l Ol d ch u rch wi th a b el l towe r a t ,

-

t h e e nd i n wh i ch th e rop es were s ti l l s wi nging sl owly

, ,

as th e p raye rs b ega n H igh sq u a re p ews pa i nted a

.
,

fl esh y wh i t e d i d th ei r best o r wo rs t b u t were h a rd l y

, ,

s u ccess fu l i n d isfigu ri ng i t Th e r e were qu a i n t b r ass es

,
.

on th e wal ls fro m “
Th o m W o rt l e iu s pri est A D
,
.
, , .

“ ”
to D a m e H ario t Wym eri ng wh o h ad l e ft ,

h e r P raye r B ook a nd B i bl e t o t h e C h u rch wi th h e r

-
,

n a m e a n d s u n d ry fl o u ri sh es i nscri bed i n th e m
H ario t Wym eri ng— H e r B ook e Th e re was
“
,

a carved sc ree n fa l l i n g t o p i eces b u t bea u t i fu l sti l l

, , ,

r o ugh a n d u n fi n ish ed t el l i ng it s ta l e o f yea rs by th e

,

t races o f th e a x e o n ly i nst ead o f th e p l an e o r th e

,

c arve r s i ns tru m en ts O f l ate r t i m es

’
Th e r e were .

m o n u m e n ts ba rba rou s en o ugh h e r e a n d the r e a n d ,

th e p u l p i t a n d t h e r ead ing d es k were p i l ed o n e up o n -

th e oth e r .

I n th e r ead i ng d esk -
no w s t a n d s th e Pa r so n arran g

i ng h is h ood a nd stol e .

A t h is r igh t h a nd s i ts M is tr ess J u d i th l os t i n th e ,

abys s O f t h e Re c to ry p ew -
. At h is l e ft s p ect a
,
cl ed a n d
 CH URC H . I3 I

i m po rt a n t s t and s J on as J a ck l i n th e C l e r k Al l u p
, ,
.

t h e a isl e o n ri ckety l ittl e b ench es is a rrayed th e

, ,

ex t re m e yo uth o f H as l i ng t o n —th ree a n d th re e a n d

th re e red h ead s brown h eads cu rl y h eads s m ooth
, , , ,

h eads a l l pack ed togethe r ; a nyth i ng th a t ca n sp el l

,

I!
,
o ,
oo— noth i ng th at can fi n d i ts o wn Way i n t o
ch u r ch a n d ope n a p ew d o o r i s h ere a d m itted .

J o nas J ackl i n fro n s al te r n atel y a t th e ex t r e m e

yo uth a nd at th e P raye r B oo k Towa rd s th e begi n
-
.

n i ng o f each prayer th e youth is i n th e a scend a n t !

t owa rds th e e n d th e P r aye r B o ok gets i t ve ry h ot a n d

-

”
st r ong f o r th e n th e A m e n m us t be att en d ed t o
,
“

r ath e r tha n th e yo u th .

O n o n e Sid e o f th e l itt l e fid ge t in g s u rgi ng po pu l a ,

t io n o f th e a isl e r ises o n e wa l l O f s qu a re p ews ; i nt o

t h e m l u m be r al l th e m e n o f H as l i ngto n O n th e .

o th e r s id e th e a i s l e rises a noth e r wal l o f squ a re p e ws

i n to t he m go al l t h e wo m en O f H as l ington Poo r .
,

l i ttl e ex t r e m e yo u th th ey are h ard ly d alt wi th ! wh at

,
e

ch ance h ave th ey o f a qu i et po m m el n o w a n d t hen

M r Cocks towe ri ng over th e ba r rel o r ga n a t o n e end
.
-
,

th e wom e n b esetti ng th em o n o n e s id e th e m en , ,

fath e rs a n d a l l o n th e o th er Pa r so n an d J on a
,
-

J ackl i n i n th e m id d l e
And ye t th e wo rs t h as n o t bee n tol d Th e extrem e .

yo u t h h ave a g r ea t e r e ne my s t i l l J on as J ackl i n as .
132 CH U RC H .

C le r k i s b e fea r ed b u t J o n as J a c kl in h as a no t h e r
to

ca paci ty As C l erk h e is m e r ci fu l e n o ugh ; b u t as

.

”
“
b o y bange r wh o can b e m e r c i fu l
-

Yes t e rribl e id e a i n d eed i t i s t o con t em pla t e A

,
.

ro w o f fid ge t in g s u r gi ng u rch i n s u nd e r s ix yea rs O ld
, ,

a n d th e eye O f a fi erce boy ba nge r overha ngi ng th em

-
.

I f Tom m y B u l len fro m beh i n d fo r i nstan ce pi nches , ,

J o e M u l be r r y s ea r a n d J o e M ul be rry h its back wi th

’

’
h is s ma l l elbow i n to To m m y B u l l e n s s to m ach — wh y ,

th ey k now wh at p en al ty awa i ts t h em I n a n i nstan t .

they a r e s t al k ed J o nas J ackl i n s h an d s m ak e ac ’

q u a i n ta nc e wi th th ei r ea r s .

A nd yet To m m y B ul l en d oes p i nch J o e M u l b erry s ’

ea r s J o e M u l berry d oes so m eti m es i ns i n u at e h i s s m al l

fis t i n t o h i s n eighbo u r s ri bs
’
Th ere is a m o m ent — o n e
.

sh o r t -o n e bl issfu l m o m en t wh e n it is p oss i ble t o pi nch

, ,

yo u r n e ighbo u r wi th i m p u n i ty I t is wh en M r C ocks
. .

i s sa fel y e nsco n ced beh i n d th e ba rrel o rga n a nd bot h -

,

J on as J ackl i n a nd th e Pa rson a re h u nt i ng fo r a hym n

t o s u i t th e t u n e M r C ocks l eaves th is d efe ren tial l
. . y

t o th e Pa r so n ; fo r o n e t h i ng h e ca n n o t be certa i n

wh ich tu n e wi l l c o m e u p fi rst S o m eti m es th e .

o rga n s t icks a nd squ ea ks a t th e O ld H u nd red th ;

th e n they ca rry i t o u t o f ch u rch fo r a l i tt l e sha k e ,

i t wel l b ri ng i t b ac k a n d i t p l ays Lut h e r s H ym n

’

, ,

ex c e l l entl y .
x3 4 CHURCH .

p ris e apassed
h d fro m h e r swee t co u n t en a n c e b owed ,

h e r h ea d u po n he r h a nd s a n d p rayed m u ch b ett e r tha n

sh e h a d p raye d be fore . H e r d a rl i ng h e r , so n ; sh e
th a n k ed G od, a n d co u l d not b e t i red of th a nki ng
H im . S h e fo rgo t a l l a b o u t t h e c lo u d l i ke a m a n s ’

h a nd .

A m os B u l l e n fo rgo t t o o a n d h is h eart wa r m ed o ve r
,

h i s b r oth e r . A n d h e fel t n o j ea l o usy a s h e sa w his

’
m oth e r h ol d J es s e s h a n d th ro ugh th e hym n a nd ,

t hro ugh th e s e rmo n .

I t s e e m ed to M i st r es s B u l l e n th at sh e h ad h e r
s erm o n b esi d e h e r s en t ,
of G od . She did n ot h ea r
m uch of Pa r so n I n g re y s
’
.

B u t pe rh a ps th at was a s wel l .

Fo r t h e s igh t J ess e B ul le n h ad cl ea n swe pt

of -
t he

Pa rso n s m e m o ry o f a l l co r r ect i on s a n d i nse rt io n s

’
.

Righ t
.
th ro u gh fro m begi n n i n g to en d h e p reach ed

h is C h rist m as s e r m o n A n d j ust a s h e ca m e to th e
.

pa rt th at h ad a rea l a t m osph ere of h ol ly a nd s now

a bo u t it — fo r th e Pa rso n wrot e wel l a n d vivi d l y wh e n
he d id w r i t e— a swa l l o w swep t i n a t th e O pen
d o o r a n d twitt e r ed i n th e r a fte r s ; a n d l i ttl e To m m y
B u l l en wa l lo p ed th e n ex t b oy s u rrep ti tio usl y wi th
a d ah l ia .

A n d th e r e we r e a l l th e m en wi th d ah l i a s i n t h ei r
b u t to n h ol es
-
,
o p en m o uth ed
-
,
wo nd eri ng wh a t th e
 CHURCH . 13 5

Pa rso n was a b o u t a nd s i tti ng u n d e r h i m wi th

,
su n

b u rn t faces .

B u t n e ither swa l lo w n o r d ahl ias

, ,
nor ope n m ou ths ,

nor s u n bu rn m a d e a n y i mp ress io n
,
on th e Pa rso n .

Fo r th e re was J ess e — h is l ad —c o m e b ack to him

o nce mo r e .
 C H A P T E R XV I .

F I R ST I M P R E S S I O N S .

H AT n igh t M ist ress B ul l e n a n d her son s s at u p

ve ry l at e at Trotter s E nd ’
. For wh a t wa s
th e r e not to h ea r a n d t o t el l a fter a yea r s abs en ce a ’

’
yea r s s epa ra tio n
A nd j esse co u l d tel l wel l : h e h a d a Sha r p ea r
a nd a n o bserva n t eye ; a n d h e k n e w wh at was
beau t i fu l a n d wh a t wa s to be ad m i r ed as wel l as a ny
man .

Pe rha ps th at was why a ft e r h i s , m oth e r a n d A m os

h ad l e ft h is roo m h e sat ,
on by th e wi nd ow , an d fel l
t o th i nk i ng . Fe l l t o th i nk i ng o f so m eth i ng m u ch t o
be ad m i r ed so m eth i ng m os t bea u t i fu l up o n wh ich
, ,

h is eyes h ad fa l len th at d ay .

Th e fi rs t eyes th a t h ad m et h is o wn a s h e en t ere d
H as l ingto n Ch u rch were th e eyes of M ist r ess J ud ith .

D id h e n o t k n ow th em wel l ? H ad th ey n o t looked
a t h i m a t a l l t i m es a n d s easo n s i n a l l m ood s fr o m , ,

u nd e r s u n bo n n ets s t r aw h ats bo n n ets a n d n o bo n n ets

-
,
-
, ,

eve r Si n c e h e co u ld r em em be r ?
138 FI RST I M PRESSI ONS .

fe l t h a d m ad e h i m m o re th a n h e r equ al ,
her
-

s up e r io r . A n d ha d h e n ot s een fi fty wo m en bea u t i fu l ,

a n d g r ace fu l a n d fi fty m o r e b ea u t i fu l tha n

t h e l i tt l e co u nt ry t hi n g of S i xt een h e r em em be r ed
wh o h a d be e n co u rteo us to h i m m ore cou rteous by
,

far th a n J ud ith ? E ven t u a l l y— th e r e wa s n o s ayin g

— M is tress J u d ith I ng r ey m n/z z
r
‘
be th e r igh t w i fe
fo r h i m . Up to th e presen t t i m e h e h ad h a d n o
,

o th e r fee l in g th a n a l i tt l e c u rios i ty wh en h e th ough t

O f h e r a t all : m uch th e s a m e i n te rest tha t h i s fathe r
wo u ld h ave h ad lo ok i n g a t a ca l f i n a n eighbo u r s
’

fi eld a n d th i n ki ng i f h e fo u nd h e h ad n o t e no ugh
,

cat tl e to gra z e h is o wn ,
h e m igh t i n qu i re th e p ri ce
’

O f tha t ca l f a n d a few oth e r s

, of th e sa m e b reed .

S o Sh e was n o t i n J ess e s m i n d a t a l l as h e ca m e
’

i n to th e ch u rch ; i t was m o re o f wh a t H asl ingto n

fol k wo u ld say O f h i m a n d o f h is m o th e r th at h e
, ,

th o ugh t .

A nd wh en h e m et th e eyes o f M istress J u d i th a nd ,

s aw th e s u n i n a d usty bea m sh i n i ng u po n h e r h ai r

ove r th e grea t squ a re p e w, h e was a l i tt l e s ta rtled .

S u rel y th is was so m eth in g m o re th a n th e M is tress

J u d ith h e r e m e m be red .

A ft erward s wh e n h e h ad co m e i n to th e R ec t o ry
,

ga r d en a n d Parso n I ngrey h ad wal ked u p an d d own

, ,

u p an d d own with his a r m ove r h is sho u ld e r h e had

, ,
 FI RST IM PRESSIONS . 139

b een m ad e q u i t e s u re that th is was m o r e t h a n th e

M ist ress J ud ith of a yea r ago . Tal l n ow w ith a wh ite ,

d ress th a t to uch ed th e gro u nd th e bea ut i fu l ova l O f ,

h e r fac e fi l l e d ou t with th e r o u n d s oft beau ty o f earl y

gi rlh ood th e h ai r th icke r h eavi e r m o re l ust ro u s tha n
, , ,

eve r gath e red u p i n wo m a n ly fash io n

,
‘

on h e r h ead ;
a n d th e n th ose eyes wh ich su rely ,
must have Changed
a l itt l e g r ow n la r ge r a n d greye r a n d m o re exp ressive
, .

H e d id n o t s tay to co u n t th e part icu la r s a s h e

watch ed h e r : h e was aston ished o nl y tha t h e ha d
b een m is ta ken a n d th at th is M istress J ud i th was n ot
,

W h at h e ha d ta ke n h er t o be .

Fo r one th i ng ,
i nstea d Of feel i ng h i msel f h e r
s upe rio r sh e was h igh e r a bove h i m th an Sh e ha d
,

eve r been befo re . I t was n o t tha t Sh e was pro u d or

co ld i n h e r m an n e r ; Sh e d id n ot spea k a grea t d eal ,

i t i s t ru e a nd wha t Sh e sai d was i n nocen t en ough

, .

But for a l l h er p l ayi ng wi th B u l l y a nd h e r ch i ld i sh ,

ways a n at m osph ere h u ng abo u t su ch a s th e m oo n

,

wea rs to l itt l e ch i ld re n who cry fo r h er . B ea ut i fu l a nd ,

ha rd ly k nowi ng i t ; sh i n i ng d own so ftl y a nd yet s uch ,

a lo ng way O ff — th a t was j us t th e i m pressio n J ud i th

,

m ad e on J ess e B u l len . A nd th is p u z z l ed h i m a n d ,

h e cou l d n ot a na lys e th e feel in g . H e on l y k n ew

h is calc u lat i o n s h ad been at fa u l t : th a t if occas io n
sh o u l d requ i r e it — a nd O f th is h e was not i n th e l east
1 40 FI RST IMPRESSIONS .

d egre e c e rt ai n — he sh o ul d h ave t o cl i m b u p ,
u p, and
n ot to sto op d own .

J ess e d i d not l i k e bein g p u z z l ed ,

or pu t ou t i n h is
ca lc u l at io ns . A n d th at was wh y h e sat u p a fter
A m os a n d h is m oth e r ha d gon e . N ot becau se th e
eyes O f M ist ress J ud i th h ad m ad e h avoc i n h is h eart
a n d k ep t h i m fro m S leep . J ess e as we h ave sa id
, ,

was n o t so foo l i sh .

Th at n igh t n o thi ng pass ed b etwee n th e b roth e rs

’
a bou t A m os s wish O f l eavi ng h o m e . E ach was s t r ong
i n hi s o wn d ete rm i n a ti o n : A m os t o go ,
J ess e to

O ppose th at go i n g . M u t ua l l y th ey f o re b o re tha t fi r s t
n igh t t o to u ch on a d iscu ss i o n wh ich m us t en d
adve rs ely fo r o n e, o r, wor se s ti l l ,
i n d isag r ee m e n t
a nd bad feel i ng .

B u t A m os B u l len p rayed th a t n igh t th at h is tongu e

m igh t be h e l d a n d h i s t em per s tra i ten ed . H e ha d
p rayed a goo d d ea l S i n ce M istress J ud i th ha d com e
i n to h is l i fe . I t s ee m e d to h i m th at th e ve r y tho ugh t
of h e r m u s t h ave i ts te m pl e .

A n d J ess e wh en h e ,
h ad l os t th e s m el l of th e h ay
r i cks i n th e s m el l o f h i s c iga r an d c losi ng th e ,

wi n dow h a d b etaken h i ms el f t o bed h ad co m e t o

, ,

th e co ncl us io n tha t M i st ress J ud i th ha d grown ve ry

b ea u ti fu l I f Sh e we r e d ress ed l i ke o th er wo m en
.

”
b y o th e r wo m en J ess e B u l l en m ea n t wo m en o f the
1 42 F I RST I M P R ESS I O N S .

s u r e ly wea r a
-

pa th i n th e so ft l awn i f they we n t on

m uch l on ge r .

A n d th ey wen t on t i l l th e d i n n e r be l l ra ng a t t wo
-

O clo c k a n d t h e n th e P a rs o n st i l l wi th h is a rm rou n d
’

, ,

h i s Sh o u ld e r s l ed J esse i n to th e h o us e
,
. H e wo u ld
h ave fo rgotte n t o as k a ny on e el s e t o co m e i n i f fi fty ,

d i n n e r be l ls h ad r u ng
-
; bu t h e did n ot fo rget t o ask

J esse
“
I h op e I a m n ot p u tti n g yo u t o i nco n ve n ien ce ,

”
M ist ress J ud i th s a i d J ess e ta ki ng O ff h is h a t as
, ,

h e ca m e i n a nd S i tt in g d own wi th a m i xtu re
,
of eas e
a n d d e fe re nce t ha t was ve ry t ak i ng M r I n grey . h as

b een SO k i nd as t o as k
. m e t o co m e i n a n d I h ad n o ,

”
wish t o r e fuse L et m e Op en th e d oo r h e add e d
.
, ,

s tep pi ng fo rwa rd a n d h old i n g i t wi d e t i l l J u d i th a n d

he r fa th e r ha d pa ss ed o u t .

A nd th e n h e ca m e a n d s at d ow n wit h th em n o d d i ng ,

a n d sayin g a k i n d wo rd t o R u th a n d th en te l l i ng th e ,

Pa rson j u st wh a t h e l ik ed t o h ea r A n d i n h is co n .

ve rsa t io n as i n h is m a n n e r th e r e wa s th at in d e fin ab l e
, ,

s o m eth i n g wh i ch s ta m ps th e gen tl em a n J u d i th .
,

p u l l i n g h e r g ra p es t o pi eces Ski n n i n g o n e f o r B u l l y , ,

a n d l isten i ng t o wh a t J ess e t ol d h er father fel t ,

tha t th a t fa the r h ad good reaso n t o b e p r o u d o f h is

“
l ad .

S he h a d b ee n a l i tt l e Shy O f h i m a t fir s t ,
as gi r l s a r e
 FI RST I M P RESSI ON S . 1 43

wo n t to be wi th t h os e who h ave b een th ei r fa m i l ia rs

i n ch i ldh ood a nd wh o m th ey m eet aga i n i n ea rl y
,

wom anh ood . A nd s i nce h e r ch i ld hoo d she h a d see n

ve ry l itt l e of J ess e .

N O W h is pe rfect s el f possessi o n -
s et h e r at eas e to o .

Afte r d i n ne r wh il e th e Pa rso n d o z ed a l i t tl e i n
,
his

cha i r Sh e fo u nd h ersel f st r ol l i n g wi th h i m i n th e
,

ga rd en . A nd wh en S he s trol led th e r e ,
wh a t e ls e
sh ou ld S he d o b u t Sh ow h i m h e r ro ses ? An d wh en
Sh e h ad Sh own h i m h e r ros es th ere were , the cocks
a nd h ens a n d th e wh i te rabb its h e rem em be red , .

A nd a fte r Sh e h a d Shown th em a ll ,
she ha d a l i ttl e
pan g O f rem o rs e j ust fo r a n i n sta n t
,
S h e h a d take n .

u p a n ew fri e n d to o l igh tly perhaps S h e h a d bee n , .

l et tin g h im i n to al l th e i n n oc en t l ittl e c o n fid e n ce s sh e
h ad wi th Amos A n d A m os was a ft er a l l h e r o l d
.
, , ,

Old f ri e n d J esse h a d n eve r been h er favo u rit e S h e

. .

h ope d S h e h a d n o t been a t a l l u n fa i th fu l t o h er O l d
fri end wh o was goi ng away Th en s h e s a i d s ud d enl y
,
.

to J ess e ,

I s u ppose Am os is soon goi ng

We l l I h op e n ot M ist ress J u d ith
, ,
it ’
11 b e a ba d
d ay for th e fa rm wh e n h e goes , h e ad d ed .

” “
That i t wi l l r et u rn ed ,
A n d fo r th e peopl e
s he .
,

”
t o o — b eca u se a l l th e peo pl e h ol d by A m os yo u see , ,

Sh e a dd ed notic i n g th at J esse l ook ed at h er s ud d en l y

,
1 44 F I RST I M PR ESSIO NS .

wi th a n ew exp r ess i o n th a t m igh t m ea n h e was pai n ed

“
th ey h ave not had yo u t o sha r e th e l i k in g J ess e , ,

b eca use yo u have bee n SO m u ch awa y . B u t I h op e

”
ge t a way no w fo r a bi t
’
A m os ll , Sh e sa id pick i ng ,

a pi ec e of j essa m in e fro m t he wa l l a nd s m e ll i ng i t .

“
I Sh a l l m iss h i m so rely fo r I ve
,
’
no o th e r fr i en d
tha t is yo u ng b u t h i m . B u t I ho p e h e l l go th a t I ’

’
do it s bes t fo r h i m to go , I a m certa in .

”
“ ’
I wo n d er h e s so a n x i ou s t o go ,
s a id J esse
m ea n i ngl y . I t was qu i te a ne w l igh t t o h i m th i s ,

”
that Am os a nd M istres s J ud i th were friend s . P lay
m ates th ey h ad b een c erta in ly ; b u t wh e n J ess e ha d
bee n a t h o m e b efo re A m os d u r s t h a rd ly c o m e with i n
,

th e Re ctory gates .

I t was s i x O clo ck wh e n J esse s a u n te r ed back t o

’

Trotte r s E n d O n th e b rid ge h e fo u n d A m os
’

.
,

l ean i ng a nd bro od i ng over t h e wate r H e d id not .

m ove h is b ro ad Sho uld ers as h is bro th e r d re w n ea r ,

tho ugh h e t u rn e d h i s he ad s l igh t ly a t th e so u nd of

fo ots te ps . H is fac e was no t SO clo ud l es s as was its

won t .

J esse pu t h is h a n d on h is n e c k .

Wh e re h ave yo u been ? h e ask ed l igh tl y .

”
Wh e re i n yo u r fi eld I s u ppos e sa i d A m os
?
, .

”
S o m e o ne m us t lo ok a fte r t h e m e n
“
Yo u ve d on e wel l by m e s ai d J esse
’

,
A m os , .
 C HAPTER XVI I .

AMO S STR I ! E S .

E XT m o r n i n g wh e n th e
,
r os e a n d t he
su n

cocks c rowed th e cocks a n d J e pht h a Par c el l

,

m iss ed A m os fo r th e fi rs t t im e i n th e fa r m ya r d .

e h t h a cou l d h a r d ly b el i eve h i s sens es as five a n d

J p
’
S i x a n d s eve n o clock s tr uck a n d th e gl ea ming bel l
,
-

p ea l ed fr o m th e ch u r ch steep l e a n d a l l th e wo m en
,

h u rri ed o u t wi th th ei r g r eat cl oth s a n d th ei r b ab i es ,

a n d th e bl i n d was st i l l d own i n M ast e r A m os s roo m ’

.

J a e l a nd J e pht h a h ad a l o ng ta l k ove r i t a n d a ffa i rs

i n ge n e ra l a t T ro tter s E n d wh i l e J a el o ugh t to have
’

bee n m i l k i ng th e c ows a n d J e ph th a who h a d wate r ed

,

th e h o r se s o ugh t t o h ave bee n o u t ha rves t i ng E very

, .

h a n d was n eed ed n o w a n d m e n wh o l ived a l l th e

,

yea r ro u n d (wi th fa m i l i es ra ngi ng fr o m t wo t o fou r

t e e n ) o n e leve n a n d t welve sh i l l i n gs a we ek were ,

ea r n i ng fro m S i xte en t o twen ty i n th e h a r vest fi eld s .

I t wa s h a r d e n o ugh work — u p l on g befo re d ayb r ea k

a n d a fte r d a r k ; b u t sti l l Si xt ee n a n d t wen ty sh i l li ng s
 AMOS STRI KES . 1 47

were wo rth ea r n ing a nd , no on e com pl ai ned of Am os ,

wh o was a good master .

Al l the m e n l i ke J e ph t ha a n d J a el n ot iced th at
, ,
he
d id n ot co m e i n to th e fi el d fo r th e firs t t i m e S i n ce
ma ny a day . Th ey al l kn ew th e soun d o f the d u n
ma res hoo fs as
’
S he stepped a long th e road — th e cl ick
O f th e gate that Am os open ed wi th
,
h is ca n e ; an d
th en th e am bli ng of th e m are over th e stubbl e ,
as S he

swi tched her ta i l to r igh t a nd l eft a nd ben t h er pretty ,

h ead to h er knee to d rive Off th e t eas ing fl ies t ha t

s ettl e d o n h e r s leek ski n .

J esse d i d n ot rid e S O wel l as Am os ; h e had had

no p racti ce S i nce h e was a l ad a nd then h e had n o t ,

m uch l ove fo r the ex ercise A nd th e men who were .

,

no rid ers th ems elves ,

noticed th e d i fference whe n
J esse instead O f A mos cam e thro ugh th e field
, , an d

wished th em good m orn i ng .

B ut h e d id not stop to l ook a t their wo rk as ,

Am os had been u s ed t o d o H e o n ly pass ed by .

,

an d tu rned to ward s the Rectory wh en h e h ad j oined ,

th e road .

Th e m en not iced th is too ,

a nd won dered . A
s tranger who h ad com e to m ake a n extra ha nd ,

bu t who h ad been en l ight en ed as to the B ull ens ’

a ffairs i n th e tap roo m suggested d rily that t he

-
,

“ ’
b rothers we re on strike . D epen d u po n i t that s
1 48 AMOS STR I ! ES .

it t oth e r
’
one he
’
s s t r u c k — a n d th e M ast e r h e
”
wo n t give i n
’
.

Th is sa l ly was r ece i ved wi th grea t a ppl a us e an d

l a ugh t e r .

“
M ay b e ,
s ai d t h e m a n e nco u raged by s uc c ess ,
.

a n d bee r m ay b e it
’
s a s h il l in
’
a d ay he
’
s s tr u ck
”
O o m an
’ ’
fo r —
,
a n d m ay b e it s a yo u ng .

“
G en l e m an
’
r i d a l o ng tha t wayB u l l en ,
he
’
s ,

”
sa i d o n e o f th e m en h e s r i d th a t way a ny how ,
“ ’
.

O h ay— h e s s weet o n M i st ress J u d i th su r e en ough

’

”
l east ways th a t ’
s th e ta l k i n th e g l e amin
g fi eld , s ai d
an oth e r .

“
D u rs t n
’
t c red i t a l l as I h ea rs fro m t h e m g l e an in
’

”
fi elds ,
sa i d a n Old e r m a n wh o had l ea r n t by ,
e x p e ri

e n ce th a t r ep o r ts fro m th e g l e amin g fi eld s we r e n ot

i n fa l l i bl e .

A n d t he n th ey fel l to wo rk i n g a ga i n th e s i ckl e
,

go ing wi th a s o ft swi sh t h ro ugh th e h eavy barley an d ,

bri ngi ng it d own i n go ld e n h eaps as i f t o s trew a

’
k in g s pa th way .

J ess e B u l l e n h ad ri d t o th e Recto r y But he “

.

’
s topp ed sh o rt o f the R ecto ry a t M ast er H u rs t s gat e .

Th e re wa s M ist ress J ud i th o n h e r k n e es be fo re th e
b e e h ive wh i l e t h e o l d m a n s at o n th e ben ch aga i nst
-
,

th e wa l l u n d e r h is vi n e h el d h i s st i ff k n ees a nd , ,

l ook ed a t h er .
1 50 AMO S STR I KES .

an u r ch i n to h ol d h i s h o r se ,
a nd was com i ng u p
M as t e r H u rst s pathwa y
’
. Good m orn i ng H u rst , ,

a nd how a re yo u
Wo nd er fu l co m ical — O wonderfu l com ical I t he n k ,

”
ye S i r
, ,
sa id th e o ld m a n l i ft i ng h i s d i m eyes
, to
“ ”
J esse s face’
. And h ow b e yo u , Sir ?
“
V ery wel l H u rst a nd gl ad to b e at h om e agai n
, , .

”
Wh a t a r e th e bees d o ing ? h e asked co m ing behi n d
,

J ud i th who was st i ll kn eel ing

,
.

Watch i ng th e m a i r i ng tl ie h ive . H o w won d er/ 911

t h ey a re a ren t they J us t loo k h ere — that o n e h as
’

d on e its t u r n ; n o w yo u l l s e e a n oth er c om e o u t ’

d i rectly !
”
A r e th ey H u rst s bees ? asked J ess e
’
.

Y es o f cou rse ,
O n ly h e s goi ng t o give th em to.
’

’
m e a ren t yo u H u rst ? ,

No
’ ’
n o t give
,
em M iss u s — n o t give em sai d th e , ,

o ld m a n thickly Th ey s ay as bees wo n t thrive an ’

.

’
yo u give e m .

We ll bu t I m t o give yo u a fou rpen ny bi t

,
’
-

’
th at s al l .

“
M ust have si lve r for e m — m ust h ave si lver he ’

sa id sh ak i ng h i s o ld head gravely
,
.

J esse was n o t a t hOm e with bees H e kept a safe .

d ista nc e i n case th ey shou ld sti ng h im a nd h e d i d ,

n o t know what t o s ay o n th e matte r H e bega n to .

 AM OS STRI KES . 1 51

wi sh J u d ith wo u l d s t op wa tc h ing th em a n d com e ove r

to th e Rectory .

”
Wh e n d i d th ey swa r m ? h e ask ed a t last by ,

way O f a r e m a r k .

“
T wo m onth ago ,
sai d J ud ith eage r ly J o e G ad d
go t th e fi rs t swarm — O ff th e el m n ea r t he in n ; a nd l

M ist ress S agge rs got a n oth er .

IS t he r e m ore tha n on e the n ,

O n e ? why a nd J u d i th got u p fr o m h e r
k n ees p ush ed h e r h at back a n d began cou nti n g o n
, ,

’
h er fin ge rs th ere s th e swa r m a n d th e m aid en ,

swarm a nd th e cast a n d t h e col t a n d t h e fi l ly ; I

, , ,

”
d o n t k now i f th e r e a re a ny m o r e
’
.

”
“
Who ta ugh t yo u th at ? ask ed J esse s m i l i ng a nd , ,

th i nk in g h e h ad n eve r s ee n a nyth i ng S O p r etty a s

J u d ith looked t h is m o rn i ng S O fresh a nd i n nocen t .

t o o w ith h e r h al f chi l d ish h al f wo m an l ike ways

,
-
,
fo r -

be fore h e h ad fi n ished s peaki ng sh e h ad betake n ,

h ersel f t o th e wom a n li ke a nd was gi vi n g M aster ,

H u rs t h i s s t ick a nd h el p i n g h i m t o get u p t o h is feet .

“
Wh y M aster H u rs t o f co u rs e an d a l l th e peopl e
, ,

th ey a l l k now that A n d th ey k n o w th ey m ust tel l

.

’
th e bees — d o n t th ey M ast er H u rst ? ,

“
A y ay— th ey m u st t el l th e b ees
, .

”
Wh a t ? asked J ess e sti l l s m i l i n g a n d fo l lowing
, , ,

as th ey m ad e f o r th e d oo r .
1 52 AMOS STRI KES .

’
Wh en a ny b ega n J ud i th
on e s d ead , yo u kn ow , .

N o t a n y o n e M iss us s a id M aste r H u r st stopp i ng

, , ,

sh o r t a n d l ook i ng very gravely a t h is gu id e

, on y ,
“ ’

”
th e M ast e r 0 th e bees Th e M as ter ye s e e
’
And .
, .

h e h obb l e d o n aga i n
“ “
Ye s th e M aste r sa i d J u d i th
,
Wh en h e d i es , .
,

so m e o n e m u s t r u n o u t a n d t el l th e bees— m u st n t ’

th ey M as t e r H u r s t —O r e ls e th ey l l a l l d i e
,
’
.

J ess e l a ugh ed .

’“
An d wha t s m o r e sa i d J u d ith t h ey m u st p u t a , ,

b i t Of crap e o n th e h ive ; t h e bees m us t go i nt o

” ’
m ou rn i n g Y o u d o n t b el i eve i t ?
. Sh e sa id ih
“ ’
d ig n an t l y ; wel l y o u d best t ry a n d s e e wh eth er
,

i t i s n t t ru e :
’

Don t be a ngry sa i d J ess e s t i l l s m i l i ng a l itt l e

’

, , ,

i n S p it e O f h i m sel f bu t wish i n g m o re th a n eve r th at

,

J ud ith wo u l d get r id o f h e r Ol d m an a n d a tten d to ,

“ ’
him . A t a l l even t s I h o pe th es e b ees wo n t h ave
”
t o b e t o ld i n m y l i fe ti m e -
, h e ad d ed m ore gen tly
’ ’
“
i f th ey ve pass ed ou t Of H u rst s h a n ds as yo u , s ay

”
th ey h ave .

N o t t i l l I get th e fo u r pen ny b i t -
, s a i d J ud ith . I
’
tell yo u
’
i t is n t l ucky . I m goi n g to loc k u p M as te r
H u rs t no w ; yo u s tay d own sta i r s beca u s e th e s ta i r -
,

ve ry n a rr o w
!
is .

”
“
W h a t a r e yo u go ing t o do a fte r th a t ? ask ed
1 54 AMO S STRI KES .

a sk m e t h a t A m os cou l d n t h ave t ol d th e m
’
. He
”
k n ows m o r e th a n I d o .

’
Wo n t yo u co m e u p a n d s ee t h e gl ea n i ng ,
A mO S
ask ed J u d i th t u rn i ng r o u n d
, .

B u t A m o s was go n e a nd h e h a d
,
not SO m u ch as

wish ed h e r go o d d ay
-
. H o w s tr ange of A m os !
 C H A PTER XVI II .

G O O D —BY E A ND NO G O O D—
BYE .

H E nex t n igh t wh e n M is tr ess B ul l en ha d wish ed

h e r lads good n igh t ,
a nd s l eepy J ae l h ad
tu rned d own th e l am p on th e l a nd i ng a n d cl u m ped
,

o ff to lz e d , Am os wi th h is elbows
,
on th e wi nd ow si ll -
,

and h is face between h is ha nd s wa tch ed th e l igh t i n

,

th e Pa r so n s s tud y a nd co m m u n ed wi th h i m sel f
’

,
.

J ess e h ad been o n ly t wo o r th r ee days a t ho m e ;

a n d yet Am os fe l t tha t th e ti m e h ad been as long as
yea rs a n d that j eal o u sy th at vi l e g r ee n s e r p en t ha d
, , ,

c rept i n to h is h on es t breast .

H e was res t l ess a nd m ise r abl e : h e d id n ot k n ow

h is own m i nd o r wh at h e wa nted H e wa n ted t o go
,
.

— fo r what chan ce h ad h e o f ra is ing h i ms el f i f h e

stayed h e r e as th e h i red s erva n t O f his b roth e r ? H e

wa nted to st ay t o b e n ea r M ist r ess J ud i th I f h e .

wen t — why th ere was J esse — always t o b e with h e r

, ,

a lways nea r h e r— wh i l e h e was fa r away .

” ’
H e d oes n t love sa id A mos t o h i ms elf ;
,
he
d oes n t love h e r ; h e d o n t sp ea k o f he r as i f h e love d
’ ’
1 56 GOOD BYE AND -

her ; h e c o u ld n t b e ’
so l igh t h ea rted i f h e l oved h er
-
.

B u t— if h e sh o u ld b e a lways n ea r h er — h eari ng th e
so u n d of tha t vo i ce s ee i ng th os e t ru stfu l eyes — l ea rn
,

i ng to k n ow ho w bea u t i fu l h er so u l was a s wel l as th e ,

face t h at p ictu r ed it — wo u ld h e n o t get to l ove h er ?

W as i t n o t possi b l e at l eas t
A m os m ove d h is e l bows a s i f th ey pa i n ed h i m ; ,

tha t p ossi b i l i ty was m o re th a n h e co u l d b ro o k H e .

r a n h is fi ngers th ro ugh h is h a i r a n d p ass ed h is h a n d ,

ove r h is foreh ead Th e r e was o n e way t o aver t th e

.

evi l o n ly o n e J ess e d i d n o t l ove M is tress J ud ith

, .

ye t ; wh e n h e ca m e h e d i d n o t l ove h e r— th at wa s
c e rt a i n ; t h re e d ays co u l d n o t h ave m ad e h i m l ove
h e r sa i d A mos wh os e l ove was o f s o l ong a grow t h
, , ,

s o d e ep roo t ed tha t h e co u l d n o t te l l wh e n i t h a d
-

ris e n o r wh e r e i t h ad s t r etch ed t o H e was begi n n i n g

,
.

n o w t o k n ow h o w fa r i t h ad s t retch ed ; J ess e ha d
t o uch ed h i m a grea t way Off a nd h is foo l i sh h ea rt h a d ,

vi b r at ed as i f a h a n d h a d b een l a i d u po n i t .

A nd i t was ti m e to s p eak no w s u re l y
, . If he
d el ayed th e re was no sayi n g b u t J ess e m igh t u rge a
c l a i m as grea t a s his o wn . N o w i t co ul d n o t be so .

N ow i t was t i m e t o sp ea k t o th r o w h i ms elf ,
on h is

br o t h e r s h o n o u r a nd S O t o fi n d p eac e aga i n
’

,
.

Th e s m oke J ess e s ciga r ca m e r o u n d th e c o rn e r

of
’

on th e s o ft n igh t a i r A m os s t i rr ed h i m s el f too k u p
.
,
1 58 G O O D B YE A N D -

Th e r e was on e c ro p— to b e g ro wn t h e r e — t h a t h e t o ok
s o m e i nte rest i n . A sh a rper m a n th a n A m os wou l d
h ave bee n p u z z l ed by th e e x p ress i o n O f h is h a n dso m e
face . AS i t was Am os d id n ot l ook u p a t a l l
, .

J esse rep eat ed h is i m p r ess i o n tha t i t was t i me t h ey

were i n b ed .

Th en A m os gath e r ed u p h is lo ng l egs l eft th e ,

r ose l ea f a n d took u p his ca n d le

-
, . H e lai d h is b road
ha nd o n J ess e s sh o u l d e r ’
.

“ ”
G o d b l ess yo u l ad h e s ai d ; , ,
“ ’
I m a fra id I m a ’

wea r iso m e ta l ke r t o n igh t -

; b u t I th a n k yo u fo r l isten
i ng a n d fo r sayi ng yo u l l t ry a n d
,
’
do witho u t m e on

th e farm fo r a wh i l e n ow , yo u k n ow ho w ha rd i t is fo r
ca n t u nd ers t a n d i t lad I
’
me to stop . Y ou , ,
s ee , bu t
yo u ca n bel i eve i t .
’
I m a sigh t eas i er In my mind
’ ”
t ha n I ve bee n th es e m a ny m o n th s pas t .

“
Th at s righ t lad —’

, go t o bed ,
s a id J ess e ,
and
”
d rea m of yo u r P rin cess .

“
I d on t d eny i t m ak es m e easy t oo
’

,
sa i d A m os ,

“
m u si ng a t t h e d o o r wi th th e h a nd l e i n h is ha nd
, , ,
to

th i n k I n e ed n t Speak to th e Pa rso n ’
. I wa s i n t wo
mi n d s abo u t th at l a d — th at I was ,
. I t d id n t s ee m
’

Ope n so m ehow h ang in g abo u t h e r a nd n ot t el l i ng h i m

,

la d i t wo u ld n t
’
wha t s i n my m i n d B ut as yo u
’
. s ay , ,

b e a n y u s e — o n ly b o l d a n d forwa rd — go in g no w
b e fo r e I d d on e a nyth ing to wa r d s r a is i ng mys el f ;
’
he
’
s
 No GO OD B YE - . 1 59

m e a nyh o w a n d h e d
’
n eve r be en a g rea t fri en d to ,

j ust give m e th e k i ck —o u t— th at s a l l ’
. A n d the n ,

”
m aybe ,
s a id A m os l o we rin g h i s voice a nd a s o ft
, ,

l igh t flood i n g h is eyes as h e b en t th em o ve r th e ca n d l e

m ay b e s
’
h e d fre t a n d n ot u n d e r s ta n d . And
fri e n d
’ ’
sh e d ta ke i t ha rd i f S h e m igh t n t se e an o ld

w G od
’
p e rh a p s . B u t I l l n ot h a ng ab o u t h er no .

’ ’
hel p m e ! i t s a b it ha rd — i t l l be ha rd for a wh i l e
’
b u t th e n I l l get away J ess e l a d , ,
a n d I t rus t to
’

yo u t o h el p m e t o d o th at s oo n . I d o n t th i n k I c an

bid e h ere m uch l o n ge r la d a n d n ot s p ea k , ,

ou t .

”
Ge t t o b ed ,
th en ,
sa id J ess e ,
a nd H eaven p re
s e rve m e fro m bei ng i n l ov e . I t s ee m s a sore
”
m alady l

A n d A m os sl ep t l ik e a ch i l d tha t n igh t a n d h ad
,
no

evi l d rea m s t o d ist u rb h i s rest . H e m us t forego seei n g

M i st ress J ud ith — a n d was n ot tha t fo regoin g th e su n

i t sel f ? B u t h e was go i ng st raigh t fo rwa rd on th e

h o n est path ; an d h e h ad a g rea t wi l l a n d a grea t ,

h ea rt a n d a grea t l ov e
,
. And no w th e re was n o fea r
O f J e sse ; i t se e m ed to A m os th e re n eve r ha d bee n
fea r . B u t i t was sa fe en ough no w a t al l even t s . He
w
’

h ad cast h i m s e l f u po n h i s bro th e r s h on o u r ; a nd no

m igh t G od h el p h i m fo r th e res t !
’ ”
“
J e ss e ll be seein g h e r o ft en ,
sai d A m os ,
as h e la i d
h is h e ad on th e pi ll ow— “
so l on g as h e
’
s a t ho m e ;
 GOOD -B Y E AND

a n d h e l l l o ok a fte r h er — a n d wri t e a n d tel l m e h ow

’

she fa res . A n d th e n h e b id G od bl e ss h er o u t of h is
s o u l a n d fe l l as le ep
, .

A n d n ex t d ay h e r os e wi th a lo a d t a k en fro m h i m .

H e wa s o n ly vex ed no w tha t h e h ad been s u rly with

J ess e wi th o u t ca u s e . H e co u ld n ot m u st e r t he wo rd s
wi th wh ich t o t el l th is to h is b roth e r ; b u t al l the d ay
a nd eve ry d a y tha t h e re m a i n ed a t th e fa rm h e d id
h is bes t t o a to n e for th e pas t .

H e we n t i n to th e fi e l d a s be fo r e c a rr yi ng J esse s ,
’

m essages , an d Seei ng h is wishes ca rri ed ou t .

Th e b roth e rs we re so u n ited aga i n th at M is tr ess

B u ll e n a l most wep t fo r j o y .

’
J ess e d i d n o t say m uch abou t A mo s s go ing ; bu t
h is s i l en ce m ea n t co ns en t . M is t ress B u l l e n glad ly
u nd erto ok th e fa rm t i l l su ch t i m e as th e exa m i n at io n
,

was ove r wh e n J ess e co u ld

,
see a nd j u d ge wh at wa s
b es t to d o . An d th ere was no fea r O f th e fa rm i n
’
M ist ress B u l l e n s k eep i ng .

“
M a y be I l l ta k e i t
’
mysel f ,
l ad ,
sa i d A m os ,
“
if
’
yo u l l t ru st m e aga i n wi th i t . Tha t i s i f I can get
,

’
C a m b e r s fa rm , a nd b e clos e a t ha n d to loo k a fte r
t h i ngs a b i t fo r yo u .

A nd J ess e s a i d h e th o ugh t th a t m igh t do ve ry

wel l .

I n t h e m ea n t i m e A m os s e tt led to l eave H asl i ng t o n

1 62 GOOD BYE AND-

h ou r th e ve r y l as t h o u r h e co u l d wi t h p r op r i e t y i n tru d e
,

h i m sel f o n th e Pa rso n .

J esse h a d r id d e n to C a m b ri dge t o ge t a boo k h e

wa nte d fo r th e ex a m i na ti o n ; h e wo u ld n ot b e bac k
t i l l d ark . M is t ress B u l l en s igh i ng n ow a n d t h en was
, ,

m en d i ng sh i rts a n d socks fo r h e r B enj a m i n . H e had

b ee n a goo d d ea l wi t h h er th a t d ay ; h e fel t a l it tl e
d owncast — h i s wo rk a t th e old p lace was ove r ; a n d h e
h a rd ly k n ew wh at h e h ad befo re h i m . H e was l eavi n g
’

h is m oth e r wh o was d own cast

, to o ; h e was l eavi n g
th e O ld fo lks of H asl i ngto n wh o h ad,
b e his go t t o
fri e n ds a n d h e wo u l d n eve r be to th em as h e h ad
,

b een b efo re I t w o u l d n o t be h is place a ny l o nger t o

.

cou ns e l th e m t o h el p th e m o u t O f t h ei r d i ffi c u l t ies t o
, ,

a pporti o n th e i r wo rk wi th s o m e regard t o th ei r ag e
a n d th ei r s t r e ngth A n d h e h ad n o refuge fro m his
.

m el a n ch oly n ow H e l oo ked at t h e Recto ry w i n dows

.

a cross th e fi el ds a n d k n ew h e co u ld n o t go th ere ;
,

’
n ot t il l s ix O clock wh e n i t wou ld b e gett i n g d a rk ;
,

a n d th e n i t wo u l d b e t o say goo d bye -

.

’
At fi ve o cl ock h e ca m e o u t o f th e h o us e a n d l ea n ed ,

u po n th e brid ge Th e great red su n was taki ng i ts

.

eve n ing l ook i n to th e s l uggish wate r U p a n d d own .

,

u p a n d d own th e swa n was sa il in g

,
L i tt l e fi sh .

ap pea r ed s u d d en ly a n d p l u m ped agai n wi th a sp lash

i n t o th e wa te r . A nd th e t ra i ls of ivy were d rawn by
 NO GOOD BYE -
. 1 63

t h e feeb l e cu rr en t u n der th e b rid ge wh e r e t h ere was ,

a cl ea r sa n d y poo l gro wn over wi th wavi ng weed s

, ,

a mo ng wh i ch t h e m i n nows were d art i ng .

A m os l oo ked u p th e st r ea m wh ere i t l os t i tsel f i n a ,

gree n vi s ta a l i tt l e l owe r wh ere a ga rd e n of t al l

!

rush e s b owed fro m e i th e r s id e a n d t o uch ed ; l owe r

sti l l a nd n ea r e r w h ere i t wid en ed a n d th e ga rd e n
, , ,

c a m e d own to m eet it on on e Si d e a n d th e pad d ock

on th e oth e r .

H e look ed a t th e fac e O f th e s u n a n d a t h i s o wn
,

face i n th e wa t e r
, ; h e l ook ed at th e s wan th e fis hes , ,

t h e sand y p oo l . B u t h e was l ist en ing fo r th e fi rst

s trok e O f S i x fro m th e ch u rc h c l ock ; a nd as i t fel l h e ,

l i fted h i m s el f fro m t he b ridge a n d wen t d own th e ,

r oad to th e Recto ry .

M ist ress B u l le n wi th h e r h a n d ove r h e r eyes st oo d

, ,

a t th e wi n d ow a nd s aw h i m go .

I n th ree m i n u t es t i m e h i s h a n d was o n t h e gate ;

’

h e h ad cross e d th e pathway a n d was k nocki ng a t th e ,

h a l f—o p e n d oo r .

R u th too k so m e t i m e t o a nswe r ; wh en s h e ca m e

s h e was wi pi ng h er ba re a rm s wi th h e r a p ro n S u rely .

th e h o us e was very st il l .

M aster I ngrey— h e be go n e o u t S in — a n d M ist r ess ,

J ud ith t o o — th ey b e go n e Pax to n ways I m th i n k i ng ,

’

’
i n t he fo u r wh eel
-
D id n t l eave n o word as wh en
.
1 64 GO OD BYE AND -

t h ey d b e h o m e ; I t h i nk as th ey l l t ook t ea a long o f
’ ’

th e m i n iste r a t P a xto n ; l eas tways M iss us J ud i th sh e ,

go t a l e tte r a n d it s l i ke i t we r e fro m th e m i n ister s

’

l ady I we r e a wash i n a n d th e m i l e m a n h e c o m es
— -
’

,
-

a l ong j u s t a s I m o ight b e sta n d i n h e r e ye s e e — an d

,
’

2)
s ays h e t o m e
B u t A m o s h a d t u rn ed away a n d t h e ga r d en gat e ,

swu ng b ack a nd clos ed i ts el f ,

as h is step wen t h eavi l y
u p th e r oa d .

At t h e co r n e r wh e r e
’
the r o ad s m ee t b el ow T r o tt e r s
E nd h e m e t J ess e r id i n g l eis u re ly ho m e a n d by
, ,
h is

s id e wi th h i s b as ket o n h i s a rm wa l ked Pa xto n D i ck

, . ,

l ook i ng on th e gro u n d as us u a l .

“ ”
Wh ere h ave yo u been l ad ,
? ask ed J ess e .

B u t A m os d i d n o t a ns we r . H e d i d n ot ca re t o s ay

b efo re Pa x to n D i ck wh e r e h e had b ee n A n d Pa xto n .

D i ck wa l ked u p t o Tro t te r s E n d b y J ess e ; sayi ng ’

h e h ad s o m e eggs f o r J e pht h a Pa rc el l .

”
“
I s u ppos e Pa r so n was o ut l a d ? asked M is tr ess ,

B u l l en whe n th ey h ad s at d own to t ea i n th e l o w
,

d i n i ng r oo m wi th its b lack o ak wai n scoa t a n d m a n t el

-

sh e lf .

Yes m o th e r h e was
, , ou t ; go n e t o Pa xto n .

So h e h ad h ad “

an i n tervi ew wi th M ist r ess

J ud ith a l o n e p r oba b ly t ho ugh t J ess e a nd wh is tled
, ,

m e n ta l ly .
1 66 GOOD BYE -
AND NO GOOD BYE
- .

M as t e r H u r s t l ook ed o u t o f h is wi n d ow a nd waved
h is r ed h a n d k e rch i ef feebly .

But ou t O f th e l att ice a cross th e r oa d l ooked no o ne .

O n ly th e m o rn i ng su n sho n e ba ck fro m th e gabl e .

V e r y c o l d ly t ho u gh t A m os B u l le n
,
ve ry c o ld ly the
su n sho n e .
 CH A P T E R XI X .

P E R P LE X I T Y , A N D P A XT O N D I C! .

E S S E B U L L E N was i n a perpl exed m ood ,

no w
tha t Am os was gon e . Yesterd ay h e h ad in

d u lge d u n co nsc io usly i n a s ecret sat is fact io n a t

th e tho ught o f bei ng m aste r of th e fi eld a n d a m u s i ng
,

h i msel f a s h e l i ked wi th p retty M ist ress J u d ith . As

h e h ad rid d e n a l ong th e C a mbridge road h e had
tho ugh t qu i te as m uch p erhaps m ore o f h is exa m i n a
, ,

t ion th a n of h e r ; b u t h e h ad th o ugh t of h e r too a n d ,

i t gave h i m a sense O f pl easa ntn es s whe n h e tu rn ed

h is ho rs e s h ead h om ewards to th i n k th at H asl i ngto n
’

was n ot such a d u l l p lace a fte r al l . H e even looked

u
p a n d down as h e ca m e wi th in a m i l e o r t wo o f th e
vi l lage to se e i f a l a rge straw ha t were a nywh e r e
,
-
to

be see n .

H e h ad g o t th e b oo k h e wa n ted a n d h e was t ryi ng

,

to pu t th e th ought O f th e exa m i natio n fro m h i m tha t ,

h e m igh t e nj oy pl easa nt e r th oughts ; a n d a l togeth e r

th e worl d s ee m ed wort h livm g I n j u s t f o r th e p res en t
, ,

i n sp i t e O f havi ng l eft Pa ris an d co m e h o m e .

1 68 P ERPL EXITY AND ,

B u t a m il e t wo fr o m h o m e t h i n gs ch an ged
or .

I nst ea d o f M ist r ess J ud i th Pa x to n D i ck h ad bee n

,

ove rta k e n o n th e r oad H e h ad d o f fed h i s h a t o b s e

.

q ou sl
u i y t o J ess e a n d J ess e h ad swa l lowed t h e bai t
, ,

S l acken ed pa ce a nd b egu n t o t a l k
, .

He had n o i nt en t io n of a co nve rsati o n wh e n h e

b ega n B u t th ere we r e t wo vo ices i n tha t m at te r
. .

Pa xto n D i ck i n t en d ed fu l l y th a t t h e r e sh o u l d b e a
‘

co nve r sat i o n a n d h e was c l eve r en o ugh t o r ecko n

,

u po n J es se s ge n tl em an l y m a n ne r s a t fi rs t a nd o n th e
’

i n t e r es t o f h i s i n fo rma ti o n l ate r t o i n s u r e a h eari ng

,
.

A m os wo u l d h ave given h i m th e co l d sh ou ld e r a t
”
o n ce ,
or a s u rl y “
goo d n igh t ,
a n d r id d e n O ff . But
J ess e was n ot A m os .

H e a l m ost bega n t o th i n k Am o s m u st b e h i m h ow ,

eve r by t h e t i m e Pa xto n D ick h a d fi n ish ed

, . A m os
tal ked O f wi th M ist r ess J ud ith — Am os ve n tu r i n g t o
h ave s e r i o u s tho ugh ts of ga i n in g h er ! I m possi bl e
’

sa i d J ess e t o h i ms el f ; qu it e i m poss i bl e . I f it had

b ee n h e th a t was ta l ked O f— well th at wo u l d h ave
,

b ee n p re m at u re t o sa
y th e l eas t Of i t ; but A m os !
th e i d ea was absu rd .

J ess e l au gh ed a s Paxto n D i ck t a l k ed — at fi rs t
i n n oce n t ly a s i f h e t oo bel i eved th e vi l l age goss i p
,
.

Th e n h e v ee r ed r o u nd a n d too k th e o th er vi ew an d ,

sai d h e d id n t ’
see h ow i t c o u ld b e poss i b l e ; /z o h ad
1 70 P E R P L E X I TY A N D ,

h awke r : it m igh t co m e i n w ith m o r e e ff ec t one of

th ese d ays . H e wa s a l i ttl e d isappo i nt ed a t th e cool

n ess wh i ch J ess e d isp layed a l l th ro ugh h is n a r rat ion ,

b ut so m et i m es fo lks w ere col d o u tsi de a nd h o t i n .

Wh e n J ess e ca l l ed ou t
“
Wh ere h ave yo u b een ?
an d A m os m ad e n o a n swe r Paxto n D ick bl i n ked ,

agai n at h is eggs a n d vent u red t o ra is e h is bl ea r

,

eyes a l i ttl e above J esse s boot ’

. B u t h e sa i d noth ing ;
i t was u n n ecessa ry— a ft er h is co nve rsatio n n oth in g
m ore oppo rtu n e co u l d poss i bly h ave ha ppened .

Th e re was A m os ,
on th e roa d fro m th e Rectory ,

a n d re fusi ng to an swe r . Pax to n D ick h o isted h i s

bask et wi th r en ewe d en ergy ,
a n d wi th a d ogged
i nsol en t bo ld n ess h eld to h i s p lace by J esse s sid e ’

got to T rott e r s E nd
’
t i l l they .

Wh e n Am os sa i d th a t n igh t t h a t t h e Pa r so n h ad
b een o u t J esse n eve r d o ubted th a t h e h ad seen J ud ith
, .

H e co ul d n o t wel l ask ; bu t h e sa i d t o h i msel f that

for o n ce Pa xto n D ick s eem ed t o be n o t s o fa r fro m
th e t ru th .

H e co ul d n o t d i s m iss th e i dea fro m h is m i nd .

I t r a nk led th e r e a good d ea l d u ri ng th e l ong

eve n i ng tha t wa s A m os s las t H e was gl ad i t was
’
.

A m os s l ast ; fo r o u t i n th e worl d h e wo u ld fo rge t

’

these fool ish fa ncies a n d i t c e r ta i n ly was b es t t ha t h e

,

sh ou l d go .
 PAXTON D ICK . 17 1

Wh en A m os ca m e tha t n igh t a nd to l d h i m a l l ,

h i s sto ry h e l isten ed a nd sa id t o h i ms el f a l l th e
, ,

”
wh i l e S o Pa xto n D i ck s po k e t ru e !
“
I t ca m e
i n l i ke a re fra i n a fte r eve ry fresh o u tpou ri ng ,

a n d i t d id n o t m a k e h i m feel m o re com forta bl e by

an y mea n s Th a t th e Pa rso n wo u ld n o t approve
’

was certa i n ; b u t th en M ist ress J u d i th s Opi n io n

’

wou ld h ave so m e weigh t A nd wo m en were .

wo n d e rfu l i n th ei r l oves a nd l i ki ngs J ess e kn e w .

e n ough to k now th ere was n o rul e o f exp ed i en cy

fo r th e m .

A fter Am os was gon e J ess e co ul d n ot say h e ,

was d istressed o r anx i o us I t wo u ld a l l bl ow O ff

.

n o w eas il y e n o ugh B u t st il l i t was t i resom e th is

.
,

co nfid e nce o f A m os ; h e J ess e rath er w ish ed A m os

, ,

h a d kep t h is own bus i n ess to h i m sel f H e wa n ted .

t o h ave go n e freely bac kwa rd s a n d fo rwa rd s t o t h e

Recto ry t o s e e th e Pa rso n ; a n d M ist ress J ud ith t o o
— wh
y not ? N o w h e fe l t as i f A m os h ad th rown
a shack l e over h i m a n d h e wa s teased by i t I t
,
.

t eas ed h i m fo r two d ays a n d thos e t wo d ays h e d i d

,

n ot go t o th e Recto ry .

Th e th i rd d ay t h e Pa r son who h a d m issed h i s ,

”
l ad too k u p h is h at to go o u t
, .

”
Wh e re a re yo u go ing fath er ? asked M ist ress ,

J ud ith look in g u p fr o m h e r b o o k Th e l ast t wo d ays

,
.
1 72 P ERP LEXI TY ,
A ND

sh e h ad r ead a g r ea t d eal i n th e wi n dow s ea t -

of th e
st u dy .

”
“
U p to Trotter s E n d ’
wi l l yo u co m e ? h e asked ,

fro m th e h a l l .

I t was a m o m en t b efo r e J ud i th a nswe r ed . T h en

s he s a id
No th an k yo u Fath e r —
r ea d i n g I m
’

; ,
.

I t wo u ld n ot h ave b een a s ati s fa c tory a nswe r t o

eve r y o n e B u t t h e Pa r so n h a d fo r go tt en h e h ad
.

a ske d h e r be fo r e s h e h ad t i m e t o a nswe r a n d was ,

h al f way towa rd s th e gat e .

Wh e n h e h ad go n e J ufl ith s at l ook i ng a ft e r h i m
, ,

w ith th e Op e n boo k o n h e r l a p fo r a l o ng t i m e , .

H e r face was rath e r grave a n d th e to n e O f h e r ,

vo i ce as sh e a n swered h er fath e r h a d n o t th e sa m e
r i n g i n i t as u su al S h e s igh ed o n ce as she s at
.

m us i n g a s i f sh e were t i r ed o r t rou b l ed A l i t t l e
, .

t ro u bl e ti res o n e a d ea l m o re th a n a l o ng wal k .

Ru th ca m e i n b efo re very l o n g a n d d id n o t l ik e t o ,

s e e h e r s o grave S h e t ol d h er s o very p l a i n l y
. .

“
Th ey l l b e s yin g yo u b e frett in g a fte r M a is t e r
’ ’

A m os a n ye d o an t m o in d Th ey b e s yin g th at
’
.
’

”
a r eady
’
.

J ud ith fl a m e d u p i n a n i nsta n t th o u gh ,
she h ard ly
c ol ou r ed o u twa rd l y .

“
M ast e r A m os ! ’
Th ey d b es t h o l d t h ei r t ong u es .
 P ERP LEX I TY , AND

could not u nd e rsta nd bu t that h ad al m ost frighte n ed

her . An d th en a l l h ad cha nged SO su d d en l y . S i nc e
J esse ca m e sh e h a d har d ly s ee n A m os . H e had
n eve r sa i d m o re th a n t o t el l h e r th e d ay he had
fi xed for goi ng ,
whe n sh e h ad spok e n to hi m
ove r M ast e r H u rst s h edge as h e ca m e d own th e
’

r oa d .

E ven th e n h e had s ee m ed i m pa t i e n t t o get away

fro m h e r . A n d i f h e h ad wan ted to sa y go od bye -
,

sa id J u d i th h e ,
cou ld h ave d on e i t . H e co u ld h ave
co m e m o re th a n o nc e ; h e c ou l d h ave co m e ea rl ie r ,

n o t pu t t ing i t O ff t i l l th e very las t ho u r . He cou ld

h ave d o n e i t sai d J u d i th a nd h er t ro u bl e bega n t o

, ,

t o a nger as wo m en s m ood s wi l l
’

C h a nge , .

T h e n sh e h ea rd st eps on th e road a nd th e l atch

, O f
th e ga te l i fted . S h e ra n o u t to m eet h er fath er . H e

was h e r o wn a l ways th e sa m e ; h e was n eve r fi c kl e

, ,

n eve r ch a ngea bl e .

S h e al m os t sta rted wh en sh e sa w J ess e wi th h i m .

H e to o h ad bee n a st ranger th e l ast th ree d ays .

S h e fel t a l i ttl e j ea l o u s o f J ess e fo r th e fi rst t i m e ,

a s sh e s aw h e r fa th er wi t h h i s a rm u po n h i s
sh o ul d e r b ri ngi ng J esse i n S h e wa n te d h er fath e r ;
,
.

sh e wa n t ed h i m al l t o h e rs el f S h e wa n t e d so m e .

th i ng at th a t m o m e n t tha t was h er o wn a n d th a t ,

d i d n o t ch a nge .
 PAXTON D I CK . 175

SO h e r cou nt e n a n ce fel l wh e n Sh e sa w J ess e .

H e n otice d th e fa l l ,
a nd d i d n ot l i ke i t . He
n ot ice d to o th a t she l ooked m uch grave r th a n h e
rem em bered .

C o u l d i t b e p ossi bl e tha t sh e was t r o u bl ed b eca u s e

Am os was go n e ?
N O said J ess e sh e n eve r m en ti ons hi m
, ,
.

I t was qu i te tr ue ; sh e n eve r m en t ion ed A m os a l l

t h at d ay .

Th e Pa rso n k ep t J esse fo r tea a n d i t was n i n e ,

O clock wh e n h e wen t away

’
. H e fel t qu i te i n nocen t
a s h e wa lked h o m e i n th e d a rk ; h e h a d n ot m ad e
a ny l ove to M i st res s J ud i th .

B u t h e co u ld n ot h el p p o n d e ri ng ove r he r g rave
face th at fel l wh e n h e ap proach ed h er
, . Wha t co ul d
A m os h ave s a i d to h er i n th at l ast m eet i ng wh en , ,

th e Pa rso n was a t P axto n an d th ey m u st h ave been ,

alone ? A m os cou l d n o t h ave to l d h er of h i s l ove ,

th at was certa i n . J ess e n ever d ou bted A m os s wo rd ’

i n th at m atte r . B ut th ere was th e sp i ri t a s wel l

as th e l ett e r ; wh a t m igh t n ot b e s ai d m igh t h ave
b ee n i m pl iedL ooks co u l d s ay wha t wo rd s co u l d
.

n ot Why i n th e ve ry vo ic e i n wh ich h e s a
.
,
id
good bye h e co u l d t el l h e r th at h e loved h er J ess e
-
.

k n ew as m u ch as th at ,
tho ugh h e h ad n eve r b ee n
hi love .
 C HAPTER XX .

T H E L ETTE R T H A T W E N T TO A MO S .

W O m o r n i ngs a fter t h is t h e Pa r so n s et fo r th
aga i n t o fi n d h is l ad . H e d id n ot l i k e b ei ng
t wo wh ol e d ays wi th o u t s eei ng h i m .

I t was a b ea u t ifu l fr esh h a r ves t m o r n i ng ,

and
J ud i th s s p i r its h a d r is en S h e wa s n o t go i n g t o fre t
’
.

abo u t A m os ; i f A m os d i d n o t ca re t o s ay good bye -

to her ,
she h a d h e r fath e r a n d B u l ly a n d th ey we r e
,

a lways t ru e a lways th e sa m e
,
.

”
“
Wh e re a r e yo u go i ng fath e r ? , sh e ask e d aga i n ,

a s h e l e ft h is boo ks a n d wen t t o l oo k f o r h is h at . It
was on e O f th e f ew
t hi ngs h e r e m em bere d t o d o .

J u d i th was tu r n ing o u t a r ag bag i n a c upboa rd

-
.

Th e Pa rso n was h a l f ash a m ed t o s ay h e was go ing

t o Tro tt e r s E n d aga i n H e fel t i t was a b i t l i ke
’

. n ot

h i mse l f t o d o i t .

“
Ah — u p th e vi l l age ,
h e sa i d h es itat i ngl y a nd ,

t h e n i n a n o n ch al a n t to n e A n d perh a ps I m ay '

l oo k u p t h e l ad a n d b ri n g h i m h o m e t o l u n ch
, . I
”
h ave go t so m e pape r s t o s hew h i m .
1 78 T H E L ETT E R T H AT

r e m e m be r why h e h ad co m e th e r e I t was so m eth i n g .

a bo u t h ea lth h e was c ertai n I l l eh ? h e was s u re

, .
,

J u d ith h a d sa i d s h e was i l l .

M is t ress M u l berry a yo u ng wo m a n with cl ea r b l u e

,

eyes a n d l a rge t eeth was S i tti ng i n th e ch i m ney ,

corn e r b roo d i ng over th e pot u po n t h e fi re

,
She .

h ad a very s ad wi st fu l ex press i o n a s sh e loo ked ,

u p wh e n th e P ars o n s ta l l fi gu r e d a r kened th e d oo r
’

wa y .

“
O h — ah — Go od m o rn i ng M r s M u l ber r y m y d ea r , .
, ,

’ ”
h e sa id ve ry k i nd l y “
A n d h ow s th e ba by ?
M i st ress M u l b erry m ad e n o a nswe r . S h e cas t u p
h e r eyes on c e wi t h a so r r owfu l rep roach at th e Pa rs on .

Th e n sh e t u rn ed away h e r h ead a n d lo o ked agai n a t ,

th e pot on th e fi re .

A nd h e l ook i ng ro u n d
, ,
w th e e m pty wi ck er c ra d l e
sa -

i n th e co rn e r ; al l ne w a n d wh i te a n d u n us ed a n d t he
l itt l e pat ch wo rk qu i l t fo ld e d away u po n i t
-
. H e co u l d
s ay n oth i ng ; b u t i n to h is k een brown eyes th e t ea rs
we l l ed u p s u dd e n ly a n d h e t u rn ed u po n h is h eel
, ,

an d we n t away .

I t was n ot th e fi rs t t i m e n o r th e se c o nd n o r th e , ,

t h i rd th at th e P arso n h ad p u t th a t qu est io n
, ; and
ea ch t i m e h e h ad rec e ived th e s a m e a nswe r fro m th e
e m p t y c rad l e B u t asso ci at i o n was to o st rong fo r
‘

h im L— h e r e m e m b e r ed seei ng a ba by i n th a t r oo m a n d ,
 WENT T O AMOS . 1 79

was certa i n i t was M istress M ulbe rr y s baby

’
: h e ha d
ba pt i z e d i t th e re too . Tha t h e ha d b u ri ed i t befo re
i t was one d ay O ld ,
th at h a d qu it e p assed fro m h i m .

Poo r Pa rs o n I ngrey wh o wo u ld n o t h ave h u rt a ,

wo rm kn owingly !
J u d ith s b u n d l e ’
of rags t rav e l l ed sa fely u p to
T rotte r s E nd
’

, a nd sa fely h o m e aga i n ,
whe n h e
wa l ke d back with J esse .

’
I m s u re A m os ca n t accu se m e O f poach in g
’
on

“
h i s preserves ,
sa id J ess e t o h i m sel f . I f I keep away
”
I m fetched d i rectly
’
. A n d th en h e s m i l ed a t th e
i d ea o f th e Rect o ry bei ng A m os s preserve ’

;
’
a ny o n e s
p rese rve bu t h is o wn i nd eed : h e wh o h ad a l mos t
l ived th e re s i nce h e was a boy : h e wh o was a l m ost
’
esse n t i a l to th e Pa rso n s h a ppi n ess . I t was n o t a
l ittl e fl atteri ng t o a yo un g m a n t o be s ough t o u t by
s uch a m a n as Pa rso n I ng rey a reserved ret i cent , , ,

a bsen t scho la r . NO wo nd er J ess e B u l l en was a l i ttl e

flat te red .

That m o rn i ng J ess e h ad h ad his fi r st l ette r fro m

A m os .

“
“
D ea r l ad ,
i t ra n ,
I a m gett i ng o n p r etty wel l ,

look i ng abou t m e a n d I ho p e l ea r n i ng s o m eth i n g

,
.

I a m vi s iting som e m od el fa rm s a n d n ot ici ng al l I ,

ca n . I t m ay be O f use a t th e O l d p lac e as wel l ,

as

i n a fa r m O f m y o wn i f I get on e . L ove to m oth er ,

1 80 T H E L ETT ER TH AT

a n d t el l h e r I m fa ri ng ’
wel l .
—
Yo u r a ff ecti on a t e
b roth e r A M O S,
.

“
P S — I f an y O f th e O ld fo l ks , or any one a t th e
Rectory sh o u l d as k a fte r m e p ass i t o n
, , . I f sh e
sh o u ld say a n yth i ng l ad abo u t m y l eaving , ,
so sudden
’
or th at — t el l m e . I d t ak e i t ve ry k i n d ly i f yo u d ’

d r op m e a li n e soo n .

J esse sat d own i m m ed i a t ely ,

an d w r ot e as fo l lows
D e a r A m os acco rd i ng to yo u r wi sh I wri t e
, ,
“

at

o n ce . N o t th a t I h ave m u ch t o t el l yo u fro m
H asl i ngto n wh ere a s yo u kn o w n ews i s s ca rce
,
. I
’
d o n t k n ow th at a ny one i n part i cu l a r h as ask ed a fte r
yo u . I h ave s een th e Pa r so n a nd M i st ress J u d i th
o nce or twic e . Th ey sa id n o th in g abo u t yo u r l eavi n g ,

or th at . I s pe n t the even i ng t wo n ights s i nc e a t th e

Recto ry . Al l th ere a n d e ls ewh ere goes on as usu al .

At yo u r co nve n ience l et m e k n ow yo u r reaso n fo r n o t

,

sh eavi ng th e ba rl ey as wel l as t h e oth e r crops ; a nd

al so i n qu i re a bo u t th e b es t reapi n g m ach i n es ,
as I
i n t en d e m pl oyin g L ove fro m
one fo r th e fu tu re .

m othe r a nd b el i eve m e yo u r a ffecti on at e b r oth e r

, , ,

J B UL L E N . .

J ess e h ad j us t c l osed th is l et ter wh e n th e P a rso n

ca m e i n H e p u t i t i n h i s pock et th a t h e m igh t p ost
“

i t b e fo re eve n i ng A n d th e n h e wa l ked o ff t o th e
.

Recto r y .
183 TH E LETTER THAT

h e s ays he
’
S get t i ng
r a t e a nd enj oyi ng h i m s el f ;
on first -

s eei n g m od el fa rm s a n d a l l m a n n e r O f th i ngs
,
.

A fte r a m o m en t J ud i th s a id ’
“
I wish yo u d s ay ,

good bye - fo r S ay fa th e r
m e wh e n yo u writ e to hi m .

a n d I we r e a t P ax t o n a n d we re bo th so r r y n ot t o
,
’

”
h ave s e e n h i m .

”
Y ou d id not see h i m th en ? ask ed J ess e sta rt l ed .

J u d i th l o oked u p fu l l , of s u r p ris e . A m os th en h a d
n ot t h e n eve n th o ugh t i t wo rth wh i l e t o m e n t i o n th a t
h e h ad n ot fo u n d h e r a t h o m e . D o u btl ess i t h a d
m ad e n o i m p ress io n on him . O f c o u rs e h e h a d l e ft
n o m essage .

J ess e s ee m ed to d iv in e h e r t h o ugh t s . H e sa i d wi th ,

a j e rk
“
H e l e ft n o m essage or a n yth i ng tha t I k n ow Of .

”
I th ou gh t yo u h ad s ee n h i m O f co u rs e , .

J u d i th s i l e n tl y kn i tted . When she s po ke aga i n i t

was n o t of A m os S h e h ad bee n pa i n ed to th e h eart
.

and no w she fel t both pa i n ed a n d a ngry B u t J ess e .

sh o u l d n ot see it -
wh a t i f h e sho u ld wri t e a n d t el l
,

A m os t ha t sh e c a r ed wh ethe r h e s a id go od bye -
or

n ot ?

SO t al ked a nd t al ked a n d th e l a m ps we re
sh e ,

b ro ugh t i n a n d th e brigh t co lo u r h ad co m e aga i n i n to

,

h e r ch eeks . A n d th e Pa rs o n s t i l l wro t e i n h i s st u d y ,

a n d t h ey t wo s at on i n th e l it t l e d r awi ng —r oo m fa c e ,
 WENT T O AM OS . 1 83

to fa ce . J esse i n a l o w a rm ch a i r tu rn ed h is h at i n ,

h is h a nd s a nd t r i ed t o read M i st ress J u d i th s fa ce
,
’
.

H e read th e beau ty o f i t ; b u t t h e great eyes tha t

were ben t u po n th e twi n kl in g n eed l es were h id d e n
fro m h i m m os tl y Wh a t m igh t thos e eyes b e h id i ng
.

though t J esse a n d was i l l a t ease Th e beau ty was

,
.

a great d ea l ; i t rivet ed h i s eyes t o th e pu re ova l o f

h er fa ce B u t th e ova l co u l d n o t tel l h i m wh a t h e
.

wa n ted t o k now H e d id n o t yet k n ow th at h e wa nt ed

.

i t o r h e wo u ld ha
,
ve take n u p h is h at a nd go n e B u t .

h e d i d wa n t t o k n ow a l l th e sa m e W h ethe r M ist ress

J u d i th l oved A m os .

H e tho ugh t O f i t as s h e sa t at th e tea —tabl e eat i ng ,

very l ittl e a nd k n i tt i ng beh i n d th e u rn Wh y d i d

,
.

s he n ot eat wh a t h ad t a ke n h e r a ppeti t e fro m h er

H e tho ugh t o f i t as h e s at i n th e a rm cha i r i n th e -

sh ad ow after t ea a n d s aw h er s i tti ng t oo i n th e
,

sh ad ow a l ways kn i tt i ng
,
Why d id s he S it i n th e .

shadow ? was th ere a ny t h i n g i n h e r face s h e cou l d n o t

Sh ow ?
H e th o ugh t O f i t as i n t h e l on g pa us es wh i l e th e ,

Pa rso n d os ed , a nd th e n ee d les cl icked a nd B ul l y ,

wh i ned i n h is s l e ep u po n th e h ea rth rug h e cas t u p i n -

,

h is m i n d th e wo m en h e h a d s ee n a nd fo u nd the m ,

wa n ti ng . H e cast u
p th e fai res t ,
wi s est ,
p u rest
wo m e n h e h a d see n a nd fo u nd th e m wa n ti ng , . By
1 84 TH E L ETTE R T H AT WEN T T o AMOS .

th e s id e of t h is M is tr es s J u d i t h h e fo u n d t h e m a l l
wan t i n g .

H e th o ugh t O f i t as h e r ose a t t en O c l ock feel i ng h e

’

m ust go ; a n d h e th o ugh t Of i t as h e we n t ou t i n t o th e
d a rk n ess .

H e t ho ugh t O f i t as h e ca m e t o th e vi l lage Pos t

O ffice , a n d fel t fo r h i s l ett er i n h is p ock et .

If sh e sh o u l d s ay a nyth i n g a bo u t m y l eavi n g SO

”
s ud d e n or th at , la d — tel l m e ,
said a vo i c e i n th e e ar
!

O f J ess e B u l l e n . I t h ad a t ru e m a n ly t r u st i ng rin g
, , ,

tha t voic e .

“
I wish yo u d ’
s ay go od bye fo r m e wh e n yo u wri te
-
,

t o h i m — s ay fath e r a n d I were both so r ry n ot t o have

”
s ee n h i m s a i d a n oth e r vo i c e I t h ad a very sweet
,
.

t o n e th a t vo i ce w i t h a to u ch ,
O f sad n ess i n i t . SO
swee t a n d s o s ad , th at J ess e B u l l en was i rreso l u t e n o
l on ge r . H e d r op ped th e l e tte r i n t o t h e b ox a n d ,

wa l ke d qu i c kly ho m e .
1 86
“
TH E GLOAM I NG

t h e feas t . A n d t h e r e we r e d o u b ts a s to wh e t h e r
G e n t l e m a n B ul l e n ca red fo r th e fa rm a n d th e i n terests ,

O f i t as A m os had d o n e
, . H e h a d m ad e s o m e S l ips
“
a t th e h orkey ,
wh i ch wis e O l d h eads co u l d n o t fo rge t .

H e h ad sa id h e s u ppos ed th e r e wo u l d b e n o pl o ugh i ng
t i l l a fte r th e N e w Y ea r ; a n d d i d . n o t; eve r y boy of

e igh t yea rs Old k n ow th at a d ea l o f th e gro u n d m us t

b e t u r n ed o ve r so soo n as th e c rops we r e u p an d l e ft
lyi n g t i l l n e xt spri n g ? SO th e O ld m en sh ook th ei r
’
h ead s n ex t d ay a n d sa i d th ey b el i eved h e d b e a
, ,

’
ge n t le m a n ; h e we re tha t a l read y— b u t h e d n ee d
so m e t ra i n i n g t o be a fa rm e r .

Th ey wou ld h av e b ee n sca nd al i z ed i nd eed h ad , ,

th ey k now n th a t J ess e h a d n ei th e r wish n o r in t e n

t io n of be i n g a fa r m e r i n a ny se ns e of th e wo r d .

I t was n o t i n h is n at u re t o b e u n civi l to l abo u re r s ,

es pe ci al l y h i s o wn — b u t h e l ook ed a t th e i r rough
h a nd s a n d th e i r ro ugh faces , a n d th a nk ed H eave n
h e was go i n g t o b e a sol d i e r — an O f fice r— and not
a s u nb u rnt so n o f th e s o i l .

”
A fte r h o rk ey C h rist m as ca m e wi th great st rid es
“ .

B leak wi nd s bl ew s n ow fel l th e ivy o n t he ch u rch

, ,

cha ttere d a nd sh ivered . M aste r H u r s t s at ove r t h e

fi re a n d tri e d t o keep h is poo r n u m bed k n ees wa rm
’

a nd co u n te d h is ye ars a n d fo u nd th e m ove r th e
,

al l ot ted t i m e ,
and shook h is h ead wh en J u d it h
 ”
O F TH E Y EAR . 1 87

c a m e t o s e e h i m a n d t ol d h e r he d i d not th i n k
,

th e L o rd wo u ld fo rget h i m m uch l o nger n o w .

A nd she sa t i n th e ch i m n ey corn e r as sh e used ,

to d o W ’
h e n sh e was a l i ttl e ch i ld an d th e shad ows ,

fl itt ed a n d d anced a n d th e fl a m e sho t u p a n d th e

, ,

r ed l o g s et tl e d : a nd s he a n d M as te r H u rs t ta l ked
-

m u ch as th ey u s ed to d o on ly n ow s h e s aw n o ,

b lack th i ngs i n th e ch i m n ey a n d n o Ru th ca m e ,

t o fetch h e r back to t ea .

M ast e r H u rs t O fte n ta lk ed abo u t Am os . But

th e n ta l k fl agge d ; J u d i th h ad n ot qu i te fo rgotte n
how Am os we n t away i n h a rvest ,
a n d n eve r s a i d
good bye -
. S h e co u l d n o t t el l M aster H u rs t abo u t
it ; s he wo u l d n o t h ave to ld a n y o n e fo r th e wo rld .

An d ye t sh e t hou gh t Of i t Often ,
b rood ed ove r i t ,

res en t ed i t S uch a n Ol d fri e nd as A m os — ho w

.

c o u l d h e beh ave s o ?
S h e re m e m bered i t a lways a t n igh t u po n h e r
k n e es wh e n s h e fol d ed h er h and s a nd la id d own
, ,

h e r fac e u po n th e m a n d p rayed God t o fo rgive

,

he r h e r s i ns As I f o rgive o th ers s a i d J u d i th
.
'

as I fo rgive oth ers A nd th en l ay d ow n wi th

.

t ea rs i n th e i n n oc en t eyes a n d fo u n d a l i tt l e t ro ubl e
,

i n h e r l i fe fo r th e fi rs t ti m e ; a n d th o ugh t som e
t i m es beca us e s h e k n ew n o bet ter th a t i t was a
, ,

grea t tr o u b l e : A n d i t is a grea t t ro ubl e to O ld e r ,

1 88
“
TH E GLOAM I NG

wise r fol ks t h a n J ud i th wh e n fri en d s s ee m t o p r ove

u n t ru e .

A we ek b e fo r e C h r ist m as i t was s ett l ed th at J ess e

“ ”
was to begi n w e rk wi th h is c ra m m e r th e firs t
d ays O f th e N e w Yea r . Th e c r a m m e r l ived i n
L o nd on , a nd t o L o nd o n J ess e m us t go .

J ud ith th o ugh t i t was a ve r y d u l l C h ris t m as

A m os go n e ,
a n d J ess e go i n g a n d Ru th with n o
,

temper to s p ea k of b y r easo n
c h i l bla i ns S h e of .

d i d n o t fee l a n y h ea rt i n d eco r a ti n g th e ch u rch ,

a s s h e h ad d o n e la st yea r wi th A m os ; a n d sh e
n eve r s e n t u p f o r h o l ly t o Tro tter s E nd ’
.

O n e O f th e m en n ot i c ed th is a n d spoke his ,

m in d t o G e nt l em a n B u l len wh o was l ooki ng a t a ,

y ou ng t r e e with ,
a tho ugh t o f t r a ns pl a nt i ng i t .

M is t r ess J u d ith sh e l l b e afte r the m berri es

’
“
,

s u rel y— l eastways t wo yea r s co m e C h r ist m a s she

”
we r e a rt e r th e m .

”
“
Wh at d i d s he d o ? ask ed J ess e c a r e lessly pok i n g ,

th e ba rk o f th e h ol ly wi th h is st ic k .

“
S ti ck h ol ly a n d gree n st u ff i n th em h o l es ye ,

’
s e e— p i t bough s a n d s ich al l a l o ng 0 t h e pews .

O h ve r y n o ic e i t d u l oo k t o be s u re wh en s a l l
, ,
’

s et u p l oi k e a nd s et o u t N obo dy n eve r n ot iced

.

th e ch u rch n o t a fo re h e r A n d we l o ike s t o s e e
,
.

’
nu set ou t l o i k e c o m e C h ri s t m as
,
. M a i st e r Am os ,
 “
I 9O TH E GLOAM ING

M ist r ess J u d i th was n o t u sed t o b e so spoken to ,

fo r th ere was so m eth i ng tart i n J esse s m a n n e r ’

S h e l ooked u p p u rs i n g he r l ips a l itt l e a nd h e r

,
,

face t i nge d wi th co lo u r .

I t h as n ot b ee n d o n e h i th er t o . I d i d i t th e l as t
two yea r s —A m os and I A n d I l l d o i t aga i n
’
“

m ay b e wh e n A m os co m es
, , Sh e ad d ed speak i ng ,

wa rm l y fo r h e r sp i rit was ro us e d
,
S h e wo u ld h ave .

spoke n j us t s o to A m os i f h e h a d p rovok ed h e r , .

S h e was u se d t o th e great es t poss i bl e d eferenc e

fro m every o n e b u t Ru th : m o re esp ec i a l ly was sh e
u sed t o i t fro m th e t wo B u l l en s Th e d ecora ti o n .

o r n o n d eco rati o n O f th e ch u rch

-
s h e fel t was q ui t e , ,

a m att er fo r h e r t o d ecid e .

“
M ist ress J u d ith Obj ects to d ec o ra t in g th e ch u rch ,

s a id J ess e a s th e Pa rso n e n t ered

,
on th e gro u nd
”
t h a t m y broth e r i s n ot h e re .

“
O n t h e g ro u n d I h ave n o o n e t o h el p m e a s ‘

”
A m os d id s a id J u d ith t u rn in g over th e s erm o ns
, ,

very qu i ckl y .

“
A n d why sho u l d m y la d n ot h el p yo u ? ” aske d
the P a rso n pu tt in g h is h a n d o n J ess e s s h ou l d e r
,
’
.

H e
’
s go i ng t o b e a sold ie r — he wan ts to k eep
H e wo n t ca re t o fi nge r h ol ly ’
h is h a nd s n i c e .
,

sai d J u d i th s m i l ing i n sp it e o f h e r sel f a t h e r o wn

,

p ett i sh ness .
 O F TH E Y EAR ”
. 1 91

J esse ,
W ho saw th at sh e was n ot i n a n a m en abl e
fra m e of m i nd d ropped th e s u bj ect an d ta lke d t o
, ,

th e Pa rso n . B u t h is eyes fol lowed M istress J u d i th

abo u t th e roo m a s Sh e sl i pp ed th e s ermo n i n to i t s
,

fa d e d velve t case a nd too k u p h er kn i tti ng

, . He
d id n ot stay very lat e th at n igh t ; a nd wh en h e left
h e fel t h e co u l d n o t S ay tha t h e h ad enj oyed h i m
sel f
. As h e wal ked u p th e vi l lage h is t r
o ubl e grew ,

u po n h i m : h e b ega n to feel torm en te d wretched , .

H e d i d n o t sl eep sou n d ly tha t n igh t : i t was the

fi rst t i m e h is sl eep had b een b roken si nc e h e t eeth ed .

A nd h e awok e n ex t m o rn i ng feel i ng th ings were ,

n ot go ing rightl y wi th h i m Th i ngs h ad a l ways .

go n e rightl y befo re a n d J ess e d id n ot ap prove o f

,

’
the least h al t i n Fo rtu n e s wh eel .

Th at m o rn i ng as h e wal ke d abo ut with h is h a nd s

,

i n h is pockets an d stood frown ing at t h e p igs by

,

way O f o verlook i ng th e wo rk o f th e fa rm ,
a grea t
m an y d isagre eable rem e m bra n ces fl itted across h is
m ind .

G e ntl e m a nl y— J esse adj usted h i s h at — t al en ted th e ,

el d es t son— J ess e l ook ed bac k a t th e lo ng b ric k

h ous e wi th th e c reepers o n it — was i t poss i bl e th a t
a fte r al l a wo m a n su ch as M istr ess J ud i th sho u l d
not l ik e h i m ? was i t possi bl e sh e co u l d l ike A m os ,

th e yo unge r th e fa rm er th e d u n c e
, ,
1 92
“
TH E GLOAM I NG

D i sag r eea b l e tal es of t ru e l ove tha t k nows ,

no l et
or h i n d ra n c e tha t t ra m pl es b ra i ns lo oks m a n n ers
, , ,

u nd e r foot an d ch oos es i ts
, o wn i d eal ca m e t o h is
,

re m e m bra n c e . B u t s a id J ess e a fter a l l i t was

, ,
on

n o n e O f h i s se pa rat e ta le nts or a ttrib u t es tha t h e

sh o u l d s ta ke h is s u ccess — if h e we re t ryi n g t o wi n
a wo ma n s ai d J ess e i n m en t al pa re n th es is
, ,
. I t was
t h e aggrega t e h i m se l f h i m J ess e B u l l en wh o m u st
, , , ,

h ave a b ette r ch a n ce th a n m os t m e n ; h e felt h e

ozzg /z t t o h ave a p retty wi fe wi th a good d ower ,
!

and he th ou gh t a l l th e wo rl d m us t fee l th e
same .

The n M ist ress J ud ith s wo rd s a n d h igh c o l o u r ’

“ ’
ca m e b ack t o h i m . I l l d o i t aga i n whe n A m os
co m es back m ay be ,
.

A n d th e n h is th ough ts t ravel l ed back t o th e d ays

wh e n th ey we re ch i ld ren a n d h e was favo u red by ,

th e Pa rson a ra re risi ng l ad wh o co u l d l earn a ny

,

th i n g . A n d M is t r ess J u d i th i n a wh ite ,
su n- bo n n et ,

p o u ted h e r l i ps a t h i m a n d wo ul d n ot pl ay ,
. J es s e
h ad a ve r y ret en t ive m e m ory fo r o th e r th i ngs th a n
l esson s . H e re m em be red d ist in ctly a l i ttl e fi gu re
’
l os t i n a n ago ny of gri ef between B u l ly s ears .

“
O fath er fa th e r ! I d on t wa n t t h a t
,
’
b oy ! I
d o n t wa n t th a t boy t o play wi th m e
’

It s ee m e d t o J ess e , i n sp it e O f h i msel f ,
th a t
 C HAPTER XX I I .

PA R S O N
’
I NG R E v S PR O M I SE .

O J ess e B u l l en l i fti ng h is h a t a n d s e tt l i ng it
, ,

aga i n wi th a sens e o f r el i ef wal ked h om e ,

wa rds A nd as h e we nt h e m et Pa rs o n I ng rey
.
,
.

”
“
L a d s a id th e Pa rs on wh e r e h av e you be en ?
, ,
“

We n t to ta k e s o m e h ol l y to M ist r ess J u d i th ,
s ir,

sai d J ess e s m i l i ng ,
.

Th e P arso n s m i l ed back .

”
H ave you ta m ed th e sh rew t he n ? h e as ked .

M ist r ess J u d i th wish es n o w t o d eco rat e th e

”
ch u r ch t o m o rro w s ir r epl i ed J ess e i n a l owe r t o n e
-
, , ,
.

Ah — S O y ou h ave got yo u r way wi th h e r l a d ,

.

Y o u h ave m ad e eve n a wi l fu l wo m a n t o give u p

h e r way Y ou n eed n ot fea r th e exa m in ati o n a fte r
.

t h at eh
,

“
W e l l I h op e n ot s ir; bu t I ca n n o t b e c on fid en t
, , .

”
C l eve re r m e n t h an I h ave fa i l ed .

H u mi l i ty i n J e ss e B u l l e n wa s ve ry b eco m i ng : i t
m ad e a so rt o f s u d d en ch a nge fro m a pro ud m aj o r
t o a t e nd e r m in o r th a t c a m e i n with grea t e ffect .
 PARSON I NG R E Y S
’
PROM ISE . 1 95

B u t a s ud d e n ch a nge ca m e ove r the Pa rso n a t

th e sa m e m o m en t .

“
F ail ed ,
J ess e B u l l en ! h e excla i m ed name
n o s uch wo rd t o m e . Re m em be r ,
l ad , yo u d is
a ppoi nt ed me o nc e : I h ad d esti ned yo u fo r bet te r
t h i ngs tha n yo u a r e a i m i ng a t no w . Y ou l g ave up
’
th at , lad a n d i t cu t m e t o th e h eart
,
. D o n t ta l k
O f fa i l u re fl o w .

J esse h ad n eve r s ee n th e Pa r son SO exci ted .

Th e re was a l ong s i l enc e as th ey paced s id e by

s id e . Wh e n th ey ca m e to th e cross roads bel o w -

Trotter s E nd t h e Pa rso n s to pped a n d lai d h is h a nd

’

, ,

i n th e O ld fash i on o n J ess e s sh o u ld e r ,
’
.

L ad ,
s a id h e so lem n ly ,
“
I h ave no son of

wn
’
my o . M ay be i t s wel l si nce G od h as o rd ered
’
i t so ,
i t m us t be wel l . I ve l ooked u po n you ,

lad , al m ost as m y o wn — yo u k now tha t . A nd I

t el l yo u no w ,
lad ,
a nd Pa rso n I ngrey t u r n ed h is
face away for an i ns ta n t ; h e was a very r es erved
man ,
a n d h e seld o m spok e so p la i n ly th ere !

’
n oth i ng I wi l l d eny yo u ; n oth i ng that s i n m y
powe r a n d keep i ng i f ,
o
y u wi l l be a cred i t to yo ur
m othe r , to yo u r na m e ,
to yo u rsel f ,
an d to me .

”
L ad , d o yo u u nd erstan d m e ?
J esse co lou red a n d i n a l o w vo ice h e s ai d qu ickly
, ,

I u nd e r stand s ir — I h op e I d o n t u nd erstan d t o o
, ,
’
1 96 PARSON I NGR E Y S
’
PROM I SE .

m u ch . G od h el p m e I c a n t h el p
,
’
An d t h en
h e ch eck ed h i m s el f a n d was S i l en t
,
.

Reser ve d Pa r so n I ng r ey l i ked h i m a l l t h e b e tt e r
fo r th at .

“
c a nn o t u n d ers t a n d t o o m u ch sa id h e
Y ou ,
.

P r ove yo u r se l f wo rthy k eep yo u rsel f st r a igh t l ad

, ,
.

I t s a goo d r u l e t o b e s u r e O f s uccess a n d fearfu l o f

’

fa l l i ng S u r e o f W i n n i ng W h at s good l ad
.
’

, ,
—fearfu l

”
O f b e i n g overco m e O f evi l .

Aga i n t h e r e was s i l e n c e ,
a n d then th e Pa r so n
asked
Will yo u c o m e b ack wi th m e lad a nd sp en d , ,

t h e eve n i ng s n u gly ?

J ess e B u l l e n l oo k ed a t th e c r oss r oa ds T h ere -

.

was th e way t o T rott er s E n d s t raigh t befo r e h i m

’
.

Th e re was th e s m o oth b r oa d wa y t o t h e Recto ry

s t r a igh t b eh i n d h i m I t was fo u r O cl oc k n o w
’
.

a n d th e l ight was fa st wa n i ng ; fro m th e Recto r y

gab l es t h r o ugh th e t rees th e m erry l ights twi n kl ed .

A t T ro t te r s E n d th e r e we r e
’
no l igh ts as yet ;
M ist r ess B u l l e n was fon d O f s i tt ing i n t h e gl oa m
i ng .

Th e o ut l i n e h i s m oth e r s wo rn ch eek i n th e si l en t
’
of

d i m r o o m — M ist ress J u d i th s fresh ova l face by t h e ’

fi res id e i n t h e brigh t l a m p l igh t b en t ove r h e r k n i t

-
,

t i ng , b u t so m e t i m es r a ised t o h i m . J ess e B u l l e n
1 98 PARSO N I NG R E Y S
’
PRO M I SE .

s igh t ,
a nd h e is c r u n ch i ng u po n th e g r avel path ,

and th e gat e h as swun g a n d cl i ck ed -

to b eh i n d
w it
“ ’ ’
th e m . H e s h ad h i s d ay a n d ,
no s mine . I
”
m ea n no h arm t o th e c h ap th a t I d o n t ,
’
.

A nd th e l igh t st r ea m ed ou t on t o M i s tr ess J ud ith s ’

l itt l e m yrt l e i n th e b o r d e r a nd wi th i n h e r vo i c e was,

s o u n d i ng m u sica l an d s o ft .

“
Wh a t i s th e ch i l d S ing i n g , eh ? s ai d th e

P a r so n Ope n i ng th e d o o r
, .

J ess e d i d n ot a nswe r ; h e was l is t en i ng to th e

wo rd s Of th e C h ris t m as caro l M ist r ess J ud i th was
s i ng i ng S h e was go i ng t o a n d f ro a n d th e s o u nd s
.
,

e bbe d a n d f l owed ebbed a nd fl o wed B u t J ess e

,
.

c o ul d h ea r— as a sh adow c r oss ed b eh i n d th e bl i n d
— th e r e fra i n th at fo l l owed o n ea ch ve r s e

T h i s b ri n gs gl ad n e s s, t hi s b ri n g s gl ad n e ss,
T o yo u an d al l m an ki n d .

A n d i n sp it e of h i m sel f J esse s m i l ed as h e l a id his

h at on th e h a l l t abl e
-
.

Th a t eve n i ng was l i ke m a ny oth e r even i n gs tha t

h ad passed b e fo r e . N oth i ng beyon d brigh t fi r es a nd
l a m p l igh t
-
,
a n d th e c l ick O f k n it t in g n eed l es a n d
B u l ly d r ea m s
’
s wh i n i n g , a nd th e n od d i ng O f th e
P a r so n s h ead i n h is a r m c h ai r
’
-
. I f J esse h a d had

t i m e t o t h i n k O f i t h e wo u l d h ave wo nd e r ed a t
h i msel f Wh a t wo u l d he h ave t ho ugh t O f t h is in
.
 PA RS ON I NG R E Y S
’
PROM ISE . 1 99

Pa ri s , of l ong eve n ings w ith a S l eepy cou ntry parso n

a nd h is d augh ter ? H e wou ld h ave sa i d i t wa s im

p ossi bl e that h e sho u l d co m e to s uch a pass .

B u t J ess e B u l l en d i d n ot ca re t o th i n k o f Pa ri s
’
l ook i n g a t M istress J u d i th s fa ce h e co u ld n o t ch oos e
b u t wish tha t tha t t i m e co u ld b e fo r go tten tha t a s
’

;
e as i ly a s th e web on h er n eed l es was ru n Ou t whe n
a st itch h ad seem ed a m iss ,
so th at passage i n h is
pas t , a nd m ay - be o th er pass ages ,
Sh o u l d go i nt o
no th i ngness . A nd no w as h e s at wa tc hi ng h e r i t
was no t i m e to th i n k of wh ere el se h e m igh t b e ,
.

or O f how h e ha d co m e t o ch oose h e r co m p any n igh t

afte r n igh t . H e was ca rried alo ng on th e wi ngs of

one tho ugh t th e though t , of h er ; h e h a d lo s t a l l

co nsci o us n ess s ave th e one c o n scio us n ess , O f h er
p r ese n ce .

O n th is n igh t t wo befo r e Ch rist m as th ey we r e a

, ,

very s i le n t pa rty S l eep had overtak en th e Pa rso n

.
,

an d th e pa p er ha d s l i d fro m h is re lax ed h a n d a n d

h is kn e e to the flo o r I t h a d fal le n o n B ul ly ; a n d
.

B u l ly h ad sh a ke n h i m s elf wa l ked o u t fro m u n d e r i t, ,

a nd s ett le d h i msel f i n a nothe r co rn er .

A nd J esse s at l ea n i ng fo rwa rd i n t h e low arm

c h a i r lea n i n g fo r wa rd a nd lo o ki ng a t M ist ress J ud i th
, .

A n d sh e wi th a brigh t col o u r i n h e r cheeks t ri ed t o

, ,

l oo k as i f s h e d i d n o t fee l t h e eyes u po n h e r a n d ,
z oo PA RSON I NG R E Y
’
S PROM I S E .

co u l d not do it . And t he n eed l es fl ew under thc

l a m p ligh t
-
. Th a t wa s al l .

At t e n O c lock J ess e B u l l e n s igh ed i nvol u n t a r i l y

’

an d s a i d goo d n igh t -
. H e h ad n ot m ad e a r e m a rk
O f a ny n ot e a l l th e eve n i ng ; h e wh o h a d so m u ch
t o t el l a n d co u ld t el l
,
so we l l was d u m b
,
no w .

M is tress J u d ith s a id t o h ers el f th at J ess e p u z z l ed

her Ye t i t
’

,
th a t sh e co u l d n ot u n d ersta n d h i m .

s ee m e d t o h e r a fte r h e h ad l e ft th e r oo m a n d was ,

p u tti ng on h isgreat c oa t i n th e h a l l (se n t d own t o

h i m by h is m oth er) th a t eve r y m ove m en t h ad its
,

m ea n i n g . Th e s o u n d of h i s foot m ovi ng on th e o ak

fl oo r th e r at tl e
,
of th e st ick s i n th e s t a n d a s h e
c h os e ou t h is o wn ,
— th ey s ee m ed to m ea n so m eth i n g
to M ist r ess J u d i t h th ey s ee m ed t o be sp eak i n g
, to

h e r a l l th e m o r e fo r
’
J ess e s d u m b n ess She put .

h e r h a nd s u p to her ho t ch eek s wh en h e was gon e ,

and did not k n ow wh eth e r s he we r e s or r y or gl a d

wh e n t h e d oo r clos ed a n d th e c ru n ch —crunch i ng on

t h e grave l cea sed a n d Ru th d r ew th e g r ea t b o l t s a n d

,

s tu m p ed b ed a n d J ess e wa s go n e
to , .

H e was go n e a n d Pa x to n D i ck kn e w it
, .

“ ”
G oo d even i n g s ir ! ,

J ess e s t a rt ed .

”
Wh a t a r e yo u d o i ng h e r e ? h e as k ed sh a r p ly .

“
O n m y way t o b ed s ir s o i t p l eas e yo u T he , , .
202 PARSON I NG R E Y S
’
PROM ISE .

n ot l i kel y ,
s ir
. A n d was l e ft t r a m p i ng by h i msel f
i n t h e d a rk .

J ess e B u l l e n wi th g r eat st ri d es s pa n n ed th e r oad

, ,

to Trot te r s E nd
’
. I II th e Old elm besid e th e b ridge
a m e la nch o ly o wl was h oot i ng . H e was s u r p rised
to see th e l igh t st rea m in g o u t on to th e g r avel a n d
th e ga r d e n a nd th e d o o r sta nd i ng O pen
,
.

A few s teps n ea re r a nd h e sa w h i s m oth e r a d a r k ,

figu r e fr a m ed i n by th e l igh t . N e a rer s ti ll a n d h e ,

cou l d se e h e r h a n d s ove r h er eyes as she peere d

out i n t o th e d a rk a nd th e n h e , w some
sa of h e r so f t
h a i r float i ng i n th e ch i l l W i n d .

M othe r ! h e r e i n th e co ld
, ?
A y, l ad l ad — we re goi ng t o h ave a bl i th e C h r is t
, ,
’

fo rbea r co m ing t o t el l
’
m as ! I co u ld n t yo u . A mo s
is c o mi ng fo r a week a n d , he
’
s to b e h e re on Ch rist
m as D ay ! Yo u r h ea d d o es n t a ch e d oes i t d ea r ’

, ,

son sh e asked t en d erl y .

NO
“ ’

, of c o u r se i t do es n t ,
. So A m os is c o m in g ,

is h e
 C HAPTER XXIII .

A MO S I S CO M I NG .

’
T was n ot a th ough t l ik ely t o pass fro m J esse s
m i nd a nd as h e d essed i n th e m o r n i ng
, ,
r

a n d sh ave d h is fi rm ch eek ,
i t r ang ch anges c o n
t in u al ly .

“ ”
SO Am os i s co m i ng ,
is he ? A n h o u r la t e r
I e was a t th e Rectory wai t ing fo r M ist r ess J u d ith
,

to co m e a n d d eco r a t e t he ch u rch . And an hour

a fte r tha t th ey were d ecorat ing .

J esse ,
as n i m bl e as a squ i rrel was u p a n d d own ,

i n a n i n sta n t ,
fast en i ng a ga rl an d a t the top O f a
p i l l ar tyi ng k nots l ike a wo m an a n d ropes l i ke a
, ,

man . M ist r ess J ud i th i n a l aby r i n th O f ho l ly h el d

, ,

th e steps belo w a n d l ooked u p

, . Th is was bet te r
’
h elp tha n A m os s . Am os was very wi l l ing t o be
s u re , b ut th e n h e was r ath er c l u msy ; h e wen t
s l owl y u p a n d d own th e s t eps a nd m ad e a so u nd ,

b etwee n h i s t eeth as i f h e we r e groo m i ng h o r ses

whe n h e ca m e to a d i ffi c u lty E specially i n the .

tying of k nots A m os m igh t b e c o nsid e r ed a fa i l u r e .

2 04 AMOS I s CO M I NG .

I t hi n k we m igh t fol l o w ou t a pl a n I sa w in a
ch u r ch i n Fra n ce l as t C h ri st m as , M ist ress J ud i th ,

”
if yo u a pp rove i t . A n d th ey we re fol l owi ng th is
p la n no w .

”
“
Wh e r e d i d yo u go to c h u r ch i n Pa r is ? as ked

M is t ress J ud ith .

“
O h — t o d i ffe r e n t ch u r ch es sa i d J esse , ,
h es it at

i n g a l i ttl e .

“
I wo nd e r wh e r e A m os goes t o ch u rc h no w— I
won d e r wh ere h e l l go C h r is t m as D ay d o n t
’ ’
on , yo u
J ess e ha d h is m o ut h fu l l o f s tr i ng a n d co u l d n o t
a nswe r .

Th ey we n t in t o d i n n e r t oge t h e r a n d a ft e r d i n n e r ,

t h ey we n t ba ck t o th e ch u rch B y h al f past th r e e .
-

i t was a l m os t wi th th e i r wo r k
'

t oo d ark to go on .

M is tr ess J u d ith sh ive r ed .

“ ”
A re yo u co l d ? ask ed J ess e wi th a s o l i cita t io n
,

in h is voi ce tha t frigh t en ed M ist ress J u d i th .

”
“
Yes ,
r ath e r : l e t u s go ou t .

H e fo l l owed h e r s i l en tly th ey wa l k ed r ou n d th e ,

ga r d e n a few t i m es a n d wa tch ed th e r ed l u r i d ba l l
of th e su n go i n g d own b eh i n d t h e popla r s ; and
t h e n R u t h b ega n d rawi n g d o wn t h e b l i n ds a n d th e ,

l on g eve n i ng h ad b eg u n .

P a r so n I ng r ey h a d gon e to C a m bri dg e . He
wo u l d
’
n ot b e back t i l l s even O c l ock .
2 06 AMOS I s COM I NG .

fr o m C a m b rid ge . S h e was afra i d even t o t a p wi t h .

h e r so ft l i ttl e fo r efi nger o n th e frosted pa n e i n cas e ,

th e so u nd m igh t r em i nd J ess e B ul l en o f h e r p r esence .

S h e ha d a so rt O f h eavi ness at h e r h ea r t th i nk i n g
h e was go in g t hat s h e sh o u l d h ave n ei th e r h i m
,

n o r Am os an y l onge r An d a n in d e fin ab l e d read
.

t o o at t he th o ugh t O f h i s bei ng i n th e roo m a lo n e

with h e r a t th a t m o m en t Wh y sho u l d s he fea r

.
,

s h e wh o was S O u n us ed t o co nven t io n al i ty so u sed ,

t o be i ng a lo n e wi th J esse o r wi th A m os ? S h e d i d
n o t k n o w o n l y s h e fea red
, .

Afte r fi ve m i n u tes ha d pass ed i t s eem ed to h e r t h a t,

t h e s i le nce vi brate d S h e s to od l ook in g o u t i n to t h e

.

d a rk st il l b u t n o wheels s o u nd ed i n th e d i sta nce

,
.

Th e r e was o n ly th is s t r a nge u n n a t u ra l awfu l S i l en c e

, ,

be twee n h e r a n d J ess e .

A nd a fte r i t h ad vi brated t i l l sh e th o ugh t s h e co u l d

h ea r th e s il e n ce pu lsi n g l i k e a n overch a rged h eart ,

Sh e though t sh e m us t l ook ro u nd j us t fo r a n i nsta n t ,

a nd satis fy h ersel f : J ess e m igh t b e read i n g a boo k ,

m igh t b e s t i l l r ead i n g th e l etter S h e wo u l d loo k

. .

A n d s h e l oo ked . A n d a s sh e l ook ed h e r h ea rt
b ea t lo ud e r tha n th e s i le n ce F o r i n t h e l ow a rm
.
,

ch ai r s at Jess e B u l l en with n o boo k u pon h is k n ee

, .

U po n th e floo r l ay th e l etter wh ich h e h ad th r o wn

fr o m h im a n d as th e fire l igh t fl ick e r ed u p a n d fel l
,
 AMOS I S COM I NG . 2 07

U po n h is fac e sh e r ea d th ere a n ex p ress io n so n ew

,

to it ,
so d i ffe re n t to th e s el f co n fid e n t co ld sm i l e
-
,
of

J esse B ul l en th a t sh e a sk ed h ers el f W h eth er i t cou ld

,

be he . A n d seei n g t ha t t h ere wa s n o d o u b t i t wa s
h e sh e grew m o re frighte n ed st il l
,
.

VVit h
'

h e r s m a l l h a n d sh e gen t ly to ok h o l d of th e
c u rta i n free d h er foot si len t ly fr o m th e fo ld s o n th e
,

floo r m ad e qu ite su re wh ere th e d oo r was a n d th e n

, ,

m oved M istress J u d i th was n o cowa rd b u t sh e

.
,

h ad p repa r e d h e rsel f c u n n i ngly fo r fl igh t . A ve ry

d ign ifi ed fl igh t O f co u rse — j us t to wa l k qu ickly acros s
th e roo m ,
ask Ru th fo r th e l igh ts by way o f a
p retex t a n d t h e n t o stay ou t o f th e roo m —
,
fo r a

l i ttl e t i m e at a l l even ts ,
.

I n a noth e r i n sta n t M i st ress J u d i th was a pri son e r .

”
J esse — how d a re yo u ! l et go m y ha n d ! An d
h e r face was a l l afl am e wi th frigh t a n d ange r .

An d J ess e stood l ooki ng at h e r ; l oo ki ng at h er ,

and not l ett i ng go .

Y ou we re goi ng away ,
h e said h oa rsely yo u
we r e go i ng away a n d I sh o u ld n t
’

, see yo u aga i n .

Yo u d o n t ca re fo r wha t I s u ffe r
’
Oh ,
do yo u ?
,

”
n o ! And h e l augh ed bi tterl y Yo u d on t k now .
“ ’

wh at is th e m a tte r d o yo u ? Yo u preten d n ot ,

’
Oh yes
, ! yo u p ret end not . Y ou d o n t k n ow th at
m e bi t by bi t ;
’
m y l i fe s bei ng eaten ou t of an d
2 08 AMOS I S COM I NG .

t h a t t h i s u n c e rt a i n t y i s k i l l i ng m e Wh o were yo u .

t h i nk in g o f lo ok i ng o u t i n to th e da rk th e r e — wh o
,
~

we r e yo u th in k i ng of ? A n d h e u nco nsc io u sl y t igh t

e n ed h is h o l d on h e r w r i st t i l l she gave a l it t l e cr y
Of pa i n .

B u t S h e l ook ed u p a t h i m wi t h t e rr o r in he r
i n n o c en t g r ey eyes a n d sa i d firm l y ,

“
J us t t h e n I was th i nk i ng of A m os a n d
J ess e s la ugh t h a t m ad e M is tr ess J u d i th sh u dd e r
’

, ,

b r ok e i n a t A m os s n a m e ’
.

“
O f h i m yes O f h i m ! a nd I — I m n owh e re n o t
, ,
’
,

t o b e t h o ugh t o f ca r ed f o r s pok en t o — o n l y yo u r
, ,

s l ave yo u r s e r va n t yo u r too l I a m go i ng t o m o rr ow
, , .
-
,

b u t wh at i s th at t o yo u —n oth i ng n oth i ng ,

A n d h e r e J esse sa n k d own i n th e l o w a r m ch a i r -
,

c ove r i ng h i s face wi t h h is h a nd s a n d r o ck i ng h i m sel f ,

t o a n d fr o .

Po o r l i t t l e M is t r ess J u d i th St oo d fi x ed o n th e
h ea rt h ru g a fra i d e i th e r t o go o r st ay b u t l ess
-
, ,

a fra id n o w beca us e h e r h a n d s were free

,
Her .

wrists p a i n ed h e r s t i l l a nd t h e pa i n s t ung h e r i nto

,

s p eak i ng .

“
J ess e B u l l e n yo u ve h u rt m e ve r y m u ch
,
’

yo u h ave b ee n v er y ru d e t o m e A m os wo u l d .

n eve r
B u t th e wo r d s d i ed ; fo r J esse tal l a n d c a l m , ,
210 AMOS I S COMING .

s t a r ed i n t o t h e fi re a n d h el d h e r ha nd s t igh t to

ge t h e r .

SO t h i s was l ove was it ? S h e h a d Ofte n ,

wo n d e red wh at l ove wo u ld b e l i k e N O W s he .

k n ew : no w s he was a wo m a n And a wo m a n
m u st ch oose ,
m u st s ay
“
Yes or
“
NO . And
that was wha t i t h ad co m e t o n ow .

S h e t ho ugh t — a n d ove r h e r fl u sh ed fa c e ca m e a
d eep e r col o u r a t th e th o ugh t — h o w l ong ago fo u r ,

l o ng m o n ths ag o , she h ad l oo k ed a t s o m eth in g i n

A m os s fa ce a n d asked wh eth e r th is co u l d be l ove
’

com e t o h e r a t las t ? And no w s he k n e w th a t

n eve r had b ee n l ove — n ever . A m os h ad go n e
away ,
gi ve n h e r u
p ,
forgott en th e Ol d fr i en d sh i p ,

s en t n o m essage— n o r eg r et — n oth i ng . A n d M ist ress

J u d ith l ooke d a t J esse wi th th e d a rk l i n es u nd e r ,

h i s wi stfu l eyes , and sa w how h e was wa i tin g ,

wa i t i ng . And she s ai d t h i s was l ove —th ere was

no m istak i ng t h is .

”
J ud ith ,
sa i d J ess e a t l as t wi th a so rt ,
of cal m
d espa i r i n h is vo ic e ,
fo r h e h a d m is i nt e r p r eted
h e r l on g ,
l on g s i l en c e w il l yo u t el l me on e

t h i ng ? I wi l l t ry to bea r i t l i k e a man ,
o n ly
t el l m e — d o yo u l ove — Am os ?

’
J u d i th s eye s k i nd l ed as t h ey t u r n ed fr o m t h e
fire l ight u po n J esse . L ove Am os , who h ad for e
 AMOS I S COM I N G . 211

sake n h e r ? love wh ere h e r l ove was not p ri z ed ?

a n d co n fess i t —n ever !

SO with a to rren t O f i nd ign a t i o n sh e d e n i ed i t .

u
Am os an d I we r e fri ends — we n eve r loved ea ch
othe r— n eve r .

J ess e ca m e ac r oss th e rug a nd s at d own on a

c ha i r besi d e he r .

“ “
M is tress J ud i th , sa id h e ,
i f yo u th i nk yo u
eve r can , if yo u th i n k th e r e is a ny h op e yo u
”
eve r wi l l — j ust give m e yo u r h a n d wi l l yo u ?
Five m i n utes a fterwa rd s ,
a small wa r m h a n d
wave r ed fo r a m o m e n t On M ist ress J u d i th s k n ee ’
:

the n l i fte d i ts el f ,
and pass ed i n to th e b ig h an d
of J ess e B u l le n .
 C HAPTER XXIV .

A C H R I S T M A S S E CR E T .

I ST R E S S J U D I T H S d rea m s we re b roke n
’

n ext m o rn i n g by th e ca rol s i ngers u nd er

n eat h h e r wi nd ow . S h e o pen ed h er eyes a n d
won d e red wh e re she wa s ; a n d th e O ld Old wo r d s
she k n ew fro m ch i ld h oo d ca m e ri ngin g ou t l u sti ly
i n th e cl ea r m o rn i ng a i r .

S we e t, swe e t, swe e t, s wee t

Ch ri s t , T h o u d i d s t T h y lf d b a se e se

T hu s t o d e sce n d t h ma a
o u n r ce ,

And l e ave T hy F at h thr er s

’
ab on e o ve
.
”

Th e r e was a weigh t a t h e r h ea rt fo r a n i ns t a n t ,

j us t o n e i ns ta n t . A n d th e n r em e m b ered th a t
sh e

she was b et roth ed t h a t ,

s he h ad given he r pro m is e
to J ess e B u l l e n .

U po n th a t l ea l M i st ress J ud it h was ve ry t ro u bl ed
,

a t th e o n e i nsta n t o f h eavi n ess wi th wh ich s h e h ad

awok e . H eavy a t h ea rt a n d bet roth ed ? h eavy a t
h ea rt a n d beloved ? I t o ugh t n o t to b e i t co u ld ,
2 1 4. A CH R I STMA S SECRET .

J u d i th loo ke d a t h e r t a l l b e tr othed a n d wo nd e r ed ,

ho w h e c o u ld t a l k s o l igh t ly seei n g a l l th a t had ,

pass ed si n ce las t h e s aw he r fath e r B ut h e h a d .

so m e goo d r eas o n n o d o u bt fo r k eep i ng s i l en c e t il l

t o m o rrow ; a n d t i l l th e n s h e m u s t b e pati e n t a n d
-

o n ly pla n wh at th ey s h o u l d s ay S h o ul d th ey go .

i n t ogeth e r ? wo u ld i t b e be fo re b reak fas t ? S h e

h oped so . S h e w ish ed h er fath e r h ad bee n t e n
m i n u tes l ate r th a t sh e a n d J ess e m igh t have pla n ned
it all a nd to l d h i m a l l to- n /z t .

But as t h at co u ld n o t b e wh a t c o u l d ,
she do

bu t k e e p s i l e n ce ? S h e c o u l d n o t s pea k O f oth e r
t h i ngs wit h th is grea t secret lyi ng a t h e r h ea rt .

A n d wh e n J ess e fo rced h e r i nt o c o nve r sati o n abo u t

so m e t ri fl i n g m at ter a n d ,
s he ha d t o a n swer wh eth er
sh e wo u l d or n o, s he fel t as i f sh e were lyi n g
lyi n g t o h e r fat h e r . A nd t h en s he fel l again t o .

s i l en ce t i l l J ess e r os e
,
to go .

B y th at t i m e wh a t wi th h is l o ng co l d d rive a n d
,

t h e h ot r oo m a n d th e h ot wi n e a n d wate r (th a t by
t he way fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e s i nc e J u d i th h ad wa
,
i ted
a n d wa t ch ed f o r h i m h e h ad t o o rd e r f o r h i m sel f)
, ,

t h e Pa rs o n h ad b egu n t o n od i n h i s a r m ch ai r -
.

J esse b e c kon ed to J ud i th to l eave th e r oo m w i th

h im .
S h e sh ook h e r h ea d d o u bt ful ly ; but he

b ecko n ed aga i n a nd sh e wen t ,

.
 A C H R I STM A S S ECR ET . 215

An d i n th e h al l u nd e r t h e swi ngi ng la m p
, ,
she

l ooked a pp eal i ngly a t h i m o nc e m o r e .

”
“
Mayn t I t el l to n igh t J ess e ?
’
-
,

NO ,
no , yo u l i tt l e foo l ish o n e, h e sa i d s m il i ng ,

“
p ul l in g on h is g r eat c oa t a n d b u t to n i ng i t . I m ust
t a l k i t ove r wi th yo u be fo re t h a t . I t h a s bee n a

ve r y l ittl e t i m e o u r s ,
d a r l ing — I ha rd ly k no w i t
m ysel f yet — yo u d o n t wa n t a l l th e wo r l d
’
to k no w
”
it ,
do yo u al read y ?
”
O h n o J ess e !
“
s he ,
sa id l ooki ng l ovi ngly at ,

o n ly fa the r beca us e yo u kno w ,

G o back to fath e r n o w m y d a rl i ng he , ,

a n swe r ed “
a n d I wi l l s e e yo u aga i n t o m o rr ow
,
-
.

”
G ood n igh t m y J u d i th m y
-
, ,
o wn '

A nd h e p ut h i s wa r m l a r ge h a nd s r o u n d he r
u ptu rned face ,
as h e s too ped a n d k issed h e r so ftly .

S h e s h ra n k b ac k a l i tt l e a n d p u sh ed h i m away
ge nt l y .

— — ”
O J ess e n o t aga i n n o t ye t l
No t b e my
’
yet and yo u ve pr o m ised to
”
wi fe ! h e said .

O yes b u t J ess e —
“
,
n ot t i l l fa t h e r kno ws — p lea s e ,

I d r a t h e r n o t J ess e
’

,
.

A n d J ess e a nswe r i ng o n ly b y a n a m u sed S m i l e

, ,

kiss ed h is ha nd pl ayfu lly as h e t u r n ed an d O pen ed

th e d oo r a nd p assed i n t o th e da r kn ess .
 2 16 A CH R I STM AS S EC R ET .

M is t ress J ud ith stood h esi tat in g a m o m en t l ook

,

i n g u p a t t he s wi ngi ng l a m p a n d th e co l d bl as t ,

J ess e h ad l et i n wh i rl i n g r o u nd h e r . Th e n sh e

l o oke d i n to th e d rawi ng r oo m wh e re t h e fi r e h ad -
,

s ett led d own lo w and red ,

and her f at h e r was
'

n od d in g i n t h e cha i r bes i d e i t .

S h e wen t s o ftly t o t h e m a nt el pi ec e a n d l i t a
can d l e Th e n a s so ftl y a lm os t t i m id l y s he wen t
.
, ,

u p b eh i nd h i m a n d k iss ed h is fo reh ea d .

”
G o in g t o b ed J ud it h ? h e as ked r o u si n g
, ,
-

h i m s el f “
A r e yo u t i red eh — t i red
.
,

“ ”
Yes a l it tl e fath e r sa id J u d ith ; a n d co ul d
, , ,

n ot fo r th e l i fe o f h e r d iss i m u l at e m ore bol d ly .

A nd so b ecau s e Sh e m igh t n o t t el l h i m O f h e r
,

s ec ret a n d becau s e s h e co u l d n o t ca rry i t b e f o re

,

h i m as i f i t we re n ot s h e ra n u p t o bed A n d , .

th e n d r ea m s ca m e a n d a fte r d rea ms cam e ca rols

,
.

”
And n ow ,
sa i d M is tress J u d i th no w is th e
”
t i m e fo r t el l i ng fath er !

S h e co u ld n o t r es t eve n wh i l e s h e d ressed
h e rs el f b u t m u st b e a l ways l oo k i n g u p th e roa d
,

fo r J ess e O f co u rs e J esse wo u l d b e as eage r t o

.

t el l a s s h e was ; h e h a d o n l y p u t i t O ff l as t n igh t
’

th at h e m igh t s e tt l e h o w th ey sho u l d s ay i t A n d .

n ow i t wo u ld b e a rea l C h ri st m as b o x fo r fath e r .

Pe r h aps J ess e h ad p u t it O ff j u s t f o r th at ! J u s t
218 A C H RI STM AS S ECRET .

goo d wi l l
-
to all m a n k in d . B eca u se t h e re was
so m eth i ng n ew a n d grea t to th i n k abo u t t his
C hris t m as . H ad n ot the S avi o u r given b ar a

C h ris t m as gi ft ? Was she n ot a wo m a n no w and ,

l oved by J esse B ul le n ?
J u s t b ecau s e sh e was a wom a n an d be c a us e ,

sh e was l oved s h e d u rst n o t h ave l ooked u p a t

,

M ist r ess B u l len s p ew t il l h a l f way t h r ough t h e

’

fi rs t p r aye r . And th e n she co u l d n ot s ee , f o r,

k n e e l i ng th e g r ea t p ew r os e a l l ro u n d h er
, . And
i t fel l th e Vom to was begu n be fo r e h e r
’

so tha t

eye s l ooke d u p fr o m u nd e r t h ei r wh i t e l ids a n d

t rave l led ac r oss th e way r est o n J esse B ul l en to .

B u t th ey fel l S ho rt o f J esse ; f o r th e r e wit h ,

h is g r ea t eyes fi xed u po n h e r an d h is l i ps pa r ted ,

”
011 th e C o m e l et u s s ing u n to th e L ord ! s tood
,

A m os . But h is l i ps c losed as h is eyes m et th e eyes

of M ist res s J u d ith .

D i d h e re a d a nyth i ng th ere tha t s i len ced h i m ?

It was J ess e that t oo k u p th e st r a in ,
a t l east ,

an d sa n g
L e t u s h ea rt i ly r ej o i c e i n t h e s tr en gth O f ou r

salva t io n !
M ist ress J ud ith s topped s i ngi ng too . And M r .

C ocks fr o m beh i nd t h e ba rrel o rga n l ooked u p m i ss -

,

i ng h er voice a nd wo nd e r ed
, .
 C HAPTER X XV .

’
ST . VA L E N T I NE S D AY .

I ST R E SS J U D I T H lay S il en t on e c old
Februa ry m orn i ng a nd watch ed t h e so ft
fea th ery sn ow fl ake s d ri fti ng ac ross he r l at tice
-

wi n do w .

I t was n i n e o clock — t i m e t o be u p a n d d oi ng
’

bu t M is tr ess J u d i th was n eve r a n ea rl y r iser i n

wi n t e r Th e pi l l ow was very s o ft a n d wa r m B u l ly
.
,

l ay st r etch e d ac ross h e r feet a n d i t was col d Wo r k

,

getti ng u p o n ly t o s e e sn ow fl ake s a nd ba re b r a nches

-

i ns t ead O f l i n n ets a n d ros es .

Wi nt e r a lways s eem ed t o h e r a m istak e i n na tu r e ,

a som e t h i ng t o b e to l erat ed b u t n eve r to b e a pproved .

I t was i n va i n tha t th e Pa rso n r easo n ed wi th h e r

that th e ea r th wa n ted r est a nd po i n ted t o h e r o wn
,

l ove o f l at e lyi ng i n bed as a n i l l ustratio n S h e .

wo ul d s ay th e co m pa r iso n was n o t go od a n d shak e ,

h e r h ead a nd say s h e d id n o t l ik e th e W i nte r

, .

N O wi nt e r had eve r as ye t s eem ed lon ger o r

c ol d e r to h e r tha n th is one . S h e h ad lost h e r
2 20 S T
. VA L E N T I N E S D AY ’
.

Old gl ad s pi ri ts a nd th e fai r ova l ,

of h e r face h ad
l os t s o m eth i ng O f i ts sym m et ry . Th e grey eyes
h ad a wis tfu l t ro ubl ed l ook i n th e m at t i m es ;

and sh e did not go q u i te so Often t o M aster

H u rs t .

M i stress J u d i th was c rossi n g th e th resh old l o ok ,

i ng i n to l i fe . Peeri ng o u t no w to see th e bett er ,

averti ng h e r face no w i n fea r a nd t ro u bl e th e gri m ,

fi gu r e of D ise n cha nt m en t lo o m ed o u t be fo re h e r .

N o t th at she ha d b een d isa ppo i n ted wh ol ly by

J es se ,
or A m os , or a ny o th e r .

B u t A m os /z ad fa i led i n h is fri endsh i p . H ad h e

C h r ist m as t o Tro tte r s E nd
’
n ot co m e aga i n a t ?

H ad s he n o t s een h i m th a t S u n d ay i n th e p w e

across th e a isl e a nd h a d h e n o t co m e a nd s tayed

,

two d ays a n d l eft aga i n ,

a n d n eve r b ee n t o se e
her —
n eve r ,
th a t i s ,
wi th a ny wi sh t o
- see her .

H ad h e n ot rath er ch ose n a t i m e wh en s he wa s

“
ou t t o co m e to t h e Recto ry . An d h e d id k now
”
I wa s o u t, s a id M ist ress J ud i th t o h ers el f fo r
d id n t J esse
’
se e m e t e n m i n u tes befo re on my
way t o Pax t o n wit h fath e r —a n d of co u rs e J ess e
to ld Am os tha t ,
wh e n h e j o i ned h i m d own th e
”
r oad J ess e n eve r forgets l i k e fa th e r
. .

S h e h el d t o J esse fi rm l y a n d sa id t o h e r s el f th at
,

h e wou ld n eve r h ave d ece ived h er so S h e sa id t o .

2 22 ST . VAL ENT I N E S DAY ’
.

fa t h e r ? yo u h ave t ol d h i m yet J ess e a n d i t

n ot , ,

m a kes m e so u n easy t i l l h e k n ows O h J esse ! yo u .

,

”
c a n co m e i n f o r hal f a m i n u t e ca n t yo u J ess e ’

,
?

A n d i n h er eage r n ess s he l a i d he r h a nd o n h i s a r m .

“ ”
J ud i th ! l oo k o u t ! h e s a id i n a sha rp wh isp e r ,

A n d fo r th e fi rs t t i m e J u d ith s aw J ess e fr own .

S h e wi th d re w h er h a nd qu ick ly as i f s h e h ad ,

b ee n ca ugh t i n so m e u n m ai d en ly ac t . Bu t i n to
h e r g r ey eyes t h e r e ca m e a l ook of s o m e th i ng l ike
p r o u d d isp l eas u r e a n d J ess e ,
sa w it .

”
“
D e a r love ,
sa id h e ,
pu tt i ng h i m sel f b e t we e n
h e r a n d the P a rs o n ,
an d t ak i ng th e h a n d h e h ad
a l m os t pu sh ed away ,
t e nd erl y i n h i s o w n—
“
I am
o n l y s h a rp , beca us e m y h ea rt is h eavy a t go i ng
away a n d l eavi ng yo u . Y ou wo n t b e ang r y wi th
’ '

’
m e J ud it h ? Y ou wo n t thi n k I s pok e u n t ru e wh e n
,

? ”
I s a id I l oved yo u

“
I n eve r tho ugh t th a t , said sh e q u i et ly ,
l ook
i ng d own “
But ,
if we a re to b e m a r ri ed by a n d
b y i t s ee m s ha rd I c a n n o t l ay my h a n d
,
on yo u rs ,

7)
J ess e an d,

“
O h d a rl i ng m y d arl i ng— yo u m is un d ersta n d
, ,

”
me ! h e sa id h ot l y p ressi ng th e h a n d h e h el d
,

betwe e n h is o wn I t s o n l y f o r wh a t fol ks wi l l
.
“ ’

s ay— o n ly f o r tha t — a n d

J u d i t h s u pt u r n ed eyes m e t his a n d s t op p ed hi m
’
.
 ST . VAL E NT I N E S D AY ’
. 2 23

I f yo u a r e a sha m ed ,
J ess e ,
I am n o t, s he

“
s a id gravely . A nd i f Paxto n D ick a n d a l l th e
worl d we re h ere I wo u l d t el l the m pla i n ,
‘
I am
’ ’ ’
go in g to b e J ess e B ul l en s wi fe . A n d wh y can t
”
we tel l f ar/ M r J ess e,
?

’
J ust th en A m os t u rn ed fro m M a ste r H u rst s
d oo r a nd ca m e ac r oss th e r o ad . J ess e was too
qu ick fo r h i m a n d befo re h is eyes h ad sough t
,
out

M istress J u d ith ,
sh e was sta n d i ng s om e way fro m
h is e l de r b roth e r a n d n o pa ng ,
of j ea lo usy sho t
’
i nt o Am os s h eart . D u m b h e was ,
very d u m b .

A ft e r h e h a d greet ed h e r an d patted B u l ly th ere

s ee m ed no th i ng l eft t o say A n d j ust before th e y
’

l eft th e Rectory wh en h e wo u l d fa i n have as ked

,

her i f sh e wou ld b e a t h om e to m o rr ow -
,
fo r h e
h ad b ut one d ay a t T r otter s
’
End ,
he lo ok ed
ro un d a nd sa w J ess e clos e b es i d e h i m : a n d th e n
t h e wo rd s r efus ed t o co m e N ot befo r e m orta l .

ea r wo u l d h e s ay a nyth i ng o f a n y m ean i ng t o
M ist ress J u d i th A m os was fa r t oo p r o u d a nd s hy
.

f o r tha t.

N ex t d ay M ist r ess J ud ith r e c eived a n ot e I t .

r a n as fol lows :

“
I wi l l wri te t o yo u fo r I ca n n ot co m e to d ay
,
-
.

I wo uld h ave as ked yo u t o m eet m e b u t I ,

k n e w yo u wo u ld n o t d o i t u nknown t o yo u r
2 24 ST . VALENT IN E S DAY
’
.

fath e r . Wh e n yo u get th is I sha l l h ave gon e .

G od s b lessi ng be wi t h yo u a n d p rese r ve
’

yo u fo r

yo u r d evo ted J B . .

P S — S ay n o th in g t i l l yo u h ea r
. . .

To J u d i th s s u rp ris e t h e b ea r e r Of th is l et t e r wa s
’

Paxto n D ick . H e b ro ugh t i t i n h is bask et of eggs

to the bac k d oo r a n d a sk ed t o ,
see th e yo u ng
l ad y . A n d Ru th l au gh ed wh i l e J ud i th c ol o u red .

S h ou ld s h e t ak e th e l ette r ? C o u l d Sh e Show i t
t o h e r fath e r ? A n yth i n g was bette r th a n th at i t
s ho u l d r e m ai n w ith Pa xto n D ic k .

Wh e n s h e rea d i t she kn ew S he co u ld n o t sh ow
i t t o h e r fath e r H e r h ea rt was s ick a n d h eavy
.

a s s he t u rn e d t he k ey O f h er m other s great d es k
’

a nd l ai d th e c r u m pl ed n ot e a m on g th e m i n t a n d
l ave nd e r with a sove reign th a t was a l l h er o wn .

Fo r th e fi rs t ti m e Sh e lo ok ed a t th a t d esk wi th a
g u i l ty fee l i n g Wh e n sh e wen t to h e r r oo m a t
.

n ight ,
th e fee l i n g O f gu i l t ros e a n d swel led : she

co u l d n ot s le e p wi t h tha t d es k sta ri ng a t h er So .

S he carri ed i t i nto th e n ex t roo m ,

a ba re roo m ,

a n d th en ca m e back , p rayi ng t o God th a t J esse

m igh t soo n wri te h i s s eco nd l et ter a n d
,
tel l the
s ec re t t ha t was lo s m g a l l i ts swe et n ess by bei ng
k ep t
s he
’
It s not l i ke th e m i n t a nd l avend e r ,
sa i d
2 26 ST . VA L E NTI N E S D AY ’
.

a lo n e wi th h i m . I f h e ask ed yo u q u es t io ns i t m igh t
b e ve r y awkwa rd . Yo u wou l d n o t l i k e t o tel l a l i e ,

a n d yet yo u co u ld n o t tel l t h e t ruth . I t i s o n ly fo r a

”
l itt l e wh il e m y d a rl ing — ti l l th e n m ay God bl ess yo u
,
.

Th is s eco n d l et te r ca m e befo re th e N ew Yea r .

B etwe e n th at t i m e a n d th e s nowy m o r n i ng wh en
M i st ress J u d ith l ay awak e a n d t ho ugh t of a l l th a t
h ad passed sh e h ad h ad m a ny s t ru ggl es a n d m u c h
p erpl ex i ty .

J ess e was r igh t tr u e good h o nou ra bl e a n d she

, , , ,

l ove d h i m S ec r et s f ro m h e r fath e r d i d n o t s ee m
.

r igh t : yet J ess e t o ld h e r t o keep a s ec r et J u d i th .

co u l d n o t u nd e rs ta nd .

”
Wha t is t r uth ? s ai d P i l at e l o n g ago M ist r ess .

J ud i th with h er i n nocen t wist fu l eyes l ook ed o u t

, ,

n ow a n d aga i n I n to th e grea t shad owy u n k n own

worl d O f real i ti es a nd u n real it i es a n d ask ed i t to o .

A n d th e r e was n o o n e t o an swe r n o o n e t o ,

m ak e re ply O n ly th e s n ow d ri ft ed s i l en tly l arge

.
,

a nd fl e e cy across th e l att ic e a n d th e s o ng O f sh iver

, ,

i n g ch i ld re n a t th e ga rd e n gat e t ol d h e r it was
’
V a l en tin e s D ay .

G ood m o rn i n g Val e n ti n e,

Cu rl y o u r l o c ks as I d o m in e
T wo b e f o r e an d t wo b e h i n d
, ,

G o o d m orn i n g Val e n ti n e ,
 ST . VALE NT I N E S D AY
’

. 23 7

W i l l th ere b e a ny va l en t i n e fo r m e ? sa i d
“
M is tress J ud ith — wi l l th e pap e r co m e a n d tel l u s
J ess e h as passed ,
a n d wi l l J ess e c o m e a n d tel l
”
fa th e r ?
An d s t i l l o n ly th e sn o w fl ake s m ad e r ep ly
-
.
 C H A PT E R X XVI .

W A I TI N G FO R TI DI NG S .

H A T i t wa s t o b e i n t h e midd l e O f
Fe b r u a ry was a l l th at J u d it h k n ew abou t
th e exa m i na t ion A sk h e r fath e r Sh e co u ld n ot
.
.

U n t u to r e d i n d ecei t o r d issi m u lat i o n i n i ts l eas t

-

d eg re e Sh e co u l d n o t b r
,
i ng h e r sel f t o tal k o f J ess e ,

ove r wh ose n a m e th e shad ow o f th e s e cr et h u n g .

”
H ow ca n I ? sa i d J ud i th “
h o w ca n I ? h e
,

wa s m y fri en d o n l y a n d n ow h e i s m y d ea r love
,

”
ho w ca n I ta l k O f h i m t o fath e r ?

V al en t i n e s d ay b ro ugh t n o n ews wi th i t
’
. No
wo nd er fo r J esse s t ria l o n ly bega n two d ays l ate r
,
’

a n d th ere was a n i n te rva l th at seem ed a n age t o

th re e p eo p l e i n q u i et H asl ingto n vi l l age befo r e th ey ,

co u l d expect th e n ews of wo e or wea l to co m e .

Fo r J u d i th soo n l ea r n t fro m h e r fath e r t o wh o m ,

sh e l isten ed with fac e averted ,

th e p rob abl e t i m e
th ey m u st s it l i k e pat i en ces u po n m o n u m en ts She .

O fte n i n d e ed ca rri e d ou t t h e O ld sayi ng l it eral l y

to r d esp i t e th e co ld s he was o ften d rive n by h e r
23 0 WA I TI N G FO R TID I NGS .

a f ew fee b l e t e nd e r r ep r oa ch es h e h ad d o n e h i s
b es t u nwi t t ingly t o d rive h is vis it o r away
, , Fo r .

h e s p ok e o f t h e so ns o f M is tress B u l l en a n d o f ,

wh a t fo l k sa i d a n d h e gave th e pa l m t o A m os
A m os of th e s ta l wa rt fra m e ,
th e r u sse t h ai r ,
th e
great fr a n k eyes ;
“
hi m as was good a n d s to u t him ,

a s was l o ike d of a l l th e p eop l e — h i m as was n ive r

h eady n o r h igh m i n d ed l o i ke d i d n t n ive r give h is
-
,
’

”
s el f n o a i rs . At wh i ch M ist ress J u d ith r os e u p ,

s ayi ng she m u s t n eed s b e go i ng h o m e .

B u t th e l o ng i n te rva l pa ssed away ,

a n d th e d a v
ca m e wh en th e n ews m igh t r ea l ly b e l ook e d fo r .

Th e P a rso n ha d a m ess en ger i n C a m b rid ge r ead y

th e m o r n i n g s p ap e r th e even i n g s
’ ’
to b ri ng ou t ,

pa pe r ,
any pa per tha t wo u l d bri n g th e l is t of

n a m es t o H a sl i ngto n Rectory i n a n h o u r a ft e r its

d el ivery in t h e town . H e ha d h ad a m es senge r

t h e re fo r t wo d ays ,
fo u r p os ts ,
by th e way— b u t
t h at was n o t k n own to any one bu t th e m esse nge r
a n d t h e Pa rso n .

H o w M ist res s Bullen and he sh o u l d know

s i m u l ta n eo usl y was th e qu es ti o n S eri o u s th o ugh ts
.

h a d th e Pa rso n of h a ngi n g a bou t t h e c ross r oads -

,

a n d b ei n g th e b ea rer of th e t id i ngs th e res t of

th e wa y t o T r o tter s E n d ’
. B u t M i s t res s B ul l e n
settl ed i t by s ayin g sh e wo u l d c o m e to t h e Re c tory ,
 WA I TI NG FO R TID INGS . 23 1

i f th e Pa rso n p erm i tted it — it was s o m e h u nd red

ya rds n ea rer C a m brid ge th a n h er o wn ho u se .

An d so be fo re brea kfas t sh e was th ere , wh i te

and ca l m a nd ch eerfu l .

Te n O clock b rough t t h e
’
p ost m a n : a n d th en
they k n ew th ere was n o n ews for th e m tha t
m o rn i ng . I f th ere h ad been n ews th e m essenge r ,

was t o bri ng i t ,
m u ch qu ick er tha n th e post m a n .

M i stress B u l le n sa id she wo u l d go away a n d com e ,

ba ck a fter d i nn er . I t wo u ld h el p to pass th e
ti m e ,
sh e said ; a nd J u d i th n eve r p ressed h e r t o
rem ai n .

Fo r th e n ext h o u r or t wo the v fel t bette r : a

repri eve was so m eth i ng ,
though good news wo ul d
have bee n so m uch bette r .

’
But o ne O cl ock d rew on . An d at th ree th e
m ess enge r m igh t be l ooked fo r .

M is tress J ud i th bega n t o b e s ick wi th a n x i ety .

An d u psta i rs i n h e r o wn roo m ,
so m et i m es on her
k ne es by th e wi nd ow s o m et i m es w i th h er B i bl e
,

Ope n on th e si l l — b u t a lways by th e wi n dow — sh e

spe n t th e l o ng h o u rs t i l l two struck fro m th e
C h u rch
ste e pl e , a n d Ru th downstai rs cla tte red th e
cracked be l l .

I f i t was a n a n x i ou s t i m e fo r th e Pa rso n a nd
M istress B u l len wha t was i t to J u d i th
,
? To th em
23 2 WA I T I N G FO R TID I NGS .

i t wo u l d be d isa ppo i nt m e nt ,
ve r y b itte r i f the
l is t ca m e an d n o n a m e Of J ess e B u l l en i n i t . Bu t

fo r J ud ith — wh a t m igh t i t n o t m ea n ? Wh at
wo u ld J ess e d o i n 11251 ; cas e a b o u t th e s ec re t ?
Wou l d h e tel l t el l as a pe n it e n t a n d ask f or
, ,

g ive n es s O f h e r fath er ? A h ! i f h e wo u ld B ut .

of th is J ess e ha d s ai d n eve r a wo rd to J u dith .

A nd , in spite of h e rs el f ,
sh e h a d co m e t o kno w
J ess e was n ot so W h o l ly b rave as sh e co u l d wi th :

not so brave as sh e wo u l d b e wh o fea red ,

n oth in g

b u t d oi ng wro ng .

B e fore h a l f past -
t wo , cal m M is t ress B u l l en was
a t th e Recto ry aga i n O nce m o re th e Pa rso n
.

d ragged o u t th e big a r m —ch ai r fo r h e r O n ce .

m o re J ud i th re st l ess a n d u n eas y bega n fl i tti n g

, ,

n e rvou s l y t o a n d fro to a n d fro ,

Th e Pa rso n .
,

a bsen t as h e was m arked th is wel l a n d s m i l ed a

, ,

l ittl e j us t abo u t h is l i ps H e was u n easy t oo ; th e

.

“ ”
Re p u bl ic h a d n o cha rm s fo r h i m to d a y He -
.

c u t a n e w b oo k a n d wh e n th a t was d o n e — why i t
, ,

was d o n e : a n d t h e re was n oth i n g l e ft t o d o b u t ,

t o s i t op pos it e t o M ist r ess B u l l en a n d t el l h i m sel f

h e h ad n o d o u bts a b o u t J ess e .

I co u n te d o n th e l ad bei ng wi th u s t o h ea r th e
“
n ews ,
sa id h e abse nt l y B u t I s u p p os e h e h a d
.

so me go od reaso n fo r stayi n g i n L o nd o n fo r a
23 4 WAITI NG FO R TID I NGS .

a n d ca ress ed i t ,
wh i l e h e r eyes looked t ro ub led ,

a l m os t so rrowful .

”
“
Tea , s a i d t h e Pa rs o n — “ ’
sh e l l h ave a cu p of

t ea — eh Y ou
’
ll h ave a n ic e cu p of t ea
A n d h e ros e a n d r an g th e bel l .

“ ”
Wel l , I sh o u l d li k e i t ,
s a id M is tress B u l l en ,

wh o h ad b ee n fas t i ng all d ay ,
like a foo li sh
wo m a n , a n d wh os e h ea d b ega n to feel l igh t a n d
d iz zy .

M i s t ress J u d i th ,
wa it i n g t o see th e t ea s af e l v

o rd e red t oo k
,
h er l as t fl i tti ng a nd s ettl ed h e rs el f
,

on th e wi n d ow s ea t u ps ta i rs-
. Th ere Sh e wo u ld st ay
t i l l h o rses ho o fs r a n g u p th e road
’
. An d ove r a nd
ove r sh e m isto o k th e b eat i ng of her o wn loud
h ea rt fo r th e h oo fs o f th at h o r s e th a t was t o
bri ng n e ws grea t n ews to H asl i ngto n
,
.

”
“
I th i n k I h ea r s o m eth i ng ,
sa id M is t ress B u l l e n
fo r t h e fi fth t i m e . B u t i t was o n l y Ru th bri ng
f
’
i n g i n th e c u p O tea . Ru th s foots tep s were n ot
a ltogeth e r u nl i ke t h e t ra m p of h orses h oo f s ’
. She
set th e t ray u po n th e ta bl e .

B u t i t wa s n ot the ech o of th e sou nd s she h ad

a wok e th at m ad e th e P arso n l ea p u p at las t a nd
go t o th e wi n d ow .

C latt e r cl at te r a sc ra m bl e u po n th e g r avel wh er e
, ,

i t h ad b ee n p u l l ed u p s u dd e n ly — th e r e s t ood a
 WA I TI NG FO R TID I NGS . 23 5

h o r s e with s m o ki ng fl a nks a t th e Rectory gate .

A n d th ere s too d a m a n wi th a n ewspape r i n h is

ha nd a t th e d o o r u n d e r th e po rch
, , .

J esse B u l l e n wa s a l ucky m a n su r el y . U psta i rs

i n th e wi nd o w d ownst a i rs ,
by th e fi re ,
s at t wo

wo m e n p rayi ng fo r h i m ; t wo wo m en ,
p u re a n d
t ru e a nd witha l who l oved h i m h angi ng u po n th e
, ,

n ews o f h is s uccess or i l l s uccess as i f i t we r e a

m atte r O f l i fe a n d d eath . I t was very n ea rly tha t
t o J ud ith i n h e r W i n do w u ps ta i rs ,
wh o h ad on ly
s m i le d th ro ugh l i f e before ,
and no w k n ew tha t
she was l ivi ng b eca us e sh e su ffered .

B ac k ca m e th e Pa rso n ,
u nfo ld i n g th e pap e r
s l owl y . D o wn ca m e M ist ress J u d ith a n d s tood wi t h
l i ps Op e n In th e d oorway . M istress B u l l en grown ,

p al e r sat u p i n th e a rm C ha i r an d l ea n ed forwa rd
,
-
.

“ ” “ ’
Al l right ! s a id th e Parso n ,
h e s th ro ugh !
Fo urth o n th e l ist ,
M ist res s B u l l en . M ay God
bl ess h i m !

An d th e re was th e n a m e s u r e en ough ,
n ot t o
b e m istake n J ess e B u l l en
.
,
fo u rth on th e l ist ,

wi th i n a tho u sa n d m a r ks o f t h e m a n who ha d
pass ed fi rs t .

“
I wo nd e r h e i s n o t h e r e al ready ,
s ai d th e
Pa rso n as soo n as th ey cou ld
,
sp ea k . H e wo u ld
h ea r i t ea rl y i n L o nd o n .
23 6 WA I T I N G FO R TIDINGS .

H e l l be h e r e to d ay
’
-
,
sa i d M is t res s B u l l en ,

cal m as eve r b u t d ryi ng u p a s t r ay t ea r h ere an d

,

th ere . A n d J ud ith s a id to h e r s el f tha t she h oped

s o, wi th a l l h e r h ea rt . But sh e d o u bted — j us t
a l ittl e Why ?— she d id k n ow wh y B ut
’

. n ot ,

she co u ld n o t b e s u re h e wo u l d co m e t o - d ay .

A fte r th is Pa rso n I ngrey ,

wi th l egs st r e t ch ed
ou t to th e fi re a n d t h e s m i l e c o m e ba ck abo u t
,

h is l i ps d r a nk O ff th e cu p
,
of t ea e nj oyed i t a n d
, ,

was h ap py . I n all h is l i fe h e h a d n eve r t as t ed a

b ette r c u p .

Poo r M ist r ess B u l l en looked o n t h i r sty a n d t i r ed , ,

a n d th o ugh t Sh e co u l d h ave enj oyed i t t o o .

B u t wh a t d id i t m at ter ? A nd wh o co u l d b e
expected to h ave good m a n n e rs o r goo d m em ori es
to d ay ? L eas t o f a l l t he Pa r son
-
.
23 8 G EN TL EM A N B U L L E N

A fte r th ey h ad cl os ed th ei r barga i ns th e h awk e r

was qu i te glad to fu rn ish h i m s el f i n exch a n ge
with a l i tt l e goss ip t o ca rry o n t o th e n ex t vi l lage .

co o m in
’ ’
Th e yo u ng m a is ter h e b e h o m e bo u t
”
th is t i m e I t ak e i t ,
? h e i n qu i red .

“
Th e Pa r s o n h ave go n e t o m ee t h i m — s ee d ’ ’
im

go by a n ho u r ago , I did .

”
wn fo u r wh eel e r ?
’
In s o -
a sk ed M rs . Gad d ,

h o ld i ng one e n d O f th e gi ngerb r ead m a n wh i l e t h e ,

baby wi t h both h a nd s c l u tch ed th e o th er ,

and
s uck ed .

’
“
A y, ay — it
’
s not l oik e h e d t ak e a s t r a nge
k e rri d ge n ea re r
’

and th ere bea n t none th a n

”
Pa xto n .

“ ’ ’
It s set u p a s G e n l e m an B u l l e n
’
ll be ,
wh at
wi th ’
e Pa rso n givi ng h i m h is e d icat io n — l arn in
’

g e n l e m an ,
’
h im be a a n d s ich .

“
I f folks s peaks t r u e ,
s a i d M i s t r ess P r at t c l ea n ,

“
i ng a spoo n wi th h e r ap ro n ,
’
h e l l n eed h is l arn in
’

’
a n d h is m a n n ers — n o t th at h e h ad n t ’

go t e m m o re
th a n h a l f way a for e -
. H is fath e r h e we r e a gent le
,

m a n n o t s tu ck u p n o r h eady l o i k e
,
-
.

”
“
Will h e bid e h e re ? ask ed M ist r ess Gadd
o r wi l l h e go righ t away wi th th e a rm y ,
do ye
? ”
th in k
Pa r so n ’
th a rm y
’
“
ll gi t to co m e
'

h e re, l o ike ly,

 COM ES HOM E . 239

“
s aid M is t ress P rat t ,
wh o was a n a u th ori ty . He
won t b e fo r M aste r J ess e t o go awa y
’

,
not he .

p erf e s s ion
’
And h e ca n t ’
not gi ve u p s a n d th at ,

”
ye se e .

S o u ld iers wo an t d o th e p lace n o goo d th en

’

said M ist r ess G ad d .

A t wh ich th e h awk e r l a u gh ed goo d nat u red l y tol d -

,

th e m th ey n ee d n o t fea r th e so ld i ers a n d d rove ,

o ff .

Th at d ay was a m a r k ed d ay i n H asl i ngto n . Fo l k

r e m e m bered i t wel l : beca u s e th ere ca m e th e Pa rs o n
d r ivi n g th r o ugh th e vi l l age b ri ngi n g h o m e J ess e ,
-

i n h is o wn fo u r W h eel e r Grea t was th e d is ap

-
.

po i nt m e n t whe n i t was d iscovered by m a ny h eads

pok e d o u t O f m a n y wi n d ows th at n o colo u re d
u n i fo rm fl ash ed o ut o f th e ca rriage B u t the n .

G en t l em a n B ul l e n wo re a greatcoa t : a n d th ere
wa s n o s ayi ng bu t th e u n i fo rm m igh t be u n d e r
that .

Ah ,
i t was a d ay O f m ar k i n H asl i ngton a n d ,

n o wo n de r . B u t M i st ress Gad d s ba by k i ck e d a n d ’

ca red n oth i ng fo r G en tl e m a n B u l l e n : had h e n o t

go t so m eth i ng m uch b etter ? —a rea l gingerbread
man . SO i t was a da y of m a rk fo r h i m t oo .

Pa rso n I ngrey d rew u p t he ho r s e a t h is o wn ga t e

a nd p repa red to ge t d own .
2 40 G EN T L E M A N B U L L E N

”
I s u p pose I ca n see h er a l on e ? sa id J ess e
n e r vo usl y .

Th e Pa rs o n too k th e h i n t a t on c e .

Alone ! wh y yes ,
lad ,
and G o d S peed yo u .

’
H e re ! give m e th e rug aga i n . I l l d rive u p a n d
”
fetch yo u r m o th e r .

“
And yo u
’
wo n t m en t i o n a nyth i ng to m y m o th e r
”
a t p res e n t pl eas e , ,
s ir ? sa id J ess e .

NO ,
no — get o ff wit h yo u —
and God s p eed
yo u . A n d th en th e Pa rso n d rove O ff .

J ud ith ,
wi th eyes wi d e o pe n an d pa l e ch eeks ,

h a d be e n w atch i ng fro m th e wi nd ow s eat u p sta i rs - -

.

S h e h ad b ee n very gla d wh e n sh e h ea rd th at h e r
fa th e r wa s go i ng t o d rive to m ee t J ess e . Wh a t
a cha nc e i t wo u l d b e for J ess e t o tel l ! B u t sh e
co u l d n o t h el p h e r h ea rt fa i l i ng h e r a t t i m es .

J esse h a d p u t O ff a n d p u t O ff : h e see m ed so to
fea r th is t e l l i ng . And if he had not told it ,
W hy

i t wo u ld b e wo rs e th a n eve r t o t el l . A n d J u d i th
h ad m ad e u p h e r m i n d t h a t i f h er l over sh ou l d
st i l l p e rs i st in d elay ,
she wo u l d b e fi rm ,
ta k e
t h i ngs i n to h e r o wn h a n d s a nd t el l h e r fath e r .

Th is s ecrecy was m o re th a n s he cou l d bea r : S he

s a id to h e rs el f sh e wo u l d n o t s l eep aga i n wi th th e
d u l l we igh t o f i t u po n h e r .

B u t W h e n sh e sa w th e ca rri age s top ,

a n d J esse
242 GENTLEMAN BULLEN

th e n we th oug h t yo u d co m e as s oo n as eve r you ’

h ea r d th e n ews . But I s u pp o s e yo u l i k ed stop

p i ng i n L on d o n beca use , yo u h eard i t a few h ou rs
’
s oon e r— d id n t yo u J esse ? But the n wh a t h ad
,

”
yo u got to d o th es e two d ays s i nce ?
“
an swe r fi r s t
’
I d o n t k n ow wh ich q u es t i o n to ,

J ud i th ,
s ai d h e ,
“
yo u t ak e m y b rea th a wa y . H O W

pa l e yo u a re l ook i ng d a rl i ng m y d arl i ng— W hat ha s

, ,

m ad e yo u l os e yo u r co l o u r— eh ?
“
I
’
V
e be e n very u n hap py a n d very h a ppy ,
said
J u d i th l i fti ng h e r w ist fu l eyes t o
,
h is , as she finge red
th e b u tto n o n h i s coat s i n ce yo u we n t a way J ess e ,
.

J esse co lo u red a n d b ega n h as t i l y

, ,
Wh a t A m os
’
h asn t bu t ch eck ed h i m s el f a n d J ud i th we n t , o n,

n ot n ot i ci ng
I n eve r h ad a n y s ecrets b e fo r e J ess e — n eve r ,

a n d i t fre tte d m e so . Th e n I wa n ted t o wri t e t o

a n d I co u l d n t wi t h ou t tel l in g fath e r
’

yo u, . But O h,

i t s a l l righ t n ow — a l l righ t
’
! A n d sh e p ressed
h er fo reh ea d aga i ns t h is h a nd a n d swayed h ers el f ,

to and f ro i n a bl issfu l s il ence for a m o m e nt .

/
Th en ,

H e was n t a ng r y
J es se
’

s u dd e n l y ,
was h e ,

’ ’
Fa th e r was n t a ngry I h ad n t to l d h i m be fo re ?
“ ”
I th i n k I h ea r th e ca rri age sa i d J es s e j u m pin g , ,

to th e W i n d o w N O , it t h e b a rr o w
’
u
p ,
and g o i ng . s

in th e yart
 COM ES HOME . 243

A nd J ud i th fol l owed h i m a nd sl ipped h e r h and ,

i n to h is a rm .

H e was n t ang r y was h e J ess e ’

, ,

A ngry why sho u ld h e b e ang r y

,

H e co u l d not b e a ngry at yo u r l ovi ng m e ,

sa id
“
sh e ge n tl y I k n ow that .

”
“
O h J ess e — h ow h appy I a m ! s he sa id p re
,

l h w happy yo u ve m ad e m e l— n o w tha t ’
s e n t y; o

yo u ve tol d fath er the r e s eem s n oth ing sad i n th e

’
.

world I though t i t was ve r y s ad s o m et i m es l atel y

.

—wh il e yo u were away yo u kn ow J ess e J ust

, ,
.

fancy h is n o t bei n g a ngry wi th m e fo r n eve r h avi n g

to ld h i m a l l th is t i m e — a n d h e tel ls m e eve ryth ing ,

you k n ow W e n eve r h a d a ny secrets b efo re — father

.
,

a nd I C o m e a n d s i t d own J esse — I wa n t j u st to
.
,

t el l yo u so m eth i n g I h O p e yo u wo n t m i n d — b u t
.
’

d o yo u k n ow I co u l d h a rd ly bel i eve i t wou l d be

al l right a n d tha t yo u d h ave to l d Fa the r befo re
,
’

I s aw yo u ? I co u l d n o t h el p be ing a fra id i t wo u l d
s ti l l h ave t o b e d o n e a nd I m s u ch a cowa rd J esse
,
’

, .

I hat e cowa r d s — I d as l i ef b e a m u rd ere r as a ’

cowa rd ! Th at s wh y I m a lways t r yin g t o b e

’ ’

m ore brave a n d n o t t o fe el frigh ten ed abo ut th i ngs :

b u t I ca n t always h el p it— a nd you l l h ave to
’ ’

t each m e We l l hel p ea ch oth e r wo n t we

.
’

,
’

J ess e ? add ed t r uth f u l M istress J u d i th r em e m ,

2 44 GENTLEM AN B U LL EN COM ES HOM E .

b erin g h e r lo ve r h a d not a lways s ee m ed to her

qu i t e as brave as Sh e sh o u l d l i ke .

” “
she
“
Th e re th ey a re 1 cri ed p res en tl y . D oes
yo u r m oth e r kn ow J ess e — eh ,

”
“
No ,
sa i d J ess e p ok i ng th e fir e wi th h i s back
,

t u rn ed t o th e d oo r .
“
S h e d o es n t k n ow ’
. A nd take
i t q u i etly d a r l i ng i f yo u ca n — you r fath e r
, ,

B u t J ud i th was i n h e r fath e r s a rm s a t t h e d oo r ’

n ot l iste n in g even J ess e to ,

”
S O it s a l l righ t J u d i th ?
’
sa i d t h e Pa r so n
, ,

'
’
Yo u ve m ad e J es s e h ap py t o d ay— eh -

J u d ith bewi ld ered m a d e n o a n s we r B u t a f e w

, , .

m om en ts l ate r qu i eted a nd ve ry pa l e s h e sl u n k bac k

, ,

in to th e d rawi ng roo m a n d took h e r k n i ttin g

-
, .

VVis t f u l ly Sh e l ooked a t J ess e fu l l ,

of t a l k wi th h i s
,

h a n d so m e fac e a l i ttl e fl ush ed a n d h i s eyes s pa rk l i ng , ,

wh i l e he s at bes id e h is m oth e r a nd h el d h e r h a nd .

H e ha d n o t t o l d th e who l e t r uth th e n a ft e r a l l .

N o t th e W ho l e t ru th . A n d t h is was M i stress J ud i th s ’

l ove r .
2 46 M I D H EAVEN
-
.

d on t b u r n a n y d i m m e r fo r t r o u bl e b r igh te r fo r
’

,
or

j oy . A n d a l l th at J ud ith kn ew was tha t n ext d ay

was c lasp ed i n M is tr ess B u l len s a rm s
’
s he ,
a n d ca ll ed
”
her d au gh te r .

’
r ath e r i t we r e n o t s pok e n o f sa i d J ess e tha t
I ’
d ,

n igh t t o h is m oth er I d r ath e r yo u d id n o t writ e

.
“ ’

a bo u t i t yo u k no w m othe r a n d s e t fol ks t a l k in g
, , ,

j us t a t p r es e n t M as te r I ng rey d o es n o t W i sh th e
.

b e ti l l I ve go t s e t tl ed so m ewh e r e wi th
’
m a rri age to

m y regi m en t .

M is t re ss B u l l e n s at s i l en t sc r a p i n g a pap er m atch
,

sh e h ad j u st m a d e . P res en tl y s h e s a i d
“
J ess e l a d I s u ppose t h ere s n o Obj ect i o n
,
— ’
to t el l
”
in g yo u r b roth e rA m os ?
”
Wh y yes — ,
I th i n k th e r e is ,
s a i d J ess e d ecid ed ly .

A t p resen t I sh o u l d p re fer t ha t no one Sh o u l d kn ow

’

O f J u d i th s a nd m y engage m en t . I fee l s u re i t wo u l d
’
b e t h e P a r so n s wish as wel l as m i n e . A t a l l events
”
it is my wi sh ad d ed h e ye t m o r e d ec id ed ly a n d J ess e
, ,

was sel d o m d ecid ed .

A fte r wh ich M is t r es s B u l l en s igh ed so ftly k issed ,

her s o n, a n d we n t away i n t o h er own roo m S h e h ad .

m ea n t t o wri t e t o A m os : th e re was th e l i ttl e b rown

i n k bott l e a n d th e op e n b lo tti ng boo k a l l r eady
- -
on

t h e tabl e .

An d yet wo m a n a n d m o th e r
, as she was ,
she coul d
 M I D H EAVEN
- . 247

no t h el p a feel i ng o f rel ie f fo r th e m o m en t wh e n sh e

was fo rbid d e n to write . H O W cou l d sh e h ave tol d

A m os ? tha t wa s a qu est i o n th a t h ad we igh ed h eavil y
upo n h e r fo r two or th re e h o urs pas t . N ay i t h ad
,

weighed on h e r a lo n g t i m e back eve r s i n ce th e days ,

whe n J ess e we n t ea rly to th e Recto ry a n d ca m e bac k ,

l at e a n d
,
s at v ery s i l e n t a n d d ist ra cted th ro ugh th e
win te r even i ngs . Th e n was i t h ard n ot t o re m e m be r
h ow A m os h e r B enj a m i n h ad go n e earl y a n d co m e
, ,

l at e ; an d h ow i nto h i s h o n est eyes a ne w l igh t wo u l d

ris e a n d fl oo d no w a n d aga i n as h e sat bes id e h e r ,

ove r t h e s ettl i ng fi re s i l en t t oo an d d ist racted

, ,
? Ah ,

h e h ad bee n fi rs t s a id M is tress B ul le n t o h ers el f

,

and s he t ri e d to re m e m b er th e d ay wh e n A m os h a d
b egu n t o care fo r She
M i stress J ud i th a nd co u l d ,
n ot .

n eve r cou l d re m e m b e r th e fi rst d aw n O f th at s u n tha t

flo o d ed Am os s eyes — on l y sh e k new i t ros e a n d ros e
’

a n d s he fea red ah h ow great ly ! i t m us t b e ris in g

, ,

n o w : s oo n i t wo u l d b e i n m id h eave n i n m i d h eave n ! -
,
-

A n d th e n — ah i t was al l ove r fo r h e r A m os
,
no w!
J ess e h ad co m e in —
J ess e wh o wo n a l l th i ngs a n d a l l
h ea rts — an d ha d s n atch ed th e p r i z e awa y A n d S h e .

m u s t tel l Am os .

Tha t was wh at h a d t ro ubl ed M is tress B ul len An d .

wh e n sh e fel t al m ost gla d that fo r th e pres en t th e

task was take n fr o m h er ,
she cal l ed h ersel f a cowa r d .
248 M ID H EAV EN
-
.

H e m u s t b e tol d so m e t i m e b e fo r e l o ng
‘

,
i t was o nl y
p u tt i ng O ff th e evi l d ay .

O u t O f s igh t o u t O f m i n d says th e o l d sayi ng

, ,
.

I t s ee m e d t ru e i n th ose d ays a s rega rd ed A m os A t .

l east h is n a m e ha d d ro pp ed wo n d erfu l ly ou t of co m
m o n t al k at th e R ecto r y a n d a t Tro tt er s E n d ’
. And
s i n c e h e was s ee n no l onge r th e vi l l age fo l k to o
,

ceased t o s pea k so m u ch a bo u t h im . G en t l em a n
a h e r o a n d M istres s J ud ith s
’
B ullen on th e s po t , ,

l ove r was food e no ugh fo r t a l k

,
. Fo l ks j u st k n e w
M as te r A m os was l ea rn i ng ne w ways O f farm i n g a n d
s u ch l ik e a n d l oo k i ng
, out fo r a b i t o f fa rm o f h is
o wn . A nd i f th a t w ere th e cas e ,
of cou rs e th ei r
i n te rest i n h i m m ust wa n e a l i tt l e . New ways a n d
”
s u ch we re wel l en o ugh l i kel y for fo re ign pa rts a n d ,

m ay b e M aste r A m os wo u l d fi n d so m e st ra nge plac e

to s u i t h i m sel f . B ut a s fo r H as l i ngto n fol ks th ey
’ ’
wa n ted n o ch a nges . C h i n es a n d n ew fangl es h ad n t
”
done no goo d a s th ey k n ew o f .

I t wa s easy t o se e why i n h is own fa m i l y a n d a t ,

of
’
t h e Recto ry A m os s n a m e sl i pp ed o u t
,
co m m o n co n
ve rs at i o n . Th e Pa r so n h ad n eve r cared fo r h i m ,

n eve r n o ti ce d h i m . J u d i th h el d h e r p eac e becau s e ,

sh e h a d n o h ap py th ough ts no w wi th rega rd to A mos .

S h e fel t i t ve ry m u ch th a t h e h ad n ever sen t wo rd

o r m essage t o h e r si nc e th e n ews m u st h ave r ea c h ed
,
2 50 M I D H EAVEN -
.

what was wro ng fo r h e r m igh t n o t b e wr on g fo r

J ess e ; a n d th a t i n th is sh e m us t be gu id ed by h i m ,

t i l l s h e co u ld co nvi n ce h i m th at S he was r igh t . Th at

s he sh ou l d t el l h e r fath e r ho w fo r two m o nth s she

h ad b ee n J esse s bet ro th ed befo re eve r th ey a sk ed

’

’
h i s l eave was M ist ress J ud ith s wi sh . I t was not

J esse s wish ’

. H e was a good S ophi st i f n o t a good ,

reaso n e r : h e m an aged to p u z z l e h is l i ttl e l ad y love -

a n d wo n th e d ay .

Y ou ca n t el l h im J u d i th , ,
if yo u th i n k i t wil l
ra is e h is Op i n io n O f me ,
was a n a rgu m en t tha t
s i l en ced J ud ith S h e fel t s u re th a t n e ith er ca rel essl y
.

n o r ligh tl y wo u l d h er fa th er h ea r a nyth i ng th at i n th e

ve ry l eas t d egree co u ld th ro w th e Sh ad ow O f a sh ad ow
“ ” ’
u po n h i s Op i n i o n o f h is la d Pa rso n I n g re y s cl ea r .

s o u l wa s i n h i s eyes a n d M istress J ud i th k n ew th at
s o u l we l l by th e i m age O f i t h e h ad t ra ns m i tted t o
h er .

I n J ess e s pres en ce i t was eas y en o ugh t o Sh ak e

’

o ff a n y qua l ms o f Co n sci en ce . Wh o co u l d be w r ong

wi th a cl ea r face a n d b row l i k e J ess e s ’
? An d wh o
c a n be wro ng i n th e eyes of a p u re firs t -
love ? So
M is t re ss J u d i t h pu t away t ha t l it tl e d i fferen ce fro m
h e r a n d bega n n ewl y
,
: and sh e fou n d th at J esse fel t
alil z e wi th h e r i n m a n y m a ny th ings W h i l e o n ly i n ,

one h ad th ey d isagreed .
 MID -
H EAVEN . 251

N e w Yea r a n d Pl o ugh M on d ay h ad passed d r ea ri ly

P lough M o nd ay wh en al l th e pl ough boys i n a ri ng
,
-

c racked th ei r grea t wh i ps ro u n d th e Recto ry and th e

B ul l e ns fa rm a nd sh o uted rough son g s l ost i n th e
’

lo ud e r vo ice O f th e st i ngi ng crack in g . J ud i th an d

R uth h ad fl u n g th e m ha l f pe nce -
; li ttl e boys with ,

pape r fl owers a nd ri bbo ns i n th ei r ca ps wen t ro u n d ,

th e Vi l lage wi th a cobbl ed bag betwee n the m a n d ,

u p th e s tree t i n t ri u m ph swept a plough d rawn by

grea t h a i ry —fo ot ed h o rses a n d d ecorat ed ga i ly wi th
,

flags and flowe r s an d wrea ths . Bu t J ud ith was al on e

t he n .

Now Ma rch a n d pa r t of A p ri l passed a n d J ud i th ,

h ad h e r lover . T h e re was o n ly a ru m o u r noth i ng ,

m o re tha t a co m m iss io n m igh t b e fo r thco m i ng i n

,

ea rly M ay .

D ays ca m e n ow th a t we re very sweet fo r l ove r s ,

wh e n J ess e B u l l e n wo u ld co m e ea rl y to th e Rectory ,

a n d M istress J u d ith a nd h e wo u ld go a—p ri m r os in g

i n Pri m ros e S p i n n ey -
.

Wi th sp ri ng a nd th e retu rn of flowers a nd J esse s ,

’

p rese n ce th e Ol d bea uty h a d a l l ret u rned

,
. C h eeks tha t
h ad grown pal e a nd th i n were ro u n d no w an d fl ush e d
,

w i th a b ea u t ifu l d el icat e col o u r ,

as o f a n a ppl e
blosso m with th e fi rs t M ay b loo m upo n i t -
. B ea u ty
co m es ea r ly a n d bea u ty stays l a te ; b u t th e bea u ty
,
2 52 MID -
H EAVEN .

of s eve nt e en s u m m e r s s t a nd s a lo n e . E yes l ook i ng

fo r wa r d i nt o l ove a n d wo m a n hood feet ta rryi ng s ti l l ,

i n th e pa ths ch i ld hood J u s t s uch was M istres s

of .

J ud it h tha t brigh t s pri ng t i m e -

.

O n e d ay m o re bea u t i fu l th a n al l t h e o th e r s m arked
, ,

i ts el f esp ec i a l ly i n t h e m e m o r i es O f th e yo u n g love r s .

N eve r h ad J u d i th l oo ked fa i re r n eve r was th e baske t ,

h igh e r fi l led wi th p ri m roses n eve r d i d th e sweet fa i n t

,

fresh sm e l l O f t h em ris e i n to th e i r faces fraugh t with

m ore asso ci at i o ns of a l l t h a t m a d e l i fe bea u t i fu l a n d
swe e t .

“
I t s ee m s s o m eh ow as i f we we re a t t h e gat es of

”
H eave n J ess e , , sa i d J u d ith reveren t l y .

J esse wa tch i ng a n a pp roach i ng fi gu r e i n th e d is

,

ta n ce m ad e a nswe r d o u bt fu l ly
,

“
I h op e we h ave fu rth e r st i l l to go d a r l i ng b efo r e
, ,

th e e nd co m es .

“
Y ou
-
s peak a s i f we sh o u l d b e t u r n ed bac k fro m
”
th e gat e ,
s a id J u d i th ; I d id n ot t h i n k O f t hat ,

”
J ess e .
234 P R I M RO S E S P I N N EY -
.

to h is o wn ,
fo r b y th e t i m e J u d i th r each e d h i m i t
h ad d isappea r ed . P axto n D i ck was sp ea ki ng i n a
lo w
’
m u m b l i ng vo ice ; b u t t o th e gi rl s s u rp ris e i t
, ,

was J ess e wh o look ed ro u n d wi th a vexe d ex pressio n

wh e n h e sa w h er ,
a n d i t was h e wh o d rew Pa x to n
D ick as i d e fo r a n i n sta n t wh i l e J u d i th we n t sl owly
,

on . S h e was h a l f d ivid ed wh eth e r t o go o r stay

-

J ess e s l ook o f i m pat ie n ce h ad d ri ven h e r away ;

’

b u t wo u ld sh e n ot h ave d o n e righ t t o stay bes i d e

’

him Th at m a n co u l d d o n o good to J esse — n o n e .

I t was n o t th ree m i n u tes b efo r e J ess e j o i n ed he r .

To t ak e u p th e conversat io n j u st wh e r e th ey h ad
d ropped i t wo u l d h ave su i ted h i m bes t ; bu t wh eth e r ,

i n r ea l i ty o r o n ly t o h i s fa ncy th at seem ed t o l ea d ,

d i rect ly or i nd i rect ly t o Pa xto n D i ck . J ess e wh o

,

was n o t too i m agi n at ive l ooked bac k t o J ud i th s ,

’

word s a n d h is o wn a nswer a nd tho ugh t th ere was

,

so m ethi n g o m i n o u s i n both .

“
I t see m s s om eh o w as i f we were a t th e gates of

”
H eave n J ess e , , s ai d sh e .
“I h o p e we h ave fu rthe r
st i l l t o go d a rl ing befo re th e e n d com es
, , ,
sa i d h e .

Tha t was wha t J ess e re m em bered a n d t ri ed ,

no w to
p u t a si d e a nd to fo rget .

Fa i l in g to fi n d a nyth i ng to say h a rd as h e t r i ed , ,

J u d ith m ad e us e o f th e Op port u n ity .

I wo nd e r yo u s pea k to tha t bad m an J esse , ,

sh e
 P R I M ROS E S P I N N EY
-
. 2 5U
1

said Fath e r th i nks ve r y i l l O f h i m a n d so d o oth e r ,

fo l k .

A n d p r ay why ? h e ask ed sh a rp l y
B eca us e h e s n ei th e r go od n o r tru e ’

,
sa id J u d ith ;
a n d bei ng with u n t ru e fol k ca n n eve r do u s anyth ing
b ut h arm . Pa xto n D i ck s a d eceive r l i ke J u d as
’
and
I th i n k we ho n es t fo l k sho uld keep cl e a r O f h i m a s
”
b es t we m ay .

“
Y o u h av e a good o p i n io n Of yo u rsel f s ai d J ess e ,

s m i l i ng bu t n ot eas i ly o r W itho u t a n e ffort

, .

“ ”
G ood Opi n io n J esse ,
? sh e a nswere d sta rtl ed a n d , ,

col o u ri ng as Sh e loo ked u p a t h i m

, . O h I h op e
“
,

’
not ; I d id n t m ea n th at J ess e — ,
I was th i n ki n g O f
’
yo u a nd fath er wh e n I s a id i t tho ugh I sa id ,
‘
us .

’
Yo u kn ow I ca n t wel l be o therwis e th an ho n es t ,

J esse n eve r h avin g bee n with an y

, one tha t was n t ’

cl ea r a s d ay . I d a res ay i f I were t em pted — by s uch

fol k as Pa xto n D ick n ow— ,
I m igh t be l ed away a nd
’ ’
beco m e u ntr u e . Th at s wh y I d o n t l i k e to com e
n ea r h im ,
nor fo r yo u to co m e n ea r h i m . I don
’
t
”
th i n k h e co u l d h u rt you , J ess e ,
sh e ad ded qu ick ly ,

as i f sh e had been d is loya l t o h i m an d m us t m ak e ,

a m e nd s — “
ex cept i n so fa r as h e m e d d l ed wi th yo u r
’
co ncerns . I d n eve r give h i m m o n ey t o pay a bi l l i n
C a m bridge J ess e if I were yo u o r , , ,
an vt h in g l ik e
”
th a t .
2 56 PR I M ROS E S P IN N EY -
.

’
J esse s l o u d m erry l a ugh g r ated o n J u d ith s ea r
’
.

B il ls l— C a m brid ge ! wh a t d o yo u kn ow a bou t
C a m b rid ge eh Yo u r e ex t r e m el y wis e J ud ith O f a
,
’

, ,

s ud d en .

’ “
D o n t spea k s o Sh e a nswered p a i n ed ,
I did ,
.

n o t m ea n to t each yo u J esse wh o k n ow so m uch , ,

m o r e tha n I d o
’
I n eed n o t b e a fra id yo u l l get
.

i n to m isch i e f a t H asl i ngto n wh e n yo u ve be en al l ’

ove r th e wo rld wh ere th ere a re m an y m o re b ad fo lks

,

tha n h e re a n d wh e re yo u n eve r go t i n to a n y h a rm ,

”
o r a nyth i n g .

“ ”
H O W d o yo u k n ow th at ? asked J ess e i n a
cha nged vo i ce sp eak i ng low , .

”
“
By m y o wn h ea rt ,
s he a n swered fi rm ly l ookin g ,

i nto th e bl u e s ky wi th fa r eyes I d as l ie f
“
ff
’
u p O
-
.

d ist ru s t t he su n i n h eaven J esse a s , , yo u .

J ess e B u l l en s t o ppe d s h o rt H e Op en ed h is l ips t o

’

s pea k . Wh e re was h is a ngel t he n whe re wa s h is

goo d angel th a t t h ere wa s
, no t i m e fo r h i m to sp eak ,

before J u d i th wen t on st i l l l oo k ing d ream i ly be fore

,

her ?

A nd i f I th o ugh t yo u d d on e a nyth i n g wrong ’

or

”
m ea n J ess e wh y i t wo u ld b rea k m y h ea rt that s a l l
, , ,
’

An d th e n th e l ips O f J ess e B u l l en c losed . Th e

goo d a nge l h ad bee n n owh ere n owh e r e , . I t was
s o m e m o m en ts befo r e J ud i th sp oke agai n .
2 58 PR IM ROS E SPI NN EY -
.

”
S h a l l I ca rr y the basket ? h e sa id p r es en tl y .

Yes — o nly very gen tl y .

’
D o n t s p il l a ny .
,
B eca u s e
I ve go t a great chi n a bowl to fi l l
’
. M ay I a l ways
h ave fl owe rs i n ou r s i tti ng ro o m J ess e — a l ways
-
,

H e looked at h e r a n i n sta n t a l m os t s t ern ly . Th e n

st opp i ng ,
an d l ayi n g ho l d O f h er a r m h e sa id passion ,

a tely
O J ud ith noth i ng sha l l co m e b e t wee n u s sh al l
“
, ,

i t — noth i ng n oth i ng ,

N O J ess e n oth i n g u n l ess G od co m es be t ween

, , ,
.

B u t H e d o es th a t so m et i m es J ess e : H e steps i n ,

”
s o m eti m es b etween l overs as I h ave h ea rd fo l k say ,
.

A nd i nt o h e r la rge c al m eyes th e t ea r s h ad we l I e d
s u dd en ly .

B u t yo u yo u h e sa id th r owi n g u p h is h ea d
, ,

i n a n ago ny a n d the n fo ld i ng h i s a rms tigh tl y a bo u t

,

h e r wh i l e th e top p ri m r os es t i l ted fr o m th e bask et

,

abo u t th ei r feet a n d l ay scatt e r ed a l l befo r e th em

, .

Yo u W i l l n ever fo rs ak e m e , wh a teve r h appen s ,

J ud ith m y l,
ove m y d a rl i ng —
,
sa
y tha t yo u n eve r
wil l say N O J ess e n eve r, ,

L et m e loos e fi rs t d ea r h ea rt s h e a nswered , , .

L e t m e s ay i t freely a n d l ook ing u p t o G o d H e r e

, .

give m e yo u r ha nd J esse m y t ru e l ove N O W I c a n

, ,
.

a
s y i t — What eve r h appens I wi l l n eve r fo rsake you ,

J esse— n e ith e r i n th is wo rl d n o r t h e wo rl d t o c o m e .
 PRI M ROSE SP I N N EY -
. 2 59

” “
Th e wo r l d t o co m e ! h e sa i d qu ickl y . Y ou

ca n t a nswe r fo r that m y d arl i ng

’

,
’
i f yo u l l pro m is e
”
i t for th is wo rl d i t is enough fo r me .

”
B u t n ot f or me , sh e a nswered solem n ly . We “

m us t be togeth e r i n H eave n i f we a r e to b e happ y

togeth er on earth .

“
An d suppos e H eaven h as no p lace fo r m e ? Yo u l l ’

have to go i n a l l al on e m y d arl ing a nd l eave

, ,
me
”
beh i nd ,
h e sa id s m i l i ng s a d ly as h e s tooped an d
, ,

pi cked u p t hr e e or fou r of th e fa l len p r im roses fr o m

the groun d .

’
L eave yo u beh i nd it s n o t very l i kely J ess e ,
.

’
I f there were n o p lace f o r yo u I d d rive yo u i n upo n ,

”
m y p raye r s .

Whe n they r each ed th e Recto ry ga te J ess e ,

l ooked a t h is wa tch and m ad e ove r the basket to,

J ud ith .

”
Y o u wo n t com e i n ? s h e asked wistfu l ly
’
.

NO i t is getti ng late d ea r love ,

.

L at e a n d it s n o t t wo O clock yet’
Y o u co u l d
’
-

stay to d in ne r J esse ? o r ,
a nd h e r face fel l it s -
’

the post yo u wa nt to get back for is i t Yo u c o ul d ,

write a l etter h ere — th ere is th r ee q u arte rs o f a n hou r -

”
before the t i m e yo u k now ,
.

O h it s n o t th e post pa rt icu la rl y o r a nyth i ng

,
’
, ,

h e sai d h u rr i ed ly b o r i ng a h ol e wi th his st ick i n

,
2 60 P R I M RO S E SP I N N EY -
.

th e r o t te n p os t Of t h e l ittl e gat e b ut I ve b us i n ess

’

”
to do .

SO h e t u r n ed away sayin g h e wo u l d b e back aga i n

,

’
a t fi ve O clo ck .

Te n m i n ut es l a t e r h e was a t h is d esk wri ti n g a

,

ch equ e an d e n cl osi n g i t i n a l ette r

,
.

L a ter h e p u t i t in h is po c ket a nd ta k i n g
, ,
h is h at
we n t o u t aga i n a n d d own th e vi l l age
,
.

AS h e l o oke d u p i n to th e b l u e s ky a bove h i m th e ,

s a m e th at h a d s m i le d d ow n u p on h i m i n h i s m orn i ng
wa l k wi th J ud i th h e ,
sa w h o w th e su n h ad t ravel led
d own th e s i d e O f H eaven . It h ad b een i n m id h eaven -

whe n t hey set ou t togeth e r a n d ,

no w th e gl o ry of

th e d ay was d o n e .

Wo u l d th ere eve r b e s uch a d ay for h i m aga in ?

ask ed J ess e : a n d d ou b t ed .

M is t ress J u d i th p u t ti ng h e r p r i m r o s es
,
In t h e b o wl ,

d o ubt ed n ot a t a l l .

N eve r had J ess e s ee m ed d eare r t o h e r th a n to d ay .

An d t he r e was his s t ep u p o n th e g a r d en wa l k
-
.
2 62 SOM E TH IN G FO R AM OS .

th e p rod u c e . M ist r ess B ul l en who

A co m pan i o n for ,

so r eq u i red i t a n d a m as t e r f o r C ob s V al l ey who
,
’

wo uld m ake i t answer as Trotter s ’

E nd u n d er h is
,

r u l e h ad d o n e
, M istre ss B u l le n l onged fo r i t n u
.

s p eakably To h ave A m os a t T r o tte r s E nd o r t o ’

.
,

go wi th Am os t o th e cosy ho u se o n C o b s V al l ey ’

was t h e d esi re O f h er h ea rt .

Ye t i n J ess e s eyes th e r e we r e i ns u perabl e O b j e c

’

t io ns Th e l eas e was n o t o u t qu ite ye t ; t h e m a n who

.

h ad wo rked th e fa rm worked i t wel l — h e was wi l l i ng

t o re n ew h is l eas e an d i t wou l d n eve r be fai r to t u r n
,

h i m o u t wi th o ut good r eason Am os though t th e r e .

was good reason ; b u t p ro u d a nd h u rt a t J ess e s in

’

grat it ud e h e l eft h o m e i m m ed iat ely went back t o th e

, ,

m od el far m a nd co l l ege wh ere h e was s tu d yi ng a nd ,

d ete rm i n ed o n ly to co m e ho m e wh en h e fel t h e co uld

go t o P arso n I ngrey a nd cla i m h is d aughte r .

I wo u ld n t ask h e r to m a r ry m e at o n c e s ai d
’

“
h u m b l e A m os to h i msel f n o t t i l l I d go t a ho m e
’

, ,

an d s e t th ings ago ing B u t I ve cap ita l en ough to ’

.

b uy a b i t o f fa r m — a nd th e m o r e I ca n h ave m y eyes
about m e n o w th e bet te r fo r h e r — if o n ly Sh e l l take
’

” ”
m e s ai d poo r Amos i f o nly !
, ,
“

“
I c an t h ang abou t at hom e an d d o n othi ng h e
’
,

wo u l d say ; “
eve n s u ppo s in g I c o u ld m ake m o ney
w, I d o
’
b y th at . An d I wa n t m oney no : it s d i rty
 SOM ETH I N G FO R AMO S .

s tu ff e no ugh i n on e s pock et ’
to spen d alo n e ; but
yo u ca n d a r e som e th ings wi th m on ey yo u co u ld n t ’

’ ”
d are wi tho u t — that s certa i n . A nd th en h e th ough t

how he cou l d m ak e a h o m e b eau ti fu l fo r h er a nd ,

“
h ow sh e wo u ld m ake a ny h o m e beau t i fu l . I f o n ly
” ”
sh e l l take m e l
’
sa i d poo r Am os ,
“
i f o n ly ! T h at
was th e re frai n O f every song .

H e h ad h opes of a fa rm to b e le t i n M ay . Whe n
th e t i m e ca m e h e m ean t t o ru n d o wn a nd l ook a t i t ,

a n d l ea rn h i s fat e . B u t h e co ul d not h el p ho p i ng
th at be fo r e th at t i me J esse wo u ld have go t h is co m

m iss i on a nd go n e away . H e d i d not wa n t to qua rrel

wi th h is broth e r ; especial l y as h igh word s betwee n
th e m wo u l d grieve h i s m oth er so . A n d h e kn ew
th ere wo u l d be h igh wo r d s i f h e were long with J esse .

B es id es h e was n ot wa nted no w a t Tro tter s

’
E nd ,

wh ere J esse was m aster ; an d Am os was to o p ro u d to

go whe r e h e co u ld have been spa red .

Th ro ugh th e lon g s pri ng d ay h e wo rked away ,

s pa r i ng n o t i m e o r t ro u bl e wh ere a nyth i ng ne w was

t o be gain ed . There was a n obj ect i n h is l i fe tha t
n eve r fo r a n i nstan t f ad ed ou t of s igh t . A nd so th e
l ong d ays we nt by a nd fo l k wo n d ered h e d i d n ot
,

co m e h o m e . H e so m et i mes wo nd e r ed a l ittl e h i m
s el f whe n th e lo ngin g t o
, se e th e fa c e O f M istres s
J u d i t h s ei z ed h i m . B ut h e h a d s e tt l ed it was b es t
2 64 SOM ETH I N G FO R AMOS .

to k eep a way t i l l M ay ; a n d wh a t Am o s s e tt l e d
h e k ept to .

Abou t th e en d of A pri l , soon e r th an h e had ex

p ec t e d ,
fo r th e Pa rs on h ad been u p t o L ond on mo r e
tha n on ce an d l eft n o ston e u nt u rn ed J ess e got ,
h is
com m i ssi on . H e had passed h igh on the l is t a nd
,

tha t to o was i n h i s favo u r . H e m us t j o i n im m e d i

a tely an d
,
h is qu a rte rs f or th e p r esen t wo ul d be
D ubl i n .

Th is news l ong , as it h ad bee n ex p e ct ed , was

a l i tt le bewi ld eri n g . J ess e wi t h h is n a t u r a l sh r i nk
,

i ng fro m d isagreeabl es ,
had b ee n con ten t ed wit h
l eaving t h e d i ffi c u l ti es i t wo ul d b r ing to th e d ay
itsel f

N o w th e d ay ha d c om e an d th e r e s tood a l l th ,

d i ffi cu l ti es an d a l l th e d i sagreea bles facing h i m .

N ei th e r was th ere any ti m e t o c o n si d e r — h e m u st

solve th e m at o n ce .

L eavi ng J ud i th even f o r a t i m e was bad enough

, , .

B ut n o w r eport s ai d A m os wa s co m ing h o m e H e .

was certa i n to com e at som e t i m e o r oth e r d uri ng

J esse s absen c e
’
. An d J ess e h ad a n i nsti nct wh i ch
t ol d h i m th at wh en A m os ca m e i t wo u l d b e to t el l
h i s l ove t o J ud i th . Th en — wh at wo u ld J u d i th th in k ?
Fo r A m os i n t h e b i tt ern ess
,
of h is d i sappoi n tm en t ,

wo u l d n eve r fa i l t o t el l h e r h is (J esse s) b r ea c h
’
of of
2 66 S OM ET H I N G FO R AMOS .

J ud i th s tre t ch ed ou t h e r a rm s a n d pu t th em r o u n d
,

h is n eck . I t d i d n ot th e l eas t m at te r that M ist r ess

H u rs t was wash i ng cloth es i n th e wi nd ow Oppos it e
’

“
S ay n o m o re of th i ngs l i ke th at J esse i f , , yo u
l ove m e . I l l n eve r ch a nge wh ethe r we d i e
’
or l ive .

’ ’
A n d we l l s oo n m eet , yo u k n ow— a n d I l l pray fo r
you .
3)

low
“
Yes , sa id h e sh a rp ly ; i n a vo ice
’
yo u d o n t k n ow how m uch n eed th ere is O f it .

A n d u p c a m e th e Pa rso n l a i d ,
h is ha nd u po n his
’
l a d s sho u ld e r a n d sa id ch eer fu l ly
,

Fea r n oth in g ,
l ad — I l l l oo k a fte r h e r
’
. Whe n
you r sett l ed a n d th a t a n d have s een what s o rt ,
of

”
p lace i t i s yo u r go i ng t o wri t e ,
to me .

A n d bo th J u d i th a nd J esse k n e w tha t h e m ea n t
tha t b e fo re ve ry l ong they sh o u ld b e m a r ri ed .

50 one m ore k iss a n d ,

on e m o r e w ri n g of th e
an d J ess e was go n e
’
Pa rs on s ha n d ,
. A n d as h e
pass ed th e pos t -
O ffic e h e pos ted h i s l ette r to A m os .

He d id n ot c a re how soo n h e l e ft H as l i n g t o n a fte r

th at .
 CHAPTER XXXI .

“
T H E L O VE L I G H T -
IN H IS EYE S .

E XT eve n i n g as M istress B ul len walked

, d is
c o n so l at e l u p a n d down th e ga rd en at t he
y
Fa rm k ni tting look ing at th e roses and th i n king Sh e
, , , ,

fel t m ore d own hearted th a n even the l oss

-
of J ess e
s eem ed to j usti fy .

H e r cal m face was ful l of t ro ubl e ,

was fol lo w
f o r sh e

in g th e lett er th at was sp eed i ng to Amos th e l ette r

,

t hat wo uld bl igh t al l h is p rosp ects a nd tu rn the swee t

n ess O f l i fe i nto gal l a nd bitte r n ess .

Afte r th e fash io n of good a n d tend er h ea rted souls -

,

sh e asked h ersel f agai n a n d agai n i f s h e ha d d o n e

r igh t ? O ugh t S h e to h ave tol d Am os agains t J esse s ’

wish ? Was sh e qu i te certai n tha t J ess e to th e las t

wo ul d h ave fo rbi d d en he r to write ? S h e cou ld b e
su re o f noth ing but th is — A mos loved J ud i th f i rs t ,

'

W ith a l ove t o o deep fo r any wo rds ; a nd J ess e had

”
c o m e i n loved h er too
,
as d eep ly ? asked M ist r es s
B ul len — a n d had taken th e p ri z e away .

Wh en sh e was t i r ed Of wa lk ing t o and f ro an d ,

 26 8
!
TH E LO VE LIGHT -

m o re t i r ed O f h e r c eas el ess s el f qu est i o n i n gs she wen t -

,

ro u nd t o th e ya rd t o l oo k a t h e r ch ick ens .

A n d as Sh e s too d ta lk i ng to J e pht ha i t s ee m ed
t o h e r tha t s u d d en ly Sh e pas sed i n to d r ea m l a nd -
.

Fo r th e re wi th a brigh t fres h c o lo u r
,
in h i s fa ce h i s ,

r usse t h a i r t ossed bac k a n d ,

h is l o ng l egs s t r i d i ng
ac r oss the ya r d ca m e A m os ,
.

M is tr ess B u l l en co u ld s ay n oth i n g . H e r h ear t l eap t

a t s e e in g h i m a n d th e n fel l , . D i d h e k now ? Wh y
h ad h e co m e ?
We l l m oth e r ,
h e sa id fold i ng h e r i n h i s grea t
,

’
a rm s ; yo u d o n t s ee m h a l f glad to see me . D id yo u
g u ess i t wa s I wh e n yo u h ea rd th e wh e el s
“
I n eve r n oti ced th e m d ea r ,
so n , sa i d Sh e h ol d ,

ing h is h a nd a nd s t r ok i ng i t . I h ad n o on e t o loo k
fo r .

“
B u t, m oth e r— I to ld yo u I wa s c o m i ng i n M ay
a n d a s t o th e d ay wh y I fo u n d I co u l d get O ff ,

so on e r a n d ,
SO I ca m e righ t away . Th e m a n i s t u rn
M
N
i ng o u t O f th e fa rm I ’
m lo ok i ng a ft e r a week s oon er ,

’
a nd th ey l l b e gla d I sh ou l d l oo k a t it a t o n ce . And
I m
’
glad too be fo re i t s s na pped u p
,
-

, O h ho w ’
.
,

”
beau t i fu l t h e O l d p l ace is l o ok i n g ! s ai d h e l i ft in g ,

u p h is ha t p ush ing h is h a i r ba ck a n d l ook i ng rou n d

, ,

a t th e far m h ou s e a t th e vi l l age below a t th e Rec

-
, ,

t ory gabl e .
27 0
“
THE LOVE LIGHT -

”
G on e ! is he ? T h e r e was s u ch m a r ked ex u l ta
t io n i n h is voi ce tha t h e sa w i t h i msel f a n d has tened ,

t o ato n e fo r i t .

“
Y ou kn ow I though t to fi n d h i m h e r e sti l l ,

th ough I go t yo u r l ette r yeste rd ay sayi n g h e h ad

got th e c om m iss io n a t l ast . D O

yo u k n o w m oth e r
,

— it very stupi d o f co u rs e — b ut f o r th e m o m en t
’
s

I co uld n t h el p bei ng gl ad — the r e i s th e s e ed o f t he

’

I co u ld n t h el p ’
Ol d fee li ng O f j ea lou sy sti l l i n m e .

th i nk in g so m eti m es wh en I got down h ea r ted a nd ,

-

l ow a nd that O f ,
h o w J esse got a l l th ings h e wa n ted ,

and ho w al l folk grew t o love h i m . And that wo u l d

cu t m e u p m oth e r , ,
d o yo u k no w j us t as , if i t we re
r eally happen ing w m oth e r, is n
’
. B ut it s a l l w el l no ,
’
t
’
i t ? i f o n ly sh e l l
”
“
A m os sa id M i st r ess B u l le n
,
.

H e looked a t her a n d h is face ,

t oo pal ed .

“
i ll mo t h e r—
’
Goo d G od ! h e sa id ,
sh e s not , n ot

”
d ead ?
No , d ea r b u t I fea r sh e s d ead t o
“ ’
so n ; yo u .

S he s p ro m ised h ersel f away t o a nothe r m an

’

Amos D ea r so n — it s God s wi l l— bea r u p i f yo u ’ ’

.

”
ca n .

An d A m os was b ea r i ng u p i f perfe ct st il ln ess is ,

t hat Wi th wh it e face fi xed upon h is m oth er eve ry

.
,

ato m O f c olo ur passed away t h e r e h e ,

s at Speech less .
 ”
IN H I S EYES . 27 1

An d t h e b ig pa r lo u r c lo c k t icked ou t th r o u gh th e
S i lence wh i l e m oth e r a n d
,
s o n s at o n .

I t was som e mo m ents before Am os stoo d u p a nd

wal ked to th e wi nd o w . Th ere was a noth e r si l ence
a fter that be fore h e s aid ,
n ot look in g r o u n d
Wh o is it , m othe r
M istress B u l l en n o t answering h e t u rn ed qu i ckly ,

en ough a nd ,
s at d own h eavi ly bes id e h e r on th e so fa .

Wel l s ai d h e s to l id ly .

S ti l l n o a nswer M ist r ess B u l l en was prayi ng

. .

’ ”
Yo u d better speak o u t s ai d Am os th rowing u p , ,

h i s h ead a fter h is own fash i o n a nd look ing at th e top

, ,

O f th e boo kca se befo re h i m I t ca n m at te r very

.
!

l i t tl e wh o i t i s n o w B ut J esse m ight h ave t ol d m e i f

.

h e cou ld n t p r even t it— h e m igh t h ave t ol d m e so m e

’

o n e was a ft er her j us t t o brea k th e b low a l i tt l e

, .

”
J ess e m ust h ave s een i t h e s been h ere al l th e ti m e
,
’
.

H e spok e S O qu i etly t ha t M istress B ul l en h avi ng

, ,

p r ayed took co u rage

, .

H e has wri tten to tel l yo u sh e s ai d h e w ro t e

,

th e l et te r yesterd ay an d i t m issed yo u
, H e h ad .

so m e r easo n fo r n ot tel l i n g you befo re a n d I c o u l d n t ,

’

d o it witho u t h is l eave .

H is l eave ? /z z s [eat e
'

cri ed Am os Wha t /

ever h as h e t o d o wi t h h e r o r m e o r t h e m an sh e s ,
’

g iven h e r love t o
27 2
“
TH E LOVE LIGHT -

H ush d ea r so n — h e s m ore to d o th a n t hin k

’

, yo u o

’
M ist r ess B u l le n l a id h er h a nd on A m os .
“
It s he
th a t ha s wo n h e r fo r h i m s el f — J ess e s m a r ry
’
to

M i st r ess J u d i th .

Th e O ld lo w roo m ratt l ed as Am os s p ru n g to

h is fee t ,
fl i ngi ng h is m oth e r s ha nd r o u gh ly fr o m ’

him .

Wh ere ’
S J esse h e c ri ed ;
“
wh ere is he — tra itor ,

fiend l— fal se cowa rd that h e is

”
Th an k God h e i s go n e , ,
sai d M ist ress B u l l en .

Ay go n e tha t s ve ry l i kel y
’
— ! . H e wrot e a n d
th e n h e wen t away B rave man , zm e
‘
b roth er !

yo u ’
ve to be p ro u d O f h i m— yo u wh o bore h i m — wo l f
”
0 God 0 G od
’

with a la m b s cou rage . Ah m e — — !

A l l th a t eve n i n g swayi ng h i ms el f t o a n d fro t o a n d

, ,

fro on th e so fa sa t A m os h i s face covered with

, , h is
h a nd s . A nd M is tress B ul l en s at bes id e h i m .

Fro m fury t o d es pa i r fro m d espa i r t o fu ry , ; it was

a h a rd t i m e fo r ge nt l e M i stress B u l len .

A n d th e eve n ing s u n k ept s trea m i ng i n a nd lou d er ,

a n d l o u d e r p i p ed t h e ca na ry i n th e wi n d ow . Wha t
ca red su n or can a ry fo r bro ken h ea rts
And th ere we r e t wo i n th at r oo m wel l n igh b roken -
.

Fo r on M ist r ess B u l le n a d o ub le gri ef h ad fa ll en .

Th e wreck of Am os s ta r ed h e r i n th e fa c e wh i l e al l ,

th e t i m e his wi l d vo ic e kep t t el l ing he r tha t J ess e

27 4
“
T H E L OV E L I G H T -

A mos ca m e n ea r e r a nd n ea r e r t o th e Rec t o r y . H e

c ould see th e l igh t i n the k itch en wi ndow . H e cou l d

S ee th at i n th e s itti ng roo m wi nd ows the r e we r e
-
as

y et n o l igh t s . Th e su n h ad only j us t s et, a nd the r e

was th e pa l e grey O f a May twi l igh t r esti ng on t he

pl ac e . Perh aps s he was go n e : th e h ous e s eem ed so

sti l l a n d d ark except fo r Ruth s figu re c r ossi ng

,
’
the

kitche n wi n dow no w an d th en . Perhaps G od had

b een m erci ful a n d ta ken h er away j ust a t th is o n e
wi l d m o m en t that A m os m igh t n o t be s u ffered t o
,

d estroy h e r peace
’
An d th e n Am os s heart bea t
.

l o ud ly a s h e stood beyon d th e hedge a t th e u ppe r

end of th e gard en j us t where th e m a r gi n O f gras s
,

U pon th e road s id e swept u p i n to a velvety m ou n d

fo r th e p rivet to gro w u pon . For th e r e was a ste p
in th e h al l — a l igh t step — a n d the n a figu re stood in

t h e d oorway u n d e r t he c l em ati s th at h e kn ew s o
,

wel l .

S h e l ooked rou nd th e ga r d en : h e co ul d n o t see h e r

f ace cl early bu t h e kn e w by th e m ovem en t o f h e r
,

h ead th at Sh e was lo ok i ng r ou nd Am os s too d .

look ing a t h e r m o t io n les s a nd d umb Wo u l d thos e .

wi l d eyes n ot cal l h e r t o h i m ? wo u l d h is a n gu is h
s trik e n o ch o r d i n h e r a n d d r aw h er t o h i m ?
,
H id e ?
—why sh ou ld h e h i d e — l et h e r see h i m l et h er fi nd
,
’

h im an d k n ow i t a l l H e was wa iting o nly f o r h is

.
 IN H I S EY ES .
” 27 5

vo i c e to co m e back to h i m that h e m igh t cal l he r .

H e was wa iti ng fo r th e power of m ovem en t to l ea p

th is l i ttl e h edge a n d h ave he r fo r h i s wn
’
J esse s
“

,
o .

t i m e h ad be en a n d was over . J ess e the t r a ito r th e

, ,

u nt ru e —sh e co u ld n ot l ove h i m wh en sh e k n ew i t al l
,

M i stress J ud i th d r ew a let t e r fro m h e r pocket an d ,

ca m e ou t fro m u n d e r th e cl em at is t o read i t i n th e
l igh t . Am os co u l d h ea r he r m u rm u rin g ove r i t cou l d ,

h ea r a l ow l a ugh of bl iss as ,
sh e t u rn ed i t over i n
h e r h a nds S h e c o u l d h a rd l y s e e i t i n the twi ligh t
.
,

a nd S h e m ove d h e r h ead co nsta n tly a nd th e l etter , ,

t o catch a r ay .

A m os m oved u nd e r th e Sh ad ow of th e el m th a t
“ ”
she m igh t no t see h i m H id e ? h e sti l l s ai d t o
h i ms el f bu t h e m oved u nder th e sh ado w
-

a s h e s aid i t . C o u ld h e grieve h er cou l d h e brea k ,

h e r id o l a n d see h er sad a s h e was ? “

0 G od !
h e s aid be n eath h is breath aga i n — a n d th is t i m e i t
,

s ee m ed G od took i t fo r a prayer a n d l en t h i m
c o u rage .

A mos p u t h is a rm r ou n d th e tr u n k of th e el m t o
s tead y h i m sel f . H e k n ew h e wa nt ed st rength : h e
k n ew n ow th at h e l oved h e r too wel l to gri eve h er
h e k n ew sh e did not fre t fo r h i m tha t S he l oved a nd
,

b el i eved i n J ess e . SO h e k new to o th a t h e was go ing

t o t ake a l as t l oo k b efo r e t u r n ing away fo r eve r .
276
“
TH E LOVE LI GHT I N EY ES ”
-
H I S .

H e grasped th e t r e e t igh t er as h is e yes we nt o u t

yearn i ngly towa rds h er s tra in i ng t o s e e h er
,

o n ly o nce : o nce tha t m ust d o fo r al l the yea rs t o

com e .

H e l ook ed a nd j us t th e n J ud ith p u t th e l etter t o

,

h e r l i ps a nd k issed i t .

A m os s ho l d o n th e t r ee Sl acke ned
’
. H e ben t h i s
h ead an d t u rn in g ro un d we nt u p t h e road sl owl y
, , .

N e xt day a l l th e fol k wo n d e r ed tha t M istres s B ul

l en was a lon e aga i n a n d M as t e r A m os go n e
,
 C H APT E R X X X“ .

0 if M is t ress J ud it h s h eart was

’

to

t hat ize

B at t h
e Pars o n

no t b e d e l aved :
27 8 S HAD OWS .

J u d ith ,
SO wh a t wi l l n ex t M ay b e A nd sh e s m i l ed
t o h e r sel f ove r t h e l i l i es O f t h e va l l ey S h e h el d i n
h e r hand a nd th ough t h o w Sh e wish ed l i l ies bl oo m ed
,

o n t i l l J u ly a n d A ug u s t ; f o r by th at t i m e S h e was s a fe

t o b e wa l ki ng across th e ch u rchyard t o b e m a rri ed

t o J ess e a n d s he wo u ld wea r a b u n c h O f th e m i n h e r
,

ha i r .

M aste r H u rst r eco n ci l ed J ess e s h avi ng

’
h ad go t to

wo n th e p ri z e A t l eas t h e s m i l e d ove r J u d ith s h a pp y ’

.

face a n d l eft
, O ff s peak i ng abo u t A m os . An d h e
watche d fo r t h e m ai l bag eve r y a fte rn oo n a n d sh oo k
-
,

h is o ld h ead s au ci ly wh en eve r y two o r th r ee d ays

the m a i l bag s topped a nd M i s t ress J u d i th ca r ri ed O ff a
-

l et t e r . M as te r H u rst was n ea rl y fo u r s c o re yea r s Old -

b u t h e h ad l i fe e no ugh l eft i n h i m to enj oy fa i r th i ngs

yet . A n d th e love of s u ch a one as M i st ress J ud i th
s ee m e d a ve ry fa i r th in g t o M ast e r H u rs t . I t cas t
i ts h a l o a bou t J ess e B u ll e n ; so th a t th e O ld man ,

l ea n ing l ik e J a cob u po n h is sta ff n am ed two n a m es ,

no w i n h is d a i ly p rayers a n d p r ayed G o d , to m a ke
h i s bl essed l i ttl e lad y ha pp y .

L et te rs en o ugh ca m e fo r M is t ress J u d i th B ut n o t .

eno ugh ca m e t o th e Pa rso n A t l east o n e d ay i n .

J u n e h e was o n h is way t o T rotte r s E n d to a sk ’

M is tress B u l l e n i f s h e h a d h ad l a te n ews O f th e l ad ,

an d if h e had sen t a ny m essage t o h i m th e Pa rso n ,

.
2 80 S H AD OW S .

l e t te r s ,
andr em em bered h andw ri ti n gs wel l
she .

“ ”
B i l ls ? th o ugh t th e Pa rson t o o aski ng i t o f hi m ,

s el f bu t angry th e n ext m o m en t a t th e fou l

,

s uggest i o n Why Sh o u l d h e d o u bt J ess e h is lad

.
, ,

o n s uch sl igh t gro u nd s as th ese

An d S O th ey p arted each sayi ng t o t h e oth e r th a t

,

al l was wel l .

I t was a f e w weeks l ate r th a n th is t ha t M ist r es s

B ul l en Si tt i ng i n h e r ch ai r by th e wi nd ow wa s
, ,

sta rtl ed by th e s igh t o f t wo m e n i n l ong black coats ,

town fol k evid en tly an d n o m en o f H asl i ngton l ean ,

i ng u po n the bridge and looki n g a bou t th e m , .

S trangers n eve r cam e to Trotter s E nd : a n d M is ’

t ress B u l l en d i d n o t l ike th e s igh t o f th em t o d ay -

.

Fro m th at h o u r Sh e was m o r e c e r ta i n tha n ever tha t

al l was n ot wel l . But sh e tol d n o o n e, not even th e
P arso n O f th e two stra ngers an d
, , S he t ri ed t o a cco u n t
to h ersel f fo r thei r a ppea ra nce i n m any ways . B ut
wo m e n al on e a nd brood ing b u il d fabrics of fan cy :

a nd n o a rgu in g on th e other Si d e convi nced h e r th a t

th ere was no t so m eth in g goi ng wro n g w ith J ess e .

H e r fa ith i n h i m had been Shak en Once : h e h ad d on e

that to Am os wh ich i t was n ot easy fo r a m othe r to

fo rget .

’
Wh e n M istress B ul l en s fea r s torm en t ed h e r greatl y ,

s he h a d a fash io n of go ing to h e r d esk a nd l ook i n g

,
 S H AD OWS . 28 I

ove r h e r pape r s a n d a c cou n t s t h at t h e Farm to see

was d o in g we ll A n d th a t c o m fo r t e d h e r f o r s u re
.
,

e no ugh th e Fa rm was p ayi ng .

Th e re we r e A mos s acco u nts i n h is cl ea r roun d

’

h a n dwri ti ng t i ed n eatly wi th r ed tap e a n d l abel l ed

, ,

with d at es an d t erm s .

Th e re were s o m e loo s e scatt e r ed papers i n J esse s ’

ha ndwrit i ng ; a nd the n ca m e th e acco u nts of th e l as t

t wo m on th s s i nce J ess e h a d go n e . Th ese were i n
M ist r ess B u l l e n s own h a nd wri ti ng a nd as wel l kept
’

a s a n y cl erk s ’
. S h e h ad a very cl ea r h ead a n d c o u l d ,

not b e d ece ivi ng h e rsel f . A l l wa s d o i n g wel l on

th e Fa r m . Th en wh y d i d n ot J esse sett l e th e two

th ousa nd , as h e i ntend ed u po n M ist ress J ud i th an d
, ,

l e t th e wed d in g b e ? A n d wh at were th ose l etters

tha t loo ke d l ike bi l ls ? A n d wa s J ess e s t il l getting
t he m at D ubl i n
J ess e d id n o t wri t e ve r y Often to h is m oth er n o w .

S h e sigh ed ove r h i m b ein g h is m othe r An d sh e,

.

wou l d h ave s igh ed m o r e h ad s h e s een h i m s o m et i m es

i n h i s ba rrack room h i s fa ce clo u d ed W i th a n a nx i et y
-
,

tha t was to h e r a secre t an d l osin g th e fi r st fresh nes s

,

o f h is m a nh ood over m yste ri ou s t ro u bles Of wh ich

h e a l on e cou l d bea r th e b u rd en .

Two m o nth s h e h a d b ee n a sold i e r a n d th e l if e ,

was W h a t h e l iked Yet th e co r e O f swee t nes s h ad

.
282 S H AD O WS .

b ee n p l uck ed o u t o f i t H e kn ew t h a t h e was a
.

h a rass ed m a n .

I t d i d n o t co m fo rt h i m wh en l e tt e r s c a m e fr o m
t h e Pa rso n beggi ng h i m t o m ak e a n e f fo rt
,
to get
th e set t le m e n ts m ad e ou t, p r o m is i ng to h i s d a ugh t e r
a d owe r o f o n e h u nd red po u nd s a yea r wi th th e ,
su m
of e ight th o usa n d to beco m e h e r s a t h is d eath .

J ess e had p ro m ised to s ettl e t wo th o usa n d on h is

W i fe i n th e fir s t d ays of h is b e tr oth al . N o w h e h ad
b u t t o p u t th a t p r o m i s e i n wri ti ng a nd M ist r ess ,

J ud ith wo u ld be h i s Two th ou sa nd I t was n o t h i ng

.

fr o m J ess e B u l le n s fort u n e A n d yet h e s at with t i ed

’
.

h a nd s a t h is tab le : th e Pa rso n s l etter o n o n e S id e

’

a noth e r l ette r o n t h e o t he r B e t we e n t he m b oth a

.

ch e que b ook
-
.
2 84 J ESSE S TROUBLES
’
.

t wo h e m u s t fai l — bor r ow m on ey a s h e wou ld it ,

c ou l d n o t last l ong A nd th en .
‘
Vh y then ,

wou l d ha pp en j ust what h e was averting no w ,

r u i ni ng h i msel f to avert . I t m ust co m e soon er or

l ate r .

J esse B ull en wri thed when h e th ought Of th e wo r ry

an d gnaw an d perplexi ty h e h ad bro ugh t u po n h i m
s el f
. H e co u l d not stand wo rr y a nd t roub l e . A nd
th en he tri ed to Sh o w h ow h e had not brough t i t upo n
h i m sel f n ot altogeth e r . C i rcu mstance tem ptation, ,

P rovid e nce— ah holy Provid ence ! i t is

, s ad what is
l ai d by i r r eve ren t h u m an i ty t o thy Sha re .

J esse B u l l en i t ,
is t ru e was n either a cri m i n al
, ,
nor

c o n tem plat in g a ny cri m e N O secret m ar r iage stood .

b etwee n h i m a nd M istress J udi th h e had taken care

in m an fash ion t o s in r espectably if h e s inn ed : pay
-

in g d u e rega r d t o h is co nven ien c e hereafte r N eithe r .

was h e a fo rge r n o r a perj u rer A n d yet h e was .

s u fferin g a n d by h is o wn fa u l t Th at h e was n o t
, .

a ny o f th es e a nd ye t su ffered was a proo f t o J ess e ,

t h at h e s u ffered u nj u stl y C ri m i nal s ought to s u ff er :

.

b u t a l itt l e ca r el ess ness a false step a m is t ak e , ,

s u r ely th a t was n o t d ese r vin g o f such a pu n ishm ent .

A nd i t i s a pu n ish m en t i ndeed t o s e e that long lan e ,

wh i ch h as n o t u rn ing o r t u rns s udd en ly abr u ptly

, , ,

i nto a slough o f d espo nd .

 J ESSE S TROUBLES
’
. 2 85

J es se B u l len with al l h is r espectabi l i ty h ad t ake n

, ,

a false step : h e was t ied h a nd a n d fo ot by m esh es

th e re was n o esca pi ng .

’
And th e re l ay the Pa r son s l etter u nanswered be

fore h im .

H e co nsid ere d a l ong t i m e a nd th en h e wrot e ,

.

few Pa rso n s a nswe r ca m e

’
In a d ays ,
the
back
D EAR L AD — I d o n t u nd e rstand th e d i ffic u l ty yo u
’

h in t at i n givi ng m e you r pro m is e in l ega l fo r m Of th e

t wo tho usand . I a m a bi t o f a b us i ness m a n m ysel f ,

a n d l ike sticking t o form s i n a l l cases . But In th is

case I k no w wel l eno ugh wh o I a m d eal ing wi th t o
p u t i t by a nd t ru st
, to yo u th at noth ing is m ore a m iss
tha n wha t yo u say . Th ere wi l l b e n o occasi o n fo r m e
t o look ove r th e Farm a ccou nts with yo u r m oth er ,

beca us e S he t el ls m e a nd yo u t el l m e th at a l l i s wel l
, ,

there Y wi l l have p le nty of m o n ey wi th G od s ’

. ou

b less in g a n d my ch ild has

, no fool ish tastes to b u rd e n
yo u wi th . I sh al l th e r efore pay yo u yea r l y d u ri ng m y
l ifeti m e the su m of one h u nd red po u n d s an d eigh t ,

thousa nd is a l ready sett le d upo n J ud ith to b e paya bl e ,

a t m y d eath .

“
N oth ing r ema i ns f o r yo u n ow b u t a t you r co n
ve n ie n ce to settl e wi th h er th e day fo r you r m a rriage .

T h e earl i e r t h e bet t e r but sh e wi l l wa n t a m on t h or

2 86 J ESS E S TROUB LES
’
.

t h r e e wee k s n o t i c e to b i d fa r ewel l t o h e r poo r fo l k

’

, ,

an d t o p r epa re h e r o l d fath e r fo r t h e loss Of h e r

“

M ay G od bl ess yo u d ea r l a d a n d I a m you rs t r u ly
, , ,

“ ”
J O H N I NG R EY .

P a r s o n I ng r ey a m an o f f e w wo rds a n d very
, ,

t e n d e r h ea rt ed u nd e r his t h i ck coa t O f r ese r ve fel t

-
,

qui te u n co m fortab l e a fte r h e h a d w r i t t en th e l e t te r

“
an d pos ted i t Th a t s en t en c e a bo u t t ru s t i n g th e r e
.

was n o th i n g m o r e a m iss m igh t h ave b ee n l eft Ou t

wh e n h a d th e la d eve r d o n e a nyth in g t o d eserve
d is t r us t ? Th e P a r so n was getti ng h app i e r i n h is
m i n d abo u t t h e b il ls s eei n g a l l th e a cco un ts were
,

sat is facto ry a n d J ess e h ad so l d n o t i m be r even l a id

, ,

no b u rd e n on th e Fa r m as ye t .

N O n ews ,
b u t t h e n ews of th e d ea t h of o n e m an ,

cou l d g ive grea t rel i ef to J esse B u l l en . B u t th e Par

s o n s l e tt e r gave h i m a s m u ch
’
as h e co u l d expect
fr o m a n y qu a rte r . T h e i d ea O f th e t wo t h o usa n d
wa s O ff his m i n d .

Poo r M ist r ess J ud i th t h e two tho usa n d wo u ld no t

be fo r her . B u t i t m igh t stave O ff th e c r ash a While

l onge r t h o usa n d i n s ettl e m ents wo u l d b e

Two
O f J ess e s r each : n o w h e co u l d u s e i t as h e
’
out

wou ld .

“
I t wi l l stave i t o ff fro m h er ,
sa i d J ess e , n ot too

s el fis h s o m et im es to th i n k O f t he gi rl h e l oved fr o m
288 J ES S E S T R O U B L E S
’
.

And h is h ear t gave a g r ea t th r ob of h op e wh e n

h e th o ugh t th a t co m e what m igh t h erea fte r i n t h r ee
, ,

we eks ti m e J ud i th wo u ld be h is wi fe
’
.

And o nce
,
h is wi fe ,
sh e wo u l d n eve r fo r s a k e him .

J esse k ne w h e r wel l eno u gh f o r t hat

.
 C HAPTE R XXXIV

T H E CL O U D I N G OF THE S! Y .

T was j us t t e n d ays be fo re th e wed d in g wh i ch ,

was fi xe d fo r a n ea rly d ay in Au gu st . M istress

J u d ith was s i tt i ng i n M aste r H u rst s ga rd en h em ’

r nirr r
a tu cke r . I t was a l l th e ass ista n ce sh e had
give n as ye t t o th e t ro ussea u .

B u t t o d ay M ist ress B u l l e n an d sh e were go ing to

-

C a m bri dge to b uy th e wedd i n g gown -

.

M aste r H u rst was ve ry wo e fu l beca us e ,

h is lad y
wo u l d b e t a e n awav
’
. M i stress H u rs t “
ho ped th e re
’
we re n t very ro ugh ways a n d th a t a t th e arm y , and
“
th at M as te r H u rst wo u l d n ot fo rget a l l the good
wo rd s as h is l ad y had la r n ed h i m b u t ,
m o in d and
”
k eep o n m o in d in g th e co n s e ke n c e s o f s in a n d that , .

M istress J u d i th was h al f s ad , h a l f gl ad . H er eyes

fi l l ed wh e n sh e look ed a t th e o ld m a n wh o kept say
,

i ng wi th feebl e sh akes of h is ba l d h ea d th a t h e wo u l d
, ,

n eve r se e h e r not n o m ore — n o t t i l l h e see d ’

he r in
th e good pl ac e wh e r e th r o ugh th e m e r cy O f God h e
,

h o ped to go .
2 90 TH E CLOUD ING

I b e d r awi ng Off m iss u s , ,

h e wo u l d s ay ;
“
I be
d rawi ng o ff to d ea t h . Th e L o rd h e l l ’
n ot fo rget m e
not m u ch l o nge r no w .

B u t wh e n M ist r ess J u d i th g r ew s ad , sh e t ri ed t o
th i n k of th e we dd i ng gown i t was t i m e t o b uy
-
. No t
th a t sh e care d ve r y m u ch fo r th e gown i t sel f wh eth e r ,

i t we re s i l k s at i n , ,
J ess e l i ked i t ;
or s tu ff,
so l on g as

b u t th e wedd i ng gow n was l ik e a ta l i s m a n t o h e r

-
.

Th e t ea rs d ri ed fro m h e r b l u e eyes as d ew fr o m
vi o l e ts wh e n t h e su n sh i n es .

I t was set t l ed th a t i t was . to b e a wh i t e m u sl i n

d r ess , fri l l ed a n d t u cked a l i tt l e th a t was a ll , . T h en
t h e re was s o m e l a c e O f h e r m o t h e r s th at was
’

to be
put on t h e s l eeves a n d bod i c e ; a n d the r e was to b e

n o wrea th on ly s u ch fl owe r s as we r e
, ou t i n h e r ga r
d en . Th e vi l l age ch i ld r e n we r e fa r m o re conc ern e d
i n th e m a t ter O f d r ess t h a n M is t r es s J ud ith . Th ey
were ge tt i ng n ew bi bs a n d t uck e r s n ew ri b bo ns i n ,

t h e i r h ats a n d a l l m a n n e r
,
of i n nocen t co nc e it s . Fo r
i f eve r th e re was t o b e a grea t d ay i n H as l i n gto n ,

i t wo u l d b e th e d ay th a t j o i n ed th e t wo fa m i l i es a t
th e Recto r y a nd T ro tt er s E n d
’

Wh i l e Sh e s at t o M ast e r
h em m ing ta l k i ng ,
fit f u l l y

H u rst a n d t h i n k i n g O f J ess e an d h er n e w l i fe M ist ress

, ,

J u d ith was o n th e l ook o u t t o o fo r h e r fa th e r wh o

-
,

h ad go n e to fetch M i stress B u l le n i n th e pon y cha ise -

,
2 92 T H E CLOUDI NG

l i ps po u ted a l i tt le no w a n d th e n ove r h e r task . Un

bea rabl e task i t wo u ld h ave been bu t th at th e t uck e r ,

was go i n g i n to a gown th a t J ess e wo u ld s e e — a gown

th at s h e wo u l d n o t wea r t i l l sh e was a p ro u d m atro n .

S h e h ad n o s u n bo n n et o n Ru th h ad s a i d s h e m u s t
-

n ot go t o C a m b ridge i n a s u n —bo n n et : S O th e s u n fel t

h o t e no ugh i n M as te r H u rs t s ga rd e n
’
.

A t l ast s h e h ea r d n o t wh e els b u t a s t ep a t th e
, ,

ga rde n gate S h e s ta rted u p wh en s he s aw he r

.

’
fath e r s face Th ere was so m eth i n g i n i t tha t frigh t
.

e n ed h e r .

Wha t i s i t fath e r ? ,
I s J ess e
”
C o m e h e re m y d ea r , ,
s a i d th e Pa r so n ;J esse is
wel l e no ugh . B ut yo u ca n n ot go to C a m bridge t o
d ay .

O h fath e r— h ave yo u l os t m o n ey ? I ca n d o wi th
,

m uch le ss t ha n f i fty p o u n d s — h e re t ak e it aga i n , ,

fath er .

N O n o h e a nswered bu t J ud ith s aw th e d ist ress

,

u po n h i s fac e a s they wen t i n to th e h o u s e togeth e r .

Th e h al l was d a rk a n d sh a d owy a ft er th e h o t bright

su n o u ts i d e . M istress J ud i th stopped u p o n th e t h re s

hold ,
not l i ki n g th e sh ad ows a nd th e ch i l l . But she

ha d to fo l low to h ea r th e t i d i ngs wh a teve r t hey m igh t

,

be . S h e d id not care very m u ch ,

no w tha t she k n ew
a l l was we l l wi th J ess e . An d yet i t see m ed to her
 OF THE S! Y . 2 93

th at h e r l i fe h ad take n a t u rn j u st th en : that
n eve r aga i n wo u ld .
she s it i n th e fu l l su n of happ i
n ess .

“ ”
Wha t i s i t fa t h e r ? Sh e as ked
,
“
wh y c a n t we go ’

”
t o Ca m b ri dge ?
“
B ecau se M is t ress B ul l e n i s engaged els ewh ere .

S h e i s m aki n g a m ove fro m Trotte r s E nd t o d ay ’

.

”
S h e wi l l wa nt m y ca rriage .

“ ”
A m ove ? J ud i th s tood aghas t a nd th e t u cke r ,

fe l l fro m h e r fi ngers o n t o t h e wi nd ow s eat Is .

“

J es s e go in g t o l ive th ere th en a re we t o l ive th ere,

-

—d o yo u th i n k fa th er a fte r th e ma rriage ?
, ,

”
Perh aps sa i d th e Pa rso n stan d in g i n t h e o th e r
, ,

wi n dow wi th h is back t u r n ed .

J ud i th ra n a cross th e r oo m a n d th rew h e r s el f b e
twee n h i m a n d th e r oses h e was sta rin g a t .

“
O h fath er t el l m e th e t ruth ! why is yo u r voic e
, ,

”
l ik e th at ? what is th e m at te r fath er ? ,

”
“
I d o n t k n o w wh at s ai d h e s olem n ly o nl y I
’

,
“
,

fea r so m eth i ng i s wron g J u d i th I m us t wri te t o

,
.

J ess e a n d s e e wh at ca n be d o n e I m u st u n d ersta n d .

th is — I m ust u nd ersta nd th is J ess e n eve r took a

.

st ep l i k e th is before wi th ou t t el l in g m e Poo r th in g .
,

poor th i ng ! A ba i l i ff com i ng i n t o m a nage th e fa rm

a n d t u rn in g h er ou t S e e th at sh e is com fo rta bl e
.
,

— ”
J u d i th S h e is com i n g h ere t o d ay -
.
2 94 THE C LO UD I N G

B u t J u d i th h a d s u n k d own i n a ch a i r a n d was ,

wa tch i ng h e r fath e r s i l ent ly wi th a wh it e fac e .

“
Yo u l l p u t i t righ t
’

,
fath er ? Yo u d o n t d o u b t ’

”
J ess e O h d o n t d o u b t h i m fath e r !
? ,
’

B u t th e Pa rso n d i d n ot a n swer H e was w r i t i ng t o ,

J ess e .

Th at even i n g cal m a n d pat i en t as eve r M is t r ess

, ,

’
B u l l e n ca m e d own i n th e P a rso n s pon y ch a is e to th e -

Rectory . B u t b efo r e she c a m e a l l H asl i ngto n k n e w

th at J ess e h a d p u t i n a stra n ge far m m a n ager a t
”
Trott e r s E n d h ad n t b eh aved righ t
’ ’
“
; a n d th at h e
by M ist r ess B u ll en .

M oth e r an d '

b e t ro t h e d kep t u p a pp ea r an ces a n d
co u rag e as bes t th ey m igh t b efo re th e Pa rso n . A
l et te r fr o m J ess e sayi n g th e a rra n ge m en t was o n lv fo r
a t i m e a nd a pol ogi z i n g fo r th e i n co n ven i en ce h e m us t
,

h ave g ive n h i s m oth e r h el p ed t h e m n o t a l itt l e ,

. It
was n ot s a tis facto ry b u t i t was so m eth i ng
,
.

B u t wh e n n igh t ca m e a nd ,
J u d it h was k iss i n g
J ess e s m oth e r a t th e d oo r O f h e r wn ro o m t h e
’
o ,

pent -
u
p tears b u r s t fo r t h .

L e t m e ca l l yo u m o the r beca u s e yo u a re J ess e s ! ,

’

”
I n eve r k n ew m i n e sa i d J u d ith so bbi ng o n M ist res s
, ,

’ “
B u l le n s Sh ou l d er . An d oh — d o yo u th i n k we Sh a l l
be m arri e d on Th u rsd ay week ? D o yo u th i n k a ny
th i ng i s co m i ng b etwee n m e a n d J ess e
2 96 TH E CLOUD I N G O F THE S! Y .

i ro ns we r e i n t h e fi r e . Th e fi rs t t h o rn h a d b ee n
pl a n t ed .

A n d i f J ess e m ust b e s ac ri fi ced wit h th e Pa rso n ,

wh y tha t cou ld n o t b e h el ped . H e h ad h ad a ru n of

l u ck no w h is s ta r was n o t qu i t e i n th e ascen d a n t .

But ho w co u l d th e P a r so n — th at i d l e po pu l a r ca l m
, ,

Pa rso n — be b etter t o u ch ed th a n th ro ugh J ess e ?

A n d m o r eove r J esse s m on ey i f i t l eft h is pockets

’

, ,

fl owed i n to ch a n n el s t ha t wa n t ed i t no w .

Pax to n D ick ch i n ked i t i n h i s t ro us e r s pockets a s

he wen t u p th e h il l t o S p e nd h is fi r s t even i ng a t Trot
’

te r s E n d.
 C HAPTE R X XXV .

HA R VE STI N G AGAI N .

E V E R h a d gl oo m i er d ays b een a t H asl i ngto n

tha n th es e of h ot b righ t harvest . Th e s u n
sho n e th e corn t u rn ed i nto gol d th e h eavy sh eaves
, ,

fel l u n d e r t h e scyth e a n d th e ca rts wen t

,
to an d fro ,

While th e t ree s s n atch ed u p th ei r fri nges fro m th e

wa i n s a n d a d o rn ed them s elves a s i f a l l was wel l
, ,
.

B ut H as l i ngto n fo l k k n ew oth erwi se . N o B u l l en s

r u l ed n o w a t t h e farm A l l t races O f th e O l d ru l e
.

’
s eem ed swep t away M ist res s B u l l en s sad face l ooked
.

’
o u t o f th e R ecto ry wi nd ows b u t M istress J u d i th s
,

lo ok ed o u t se ld o m o r never I t wa s a we ek past th e
.

wed d ing day a n d the r e was n o ta l k O f a ny wed d in g

,

no w .

I t was n at u ra l a fter th e fi rst o u tbu rs t of sym path y

wi th M is tress B u ll en an d M ist r es s J ud i th a n d th e ,

first l a m e n ts over th e O l d fa m i ly th a t s ee m ed so su d
d e n ly t o h ave co m e t o ru i n th a t H as l i ngto n fol k
,

sh ou l d tu rn th e i r th o ugh ts t o th e pract ica l a sp ect O f th e

case to i ts e ffect u po n th e m a n d t hei r p rospects
, .
2 98 HARVESTI NG AGA I N .

T h e fl i es i s ve ry b att e rin g ,
o ne wo u l d s ay g r u mb l
in gl y ,
as th ey gl ean ed toge th e r .

“
A y— a n d th e h o t d ays — th e m a n d t h e fl i es b e
very t erri fyi ng t o th e ch i ld ren th ey b e L e t a lo n e ,
.

th a t t here b ea n t n o g l e an in n o t to s p eak O f — n o t
’ ’

wo rth fol ks wh i l e to b rea k th ei r b acks fo r si ch as

’

th is .

N o t s m u ch as u d k ive r a a l f—c r own sa i d a n o th e r

’ ’

,
.

And n o g l e an in n o t to S p ea k o f Th i ngs was n eve r

’
‘

th is way b efo re was th ey M is tress G ad d , ,

“
N o t i n m y t i m e — n eve r a t Trotter s E nd ’
. No t so

m u ch as one field 0
’
b ea ns l eft fo r p oo r fo l k wh a t ,

wi th th e ch i n i ng a n d rak i ng a n d wh a t n ot
’
.

“
And so l igh t In th e ea r M ist res s G a d d
, ,
b ea n t ’

A y, ay— bu t I b e l o igh t 0
’
h ea ri n g n eigh bo u r, ,

’
yo u n eed n t s pea k s o l o ud . M a ster A m os h is t i m e ,

we r e a goo d ti m e fo r p o o r f ol k
!
.

“
H e we re a t e r ri bl e n i ce gen tl em a n h e we r e ,
said
a noth e r .

H o w be I h e e rd t el l as /z e too k to ch i n es a n d s i ch ’

”
l ik e wh i l e h e we re i n f u rrin pa rts ,
ch i m ed i n a wom a n
wh o was o n h e r k n ees tyi ng u p h e r bu nd l e i n i ts p i ece
O f s ack i n g .

“
s a i d M istress H u r s t
’ ’
“
C h i n es o r n o ch i n es , ,
he
”
a l lo ws h i s n to b e gl e n t ’
.
3 00 H A RV ES TI N G A GA I N .

h e t oo k a k ey fr o m his p o ck e t a n d lo ck ed th e gat e
os te nta ti o us l y .

As th e l o ng p r ocess i o n wo u n d d own th e v i l lage ,

th ey we r e not bl ess i ngs th a t we r e wa fted b ack t o h i m .

H e s m i l ed l o o k ed ro u n d h i m
,
for a m o m en t ; th e n
wen t i n to a n a dj o i n i n g fi eld wh e r e th e m e n we r e st i l l
,

c u tt i ng a n d ca l l ed fo r th e n ea r es t h a n d
,
.

Ta k e two sh eaves th e r e — ca r ry th e m i n to t h e
n ex t fi el d a n d th e n fe tc h two m o r e a n d p u t th e m
,

”
b es id e th e m .

“
Th e w o m e n th ey b e a go i n g t o gl ea n t h e r e t o
-

m o rr o w m aste r sa i d th e m a n s u l ki ly
, ,
.

Th ey wo n t gl ea n th e r e t o m o r r o w n o w I tak e i t
’
-
, .

”
C a rr y i n th e sh eaves th e r e I t e l l yo u .

H e s taye d t o s e e t h e m la i d d own fo u r sh eaves s i d e , ,

by si d e i n th e m i d d l e of th e fi eld . N o w n o gl ean e r
co u l d go i n u n t i l th ey we r e r e m oved .

N e x t m or n i n g wh e n th e gl ean in g b el l r a n g at seve n
,

’
O cl ock an d m oth ers a n d ch i ld re n h u rri ed u p to wa i t
,

fo r each oth er a t th e gat e of th e fi el d th at h ad b ee n

“ ”
all carri ed yes t erd ay eve ry face fel l
,
. Fo u r sheaves
l ay th e re : a n d th ere wo u l d b e n o gl ea n i ng t o —d ay .

NO wo nd e r poo r fo l k a t H as l i n gto n t h ough t th es e

we re evi l t i m es .

H a r d ly l ess ev i l was i t t o th e Pa r so n wh o s u ff e r ed ,

fo r h i s peop l e h i s ch i ld a n d h i m sel f
, , .
 . H ARVESTING AGAI N .
3 01

H e h ad wri tten t o J esse a n d J ess e s a nswe r h ad ,

’

b ee n u nsatis facto ry a nd sh u ffl i ng . Al l wo u ld b e wel l ,

he co u l d no t expla i n a l l th e d etai l s O f h is a ffa i rs eve n

t o th e Pa rson . Th e d el ay i n th e m a rri age h e ce r
t ain ly sho u l d have t ho ugh t u n n ecessa ry : b u t as i t
h appen ed h e co u l d not ge t l eave a t th e t i m e th ey h a d
fi xe d u po n ,
so that i n a ny cas e th e m a rriage wo u l d
h ave b een pos tpon ed . B ut o n ly for a sho rt t i m e sa i d ,

J esse a l l wo uld be wel l .

NO one tho ugh t a l l wo u ld b e wel l . A nd th e Pa r

s o n s h ea rt fa i l e d h i m
’
. I n va i n h e t ri ed t o fi n d ou t

th e p osi t io n h eld by th e ne w bai l i ff a t th e fa rm . Wa s

h e a ba i l i ff a nd i f ,
so i n wh ich sens e ? Th e Parso n
c o u ld n o t h elp feari ng th at J ess e s a ffa i rs had co m e t o
’

s uch a pass that as respectabl y as m ight be h e h a d

, , ,

m ad e ove r t h e fa rm fo r a t i m e a t l east t o h is c red i

, ,

t ors . It was b i tte r b i tt er fo r th e Pa rso n

, to d o ub t h is
l ad . B ut l i tt l e by l i tt le d o u bt h ad forced i tsel f u po n
him .

A n d th e th i ng th a t pai n ed h i m m ost was tha t d es ,

p ite al l h is e n t reat ies hi s l ad wou l d ,

not co n fess t h e
wo rs t wo u ld n ot say wh a t h is d ebts were wou l d n o t
,

p u t th e wh ol e thi ng i n t o h is (th e Pa rso n s ) ha nd s

n ay wo u l d no t eve n al low th at h e was i nvo lved at al l
,
.

”
L ad wro t e th e Pa rso n
,
n oth i ng sha l l go a m iss
wi th you n othi ng sh a l l co m e between yo u a nd J ud i th
, ,
3 02 H A R V E ST I N G A GA I N .

save a r eas o n a b l e d ela y O n l y yo u m u st te l l m e t h e

.

”
wh ol e t ruth l a d a nd l eave i t a l l to m e
, , .

A n d wh e n th e Pa rso n wrot e th at h e m ea n t th a t ,

n e ith e r t i m e n o r t ro u bl e n o r m o n ey sh ou l d b e sp ared ,

i f o n l y J ess e h i s d ea r d ea r l ad
, ,
co u l d b e b ro ugh t
t h ro ugh .

I f th e re is n o pl a i n a n s we r t o th i s l et te r ,
sa i d th e
Pa rso n t o h i m sel f ,
I Sh a l l go t o D u b li n .

I n ste ad o f n o pl ain a nswe r ca m e th i s t i m e no

a n swe r a t a l l .

A nd so, wo rn a nd h a r assed b u t k eep i n g u p ,

ap

p e aran c es l es t p eo p l e sh o u l d eve r th i n k be d o u bt ed
h i s l ad ,
one hot d ay he se t ou t i n th e p o ny cha is e-

fro m H as li ngt o n .

O n l y M i st ress B u l l e n a n d J ud i t h k n ew th at h e h a d
go n e t o s e e J es s e .

A n d th ey l ook ed a fte r h i m wi st fu l ly wi th wan fa ces

fr o m th e wi n d ow .

N o w t h ey wo u l d s oo n k n o w everyth i n g ; a n d th at
wo u l d b e wel l Any th i ng w o u l d b e b ette r th a n th is
.

l ong u n ce r t a i n ty .
3 04 M ASTER H U R ST GO ES .

O f co u rs e th e bl ess ed lad y wo u l d co m e S h e sp ra ng .

u p th o ug h h e r wea ry f a ce a n d h eavy eyes i l l acco rd ed

,

wit h t h e q u i ck n es s o f h e r m ove m en ts A nd very soo n .

’
Sh e was a t M aste r H u rs t s b ed s id e .

Th e re s at M ist r ess H u rs t a l l th e h a rd exp r ess io n

,

pass ed a way fro m h e r face c ryi n g c op io us l y i n th e , ,

a rm ch a i r by th e fi re
-
. And on h is b ed qu i te m oti o n
,

l ess l ay M a s te r H u r s t
, .

Wh e n h e h ea rd J u d ith s s t ep a n d fel t h e r shad o w ’

ove r h i m h e t ri ed t o t u r n h is h ead b u t fa i l ed
, , . O nly
t h e d i m m ed eagl e eyes t u rn ed d i m m er th a n eve r a nd
-
, ,

res t ed on her .

I a m so s or ry t o se e yo u so, sa id M is t r ess J u d ith ,

l ayi n g h e r h an d u p o n h i s sh o u l d er a n d l ea n i n g o ve r
h i m wh i l e h e r eyes fi l le d wi th t ea r s
,
. T ea r s were very
c los e a t h a n d no w f o r J u d i th .

” ”
!
’
D o n t S peak ,
Sh e sa id ,
d o n t speak’
s eein g
h is l i ps m oved ; and she d rew th e cu rta i n as id e a n d
l ooked a t h i m . H i s fac e was d rawn on one s id e ,

a n d n o m o re tha n a vagu e so u n d es ca p ed h i m a s h e
t ri ed t o an swe r h e r . I t was a t erri bly s u dd en change ,

S i nc e th e l ast d ay Sh e h ad s ee n h i m b righ t a n d che ery , ,

s i tti n g u n d e r h is vi n e watch ing th e gra p es ri p en a n d

,

t h e b ees boo m p ast .

“
Are yo u h a ppy ?” a sk ed she , p resen tl y s eei ng,

i t was n o u se to ta l k t o h i m no w o f recovery as s he
 M AST E R H URST GO ES .
33 5

h ad so O fte n don e before .

“
Are yo u h appy M aste r ,

H u rs t
H is eyes flood ed wi th a qu i et s u n sh i n e ; h e t ri ed
to m ove h is head i n feebl e assen t .

” “
“
I see yo u a re ,
sa id J ud i th . G od t akes ca re
’
Of yo u . Yo u aren t so rry to go away to H eaven ,

M aste r H u rst ? No ; I k now yo u a ren t so r ry ’

. I
u n d erstand J es us wi l l t ak e yo u there safely — th r o ugh
”
th e d a rk va l ley .

H e was lyi ng mot ion l ess aga i n as i f th e powe r ,

of

h ea ring had l eft h i m . J ud i th t u rn ed to h is wi fe .

“
H e is ve ry happy M istress H urst ; yo u m u s t ,

th i n k o f that — h e is th i nki ng abo u t go ing to H eaven

a lrea d y .

“
I wish as I d i d know ,
sobbed th e poo r wo ma n ,

r ocking he rse l f over th e em pty grate and h old in g h e r ,

a pro n ove r h e r face I wish as I d id know wha t e

.
“ ’

th i nks I as t h i m a nd as t h i m but h e d o an t n o t
.
, ,
’

’
s ay n o th i ng not t o m e I m s u re I d on e al l as I
,
.

— tells h i m I d i d as h o w we m us t be
c o u l d I d o ne
, , ,

so rry fo r ou r s i ns a nd that a n d a l l abou t th e co n s e

, ,

ke n ce s o f s in an d that ,
B u t wh eth e r h e be righ t o r .

wro n g I d o an t know
’

I d on e a l l I ca n I do n e ye .
, ,

”
s e e a n d I ca n t not d o no m ore I ca n t
’ ’

, ,

I a m su re h e is sorry fo r h is si ns said M istress

“
,

J u d i th ; a nd I th in k i t s t i m e n o w to co m fort h i m ’

U
3 06 MASTER HURST GO ES .

t el l i n g h i m abou t wh ere h e i s go i ng t o Th e t i m e is .

p ast fo r t el l ing h i m abou t th e co nseq uences o f s in ;

d o n t yo u th i n k s o M is tress H u rs t ? S ha l l we pray
’

by h i m ? C o m e a n d p ray b es id e h i m togethe r .

S o th ey kn e l t d own th e so bbi n g wo ma n i n h er
, ,

t h rea d ba re gown b u ryi n g h er h ead i n th e patchwork

,

qu i l t th a t covere d M aster H urst th e sl i m gi rl i sh ,

fi gu re o f th e gi rl b es id e h e r rest ing h e r h ea d wi th
, ,

i ts crown o f soft ha i r u pon h er h a nds a nd both ,

p rayi n g si len tly .

P resentl y J ud i th stood u p a nd look ed at h i m .

H e wo u l d u nd ersta n d sa id Sh e I s th ere a ny
,
.

p raye r you k now M as ter H u rst th at I co ul d say fo r

, ,

”
ou ?
y
B u t h e cou ld n ot a nswer a n d , so alou d sh e p raye d
for h i m wh il e M istress H u rs t sobbed
,
on .

“
I n to th e d ark val l ey tak e h i m O u t O f t h is !

t ro ubl eso m e wo rld d ear L o rd ta ke h i m !

,
O u t o f th e
,

d ark vall ey u p th e stai r O f H eaven in to thy P res

, ,

e nce O Fath e r tak e h i m ! A n d soo n l et u s a l l

, ,

”
fo l low h i m Am en . .

B u t i t was two d ay s a fter t h i s th at th e d ark va ll ey

open e d an d t h e wal k d own i t b ega n .

M i t ress J u d i th was ag ai n besid e h i m

s H e had .

n eve r spoken s i nce th e st ro ke sei z e d h i m an d they ,

h ad give n u p hopi ng fo r words Th e power O f swa l .

a
3 08 MASTER H URST GOES .

h e rs e l f a n d t o M ast e r H u r s t . As sh e s too d b es i d e
h i m th e wo rds gre w cl ea re r
,
.

Yo u ca n s pea k ? Oh I ,
am SO gl a d ! Yo u m a y
ge t b ett er st i l l
H e sh oo k h is h ead a n d l i fted u p h i s th i n h a n d
, ,

th e o n l y one th at h e co u ld m o ve ,
as i f t o p ray .

Th e n h e l ooked a t h i s o th er— a hand O f s to n e no w

b eseechi ngl y .

“
S h al l I l i ft i t ? S O ? N o w yo u wa nt t o p ray .

W i l l yo u say O u r Fa th e r ? ’

”
O u r Fa th er h e b ega n t rem b l i n gl y a n d th e n t ears
, ,

’
l i ke a n i n fa n t s ra i n ed o ve r h is wi th ere d ch eeks as ,

wo rd by wo rd h e sa i d i t a l l wit h th i ck u n certa i n ,

u tt e r a n ce .

IS th e re a n yth ing else ? s a i d J ud i th st i l l h o ld i ng

,

th e co l d h a n d s togeth e r u po n h i s h ea rt . H e n odd ed
asse n t : a nd p res en t l y bega n t o p ra y .

S u ffer u s n o t — d ea r L o rd — to fal l away — th ro ugh

”
va i n a n d foo l ish c us to m s o f th e wo rl d .

Th en wi tho u t pa us i ng t h e B el i ef
, ,
.

’
“
b l ie ve
’
I i n G od th e Fa th e r o th e A l l m igh t ie s ,

h e bega n . A nd J u d i th ,
s eei n g th a t h is s t rength
ebbed a n d th a t th e wo rd s ca rri ed l i tt l e m ea n i ng to

him n o w, s to pp ed h i m ge ntl y .

”
IS th e re n oth i ng els e ? s a id sh e .
“
Yo u h ave not

g o t m uch l on ge r t im e . J es us is so on cc m in g t o ta k e
 M AST ER H URST GO ES .
3 09

you M as t e r H u r st
,
. I s th ere noth i ng el se yo u wou l d
l ik e to s ay ?

H e m ot i on ed th at hi s h an ds sh ou l d b e h eld t o
gethe r aga i n : a n d th en r epeated fi rm ly

W h en no l ay s m e d own to sl e e p
wI ,

I pray th e L o rd my so u l t o ke e p
A n d if I d ie af o r e I wake ,

I pray e e L ord my s o u l to take A m en

’

, , . .

Th e Angel s i n H eave n sai d A m en . Fo r whe n

M is tress J u d i th l a i d d own h is h a n d s u po n h is h eart ,

M aster H u rs t was d ead .

An d M ist ress H u rs t wi pi ng h e r eyes r a n

, , ou t to
”
t e l l th e b e eS .
 C H APTE R XX XVI I .

THE BL O W FA L L S .

N D th is was th e n ews t h at th e P a rs on h ea rd
wh e n h e go t h o m e fro m vi l l age fo l k wh o
,

s topp ed h i m on h e way
t .

”
Poo r ch i ld poo r ch i l d ! s a i d th e Pa rs o n th i nk in g
, ,

wh a t evi l t i d i ngs h e h ad b ro ugh t h er as i f th e d eat h ,

O f M a st e r H u rst h ad n ot be e n pa i n en o ugh Sh e .

h ad n eve r b ee n u s ed t o p a i n h ad M i s tress J ud ith .

I t n eve r s ee m ed n at u ra l th a t i t sh o u ld co m e t o h e r .

T h e Pa rs o n h at ed scen es A n d i n a l l h is o wn s o re
.

t ro u bl e a n d p e rp l ex ity th e th o ugh t o f th e o utb u rs t

,

O f gri e f th a t wo u l d gree t h i m h eld i ts p la ce ,

H OW .

sh o u l d h e t el l th e m ? h o w wo u ld i t b e b es t sai d ?
Wha t Sh ou l d h e d o wh en both wo m en b ro ke d own
toge th e r a n d h e co u l d n o t co m fo rt th e m
,

B u t h e n ee d n ot h ave fea red F o r i n th e fi rs t plac e

.

th ey rea d i l l t id i ngs i n h i s fac e I n th e s eco nd there

.
,

was n o o u tb u rs t O f gri e f a t a l l . M is tress B u l l e n cri e d

s i l e n t ly wh i l e J u d ith d i d n ot c ry a t a l l
,
.

S h e h ad be e n b eari n g th e bl o w li t tl e by l ittl e th es e
 C H APTE R XXXVI I .

TH E BL O W FA L L S .

N D th is was th e n ews th at th e Pa r so n h ea r d
wh e n h e go t ho m e fro m vi ll age fol k wh o
,

s top pe d h i m o n th e wa y .

Po o r ch i l d poo r ch i l d
,
‘

s a i d th e Pa rso n th i nk in g ,

wh a t evi l t id i ngs h e ha d b ro ugh t h e r as i f th e d eat h ,

of M a st e r H u rst h ad n o t b een pa i n en o ugh She .

h ad n eve r bee n u s ed to pa i n h ad M is t ress J ud i th .

I t n eve r see m ed n at u ra l th at i t sh o u ld co m e t o h er .

Th e Pa rs o n ha ted scen es A nd i n a l l h i s o wn so re
.

t ro u bl e an d pe rpl ex i ty th e tho ugh t O f th e o utb u rs t

,

O f gri e f th a t wo u ld gree t h i m h eld i ts plac e H o w,

.

sh o u l d h e t el l th em ? h o w wo u ld i t be bes t said ?
Wha t sh ou l d h e d o wh en both wo m e n b ro k e d own
togeth e r a n d h e co u l d no t co m fo rt th e m
,

B u t h e n ee d n o t h ave fea red Fo r i n th e fi rs t pla c e

.
,

th ey read i l l t id i ngs i n h is face I n th e s eco nd th ere

.
,

wa s n o o ut bu rs t O f gri e f a t a l l . M ist ress B u l l e n cri ed

s i le n t ly wh i l e J u d ith d id n ot c ry a t a l l
,
.

S h e ha d bee n bea ri n g th e blow li t tl e by l ittl e th es e

 THE B LOW FA LLS .
3 1 1

las t fe w d ays . I t ha rd l y s ta rt l ed h er th a t th e Pa r so n
ca m e back wi th o u t seein g J esse ; th at J es s e h ad l eft .

D u bl i n w ith o u t l eave w i tho u t wo rd

, ,
or m essage eve n ,

to h er .

I t was we l l sh e d i d n ot b reak d own u nd er th is

b low : fo r th a t so m eth i ng h eavier m u s t co m e was
ce r ta i n .

A n d th ey h ad n o t l o ng t o wa i t fo r i t . Th is wa s
th e way th e n ews ca m e a t l ength .

Th e Pa rso n l eft o rd ers fo r J ess e s l etters to b e sen t

t o h i m fro m D u bl i n . I n th e co u rs e O f a few d ays one

a rrived a n d th e Pa rso n Open ed i t

, . Now th e l iab ili

t ies m igh t b e k n own at l ast . A l l m igh t be wel l

sti l l ; fo r i f o n ly th e Pa rso n k n ew th e a m o u n t W ha t ,

sacrifi c e wo u l d h e n o t m ak e t o s ave J ess e S ell i ng ?

T ro tter s E n d wo ul d b e n oth i n g i f th e la d co u l d b e
’

c l eared a nd s e t o n h is feet aga i n

,
A n d a fte r a l l .

d ebt was n o t S O ba d a th i n g fo r a yo u n g m a n sai d ,

th e Pa rso n wh o h ad n ever owed a p e n n y i n h is l i fe

, .

H e bega n t o th i n k as h e O pen ed th e l ett er th at h e

, ,

h ad b ee n u n n ecessa ril y t ro u bl ed abo ut J ess e .

Th is was th e letter
D E A R J E S S E — I d o n o t s e e wh a t I ca n d o i n
r epl y to yo u r l et ter bu t give yo u s uch a d vi ce as I
,

sh o u l d wish to act u po n m ysel f U nd o th e fals e .

st ep yo u h ave take n b e fore i t ca n be u nd o n e fo r yo u

3 12 T H E B LOW FA L LS .

by th e r a sca l i n t o wh os e h a n d s yo u h ave pl ace d

y o u rs e l f . Th e bl ow certa i n ly h i t m e h ard though ,

it is n ot th e fi rs t I h ave h a d a t yo u r h a n d . Yo u l l ’

fo rg ive m e i f I wri t e bi t t erly s e ei n g I a m h u m a n ,

e n o u gh n o t to h ave fo rgo tt e n th a t as eas i ly as yo u d o .

Th is is n ot th e ti m e f o r rep ro ach es ,
a n d es pec i a ll y ,

S i n ce yo u h ave t ol d m e yo u r d i f fic u l ti es I o ugh t ,
to

be s i l e n t save wh ere I ca n h el p yo u
, .

“
I wish yo u rs we r e a co m m o n d eb t th a t a n y p ay ,

m e n t O f m i n e co u l d s et a t rest a nd k ee p d a rk . As
i t i s n oth i n g b u t t el l i ng t h e wh o l e t ru th a n d res ig n
, ,

i n g yo u r co m m i ss i o n ca n save , yo u .S oo n e r o r l ate r
t h a t s cam p wh o p ers o na ted yo u a t t h e ex a m i n a ti o n
wi l l give t ong u e ; i n th e m ea n ti m e h e i s s u ck i ng yo u r
b lo od a n d r u i n i ng yo u a n d th e Ol d p la c e
, ,
.

“
I t i s ve ry l i ttl e I ca n d o fo r yo u . A few m on th s
ag o I co u ld h ave d o n e l ess . I was fo o l eno ugh th e n
t o t h i n k so m e one el se s co n c er n s we re m y o wn a n d
’

t h e n I Sh o u l d h ave th o ugh t a l on g wh i l e be fo r e I
O pe n e d m y p u rs e t o yo u .

w m o n ey i s n o th in g t o m e
“ ’
B ut no . I ve go t no

h o m e t o lo ok fo rwa rd t o a n d yo u h ave , . SO t ak e th i s
fo u r h u n d re d p o u nd s a n d d o wh a t yo u w i l l w ith
,
it
’
O n ly fo r G od s sak e m ak e h e r h ap py L ad d o n t kee p
.
,
’

S i l e n c e a n y l o n ge r : yo u o we i t t o yo u r s o u l t o th e ,

P ars on a nd m os t
,
o f a l l t o h e r t o sp eak o u t
, .
3 14 T H E B L O \V F A L L S .

r easo n O f h i s h avi n g t o begi n a n ew l i fe n oth i ng , O f

th e fo u r h u nd red po u n d s h e ha d se n t to J ess e .

Po o r A m os wh o th o ugh t th i s wo u l d set a l l th i ngs

,

r ight — in wh os e eyes fo u r h u n d re d p o u n d s m ea n t
s u ch grea t th i ngs a n d i n wh os e h a nd s th ey wo u l d
,

h ave bee n t u rn ed t o gr ea t th i ngs i f th a t b l igh t h a d ,

n o t fa l le n fiv
e m o n th s ago .

”
’
I m n o t ge n e ro u s ,
sa i d A m os a s h e cl osed h is
“ ’
l ette r— I o n l y give to yo u l ad wh e n i t s t u r n ed t o
, ,

”
d ro ss fo r m e .

E ve ry d ay n ow see m ed t o b ri n g b ad t i d i ngs ; every

p ost was to b e d rea d ed L i fe i n H as l i ngt o n h a d
.

ch a n ged a n d sa d o r t ro u b l e d l o oks were to be s een o n

,

’
eve ry s id e Th e ve ry n ex t d ay a fte r A m os l ett ers
.
,

ca m e o n e wh i ch cl en ch ed th e wh ol e a ffa i r .

M r C ris p a tto rn ey o f C a m b ridge o r t h e n eigh bo u r

.
,

h ood h ad g iven i n fo rm at io n a t t h e H o rs e G u a r d s
,

th a t J ess e B u l l en h ad n ever passed th e exa m i na tio n

a t C h els ea H os p i ta l l as t sp ri n g . A n d M r C ris p h a d
.

l i ttl e d i ffi cu l ty i n m ak i n g h is s tate m en t go od s eein g ,

t h a t h e co u l d p rove th at h e h i m s el f J oh n C risp h a d , ,

u n d e rta k e n t o r ep res en t J ess e B u l le n ,

a n d ha d so

d o n e passi ng fo u rth u po n th e l is t O f na m es
, .

Wh e n aske d by cert ai n c u riou s pers on s wh at h is

reason s h ad been fo r ru i n i ng a yo u ng m a n a t th e
o u ts e t O f l i fe M r C ri sp h ad repl i ed th a t h e d i d n o t
, .
 T H E BLOW FAL LS .
3 15

m i n d al lowi ng th at h i s reason s were pecu n i ary . He

h a d la i d M r B u l len u nde r grea t Obl igat ions t o h i m
.

sel f a nd nat ural ly M r B ul l e n beca m e h i s d ebto r

,
. . It
was a m atte r qu i te betwee n M r B u l l en a nd h i m sel f
. .

I m m e d ia tel y a fterwa rd s i t was p ubl ic ly no ti fi ed

tha t J esse B u l le n was cash i ered . M r C risp with d re w
.

h i m s el f fro m the scen e . NO word o r m essage ca m e

from J ess e .

O ve r H as l i ngto n fol k a n d th e R ecto ry m os t O f all

, ,

th ere fel l a h eavy gl oo m A n d s o b ega n the sho rt

.

days a n d th e l o ng even i ngs O f a n oth er wi n ter .

Th e b ai l i ff was t u rn e d ou t O f Trotter s E nd b u t ’

on ly tha t t h e fa rm m ig h t be l e t A nd ove r a l l t h es e
.

d oings a n d u ph eavin gs Pa xto n D i ck feign ed great

su rpri se
.
 C H APTE R XX XVI I I .

H OW TH E BL E E WENT .

U T fo l k a t H asl i ngto n we r e n o t t o b e tak e n i n

so S u nd ry l i ttl e sign s O f i ncreas i ng
ea si ly .

’
p rosp e ri ty i n Pax to n D ic k s way O f l ivi n g h elp ed t o ,

co n fi r m th e i r s u sp ici on s th at h e ha d d o n e h i s b est t o
a ssi st t h e d own fa l l O f G en t l em a n B u l l e n . Th ey al l
k n e w h is S p it e t o th e Pars o n a n d to A m os an d th e
i d ea O f re ve n g ir g i h i ms el f o n bo th wo u l d h ave bee n
rewa rd e n ough th ey kn e w to h i s i l l n at u re wi th o u t
, , ,

t h e i n c r eas e O f i n co m e wh ich th ey wer e s u r e h e h ad

d erived fro m i t . Two o r th ree O f th e vi l l age m en se t
to wo rk t o t rac e t h e s t eps P axto n D ick h a d t ak en in

th e m at te r : a n d th ey h a d p l en ty O f g r o u n d t o go
u po n fo r th e h awke r h ad bee n seen a grea t d ea l i n
,

M as te r B u l l e n s co m pa n y
’
of l at e h a d give n h i m a
,

l ette r or l ette rs h ad gon e to C a m brid ge O ft en er th a n

,

wa s n ecessa ry a n d wa s good fri end s wi th th e ba i l i f f

,

a t th e fa rm . Was n ot tha t evi d en ce co n cl us ive to

h o n es t H as l i ngto n m e n ? B u t th ey wa ited a wh i l e to
m ak e ce rta i nty s u re a n d t o ,
se e ho w bes t t hey co u l d
pay ou t th e h awke r .
 TH E “
BLEE ” WENT
3 18 H O W .

fo r h e r s ta nd i ng th ere wi th sch ool ch i l d re n a nd M r -

.

C ocks to h el p h er wh e r e l ast yea r J ess e h ad b een

, .

Tyi n g ga rl a n d s ro u n d th e s a m e p i ll a rs u s i ng th e ve ry ,

ro pes h is h and s h ad t i ed a nd twisted . A nd th e n

ho w m ean in gl ess i t was n ow : d ecorat i ng m ea n t j oy ,

a n d th e re was n o j oy th i s C h ristm as thi s cold bl ea k

, ,

s i le n t p iti fu l C h ri st m as
,
.

B u t a ft e r a wh i l e M i stress J ud i th b l a m ed h e r sel f
grea tly . C h ris t m as j oy h ad n oth i ng t o d o wi th he r
j oys a nd so rrows C hris t c am e fo r a l l th e world
‘

.
,

n ot fo r h e r o n l y . Th ere wo u ld b e j oy i n H eave n
t o m o r row
-
,
on H i s b irthd ay h owever so re h e r h ea rt ,

m igh t be .

B u t th is d i d n o t co m fort h er . I t was n o t t il l
M i s tres s B u l l e n read i ng th e so rro w i n h er eyes a n d
, ,

ch a fi ng h e r h a n ds wh e n she ca m e bac k fro m th e col d

ch u rch to th e s t ud y fi re S pok e t o h e r ,
O f i t tha t sh e
,

b ega n to s e e th i ngs d i fferen tl y .

“ ”
D ea r h eart ,
sa id ge nt l e M ist ress B ul l en ,
C h rist
m as h as co m e ve ry s a d ly to yo u . B ut rem em b er H e
ca m e fo r o th er th i ngs tha n j oy d ea r h ea rt — fo r o th er ,

!
th i n gs th a n j oy .

”
“
Wh a t th i ngs ? asked J ud i th sad l y look i n g a t ,

th e fi re .

“
Fo r s i n n e rs ,
sa i d M ist r ess B ul len a nd th en , she

”
l o we re d h e r vo ice fo r s u ch a s h i m .
 ”
I O W . T H E
“
BLEE WENT 3 19

M ist ress J u d ith kn el t d own a nd l aid h er h ea d o n

M i s t ress B u l l e n s l a p
’
. Th at was tru e ,
very t ru e .

There was so m eth ing els e to b e hoped fo r i n th e

wo rl d th a n o nl y j oy S h e was d o in g wro ng perh aps
.

i n th i nk in g o n ly O f h er so rrow C h ris t ca m e to s ave .

s i n n e rs : a n d J esse h er l ove wa s o n e O f th es e
, ,
.

Ch ris tm as cou l d not b e al togeth e r s o sa d a t i m e

i f i t m in d ed h e r h o w Ch ris t cou ld save J ess e .

I t was th e fi rst t i m e th at any h ope ha d co m e t o

h e r s i nc e th e grea t blow fel l S O u tterly st u n n i ng .

h a d i t be en th at h o pe h ad b ee n crush ed o u t J esse .
,

u nt ru e d ece ivi ng l ea d ing a fals e false l i fe M ist ress

, , ,
.

J u d i th wh o l oath ed a l i e wh o k n ew n oth i ng m ea ne r
, , ,

m ore cowa r d l y th a n lyi n g cou l d n ever d eceive her ,

sel f n o t eve n abou t J ess e S h e cou ld ma ke n o excu se

,
.

fo r h i m : i f sh e ha d s h e wo u l d h ave bee n l ess

,

t ru e .

B u t i n a l l th e sea O f s o rrow th ere was on e ra ft t o

.

wh ich sh e cl u ng J esse h a d n o t d eceived /z e7 h a d

.
'

l ove d he r a l l th ro ugh — n oth i ng u nh ol y d isho nest or

h ad co m e a t l eas t ath wa rt th ei r l ove

, ,
H e h ad bee n .

h e r on e l ove s h e h ad been h is H e was go n e away

,
.
,

i t is t ru e a nd had n eve r written h ad neve r sen t h er

, ,

a word or m essage B u t th a t was o n ly fo r a wh i l e

.
,

on ly wh i l e th e sha m e was t o o s trong u po n h i m .

A fte r a W h i l e h e wo ul d re m em be r he r p r o m ise h o w ,
 ”
3 20 H O W THE “
BLEE WENT .

Sh e wo u l d n eve r fo r sak e h i m
c o m e wh at m igh t ,
.

T he n h e wo u l d co m e back t o h e r h e r o wn o wn lov e , ,

h e r J ess e a S i n ne r b u t s ti l l h e r bet r oth ed s t i l l t o b e

, ,

h e r h usban d so m e d ay s oo n .

With t ru e wo m a n s i nsti nct s h e tu r n ed a nd cl u n g

’

t o h i m n o w m o re p ass io nately tha n ever I f oth e r s .

-

sh u n n ed h i m the n al l th e m ore h e n eed ed h e r I f he

, .

h ad si n n ed the n al l th e m o re h e n eed ed h e r
, .

An d al l h e r gri ef (beyo nd th e t r o ubl e O f h is gu il t )

was th at s h e co u l d n ot reach h i m n ow Wh ere t o
-
.

wri te t o h i m t o sen d to h i m t o go t o h i m — n o o n e
, ,

k new .

O nl y h eave n a nd ea rth were m oved t o fi nd h i m .

B y th e n ewsp apers by agen ts by i n qu i ry O ffi ces by

, , ,

l ette rs sen t a i m l ess l y to D ubl i n to pos t O ffices abroad : ,

by all m eans poss ibl e p r ob abl e an d i m p robabl e

, , t he

P a rso n t rie d to fi n d J ess e .

At l ength M is tress J u d ith fel t certain th at s o m e

l ette r or pape r m ust h ave reached h i m . H e m igh t be
a great way O ff ; she m us t a ll ow so m e t i m e fo r h is
j o urn ey . B u t J ess e m ust b e o n h i s way t o h er . He
m us t h av e r e m em be r ed h e r pro m i se m ust k now t ha t ,

S he a t l east was t r u e .

Poo r l i ttl e J ud ith wh o d id n o t k no w tha t th e

, un

t r uth fu l d o ubt t r uth i tsel f s eei ng th ro ugh glasse s ,

d arkly .
 H O W THE “
BLEE ” WENT
3 22 .

c a r e f o r h is s ak e I f h e ca m e b a c k yo u k n o w
, . an d
”
fo u n d m e i l l i t wo u l d n eve r d o wo u l d i t ?
, ,

A t wh i c h M is tr ess B u l l e n wo u l d keep s i l en c e .

Wo u l d J ud i th l ove h i m s t i l l i f h e c a m e b a c k
,
wo u l d
it b e wel l f o r J u d i th
T h e n ex t d ay Sh e wou l d t r y a n d t ak e th e c o u ns e l
Of
’
J ess e s m o th e r B u t wh e n t h e m a i l b o y ca m e an d
.
-

b r o ugh t n o l et te r Sh e co u l d b id e n o l o nge r in t h e
,

gl oo m y h o us e .

A n d a fte r m a ny l o ng o ut i ngs a n d m a n y c h i lls M i s ,

t r ess J u d i th was u s ed t o b ri n g a co u gh h o m e wi th h e r .

N o t m u c h o n l y i t t r o u bl ed h e r a l i ttl e in t he n igh t
, ,

an d br o k e h e r r es t a l i ttl e .

A nd fas t f ast th e
, ,
“
b l ee was go i ng f r o m he r
.
 CHAPTER XXXIX .

”
TIN ! -
ETTL I N G .

LL t h r o u gh th e s u m m e r it wa s t h e sa m e t h i n g .

Wa i ting d i s appoi nt m en t and so rrow

, , .

O ne l ittl e even t took pla c e tha t m ad e co ns id e r a b l e

s ti r i n H asl i ngto n vi l lage B ut n o r um ou r o f i t ca m e
.

t o th e Pa rson who s at i n h is st ud y d own h earted an d

,
-

ab sen t ove r h is books a nd no ti c ed n oth ing u n us u a l

,

c o m i n g th r ough t h e n igh t a i r .

H asli ngto n fol k cou l d s ta n d i t n o l o n ge r I t was .

al l ve r y wel l f o r t h e Pa r so n to p reach ab o u t C h ristia n

c ha r i ty b u t i t was sa id som e whe r e i n the B i bl e tha t

,

t h e ungod ly m us t h ave the i r r e wa r d S om e o n e m u st .

give th e r ewa r d said H asl i n gton fo l ks : i t was n o t

,

l i kely that t h e Al m igh ty wou l d b esti r h i msel f abo u t

s u ch as Paxton D ick A nd i f H e had m ean t t o
.
,

th ey h ad given H i m t i m e e n o ugh I t was ce r ta i n .

that H asl i ngto n fo l k we r e cal led up o n t o pu n ish Pa x

ton D i ck .

“
Th e Pa r so n , as kerrie d
’
s yea rs so l o ight l y, sa i d
o ne Of t h e r i n gl ead e r s ,
“
p u l led d own , s poi l t l i ke
-
, al l
3 24 TI N -
! ETT L I N G .

th e h eart t ake n o u t O f h i m , so t o s pea k .

M ist res s
J u d i th , wh y , as to h e r— t he r e sh e we r e ,
S ick l i ke -
,

favo u red a gh ost m o r e th a n a body

”
SO Sh e b e , s a id anot h er k i ck ing a sm al l u n ri p e ,

appl e wi th h is cl u msy foo t .

“
Th ere th a t b e yo u rs
, ,

” ’
Ab rah a m b ea n t i t ?,

“
O n ly a cas a l ty a ppl e was th e a ns we r ; b u t the
’

wi fe who sp oke s toop ed d own a n d p u t i t i n h e r

“

a p ron wh i l e s h e w en t o n t a l ki ng a bo u t M i s t r ess
!

J u d Hh .

S ho uld b e ta ke n kee r Of ,
she Sh o u ld . I d m ak e
’

summit as
’
u d s et h e r r ight , so as Sh e ’
d tak i t . I ve
’

”
a m o in d t o as t h er I h ave
, .

“
Th e r e b e tha t bott l e as th e gen t gave yo u f o r
”
yo u r bad foot ; t ry tha t o n,
’
wo n t yo u ? sa i d h er
h us ba nd wi th a l augh
,
.
s

“
We l l a n d ,
m o igh t d o wo r s e ,
she m o ight . B ea u t i fu l
i ngs as h e had I
’
-
r on is fi ngers h e h ad a nd says h e
, , , ,

see wel l e n o w wh a t a i l s .

you ,
’
says h e . A nd h ed his

ke r r id ge a n d a l l stan d in g ou t ove r th e d oo r a nd say s ,

he
B u t u n c e r e mo n io us ly th e h usba n d d r agged h is m at e
away for th e r e were to
,
be
-
g r ea t d o i ngs th a t n igh t .

A l l th e wo m e n s to od a t th ei r d oo r s l isten i ng wh i l e ,

t we nty o r m o re sto u t m e n i n s m ocks a n d cord uroys , ,

t ram ped u p fr o m t he i n n to wa r d s th e hawke r s cottag e ’

.
3 26 T I N-! ETT LI NG .

H e was c a u gh t Wel l t h r ash ed b y t h e s t o u t e st m an

,

O f th e p a rty , a n d sen t ou t of H as l i n gto n . A n d gl ad

e n o u gh h e was t o escap e (his p o ck ets b ei ng wel l
l i ned ) f o r fa r beh i n d h i m l o ng a ft e r h e was l os t t o
, ,

Sigh t , h e h e a rd t he n o is e O f his e n e m i es u n c o ut h ’

cym b a l s .

A nd t h at was ho w Pax t o n D i ck was t in ke tt l e d -

a n d t u r n ed o u t A n d h e d es e r ved h is fa t e : f o r s u r e
.

e no ugh h e h a d b ro u gh t J ess e B u l l e n i n t o t he m esh e s

O f M r C r i s p a n d ha d r e p l en ish ed h is po c ke t s co m
.
,

f o rtab ly .

A n d t h en ,
as be f o r e sa id c a m e th e l o n g
,
ho t su m
m e r, wh i c h b r o ugh t n o J ess e an d no t id i ngs . A m os
wr o t e s o m et i m es t o his m o t h e r c h ee r y l e t t e rs al ways
,

b ut as ye t h e s eem ed t o h av e go t n o l et t e r fr o m h e r ,

a nd h e k n ew n oth i n g O f J ess e s d isa pp ea r a n c e ’

.

T owa r ds a u t u m n th e r e ca m e a l e t t er fro m h i m h o w
eve r say i n g h e h op ed tha t t h e i r a n x iety was Ove r a n d
‘

, ,

tha t J ess e h ad t u r n ed u p H e co u l d n o t s t a y away

.

f o r l o n g tha t was c e r ta i n s a i d A m os wh o n e ve rt h e
, , ,

l ess was s el f ba n ish ed B u t th e n h e was n o t J ess e

- .

h e wa s n o t b et r o th ed t o M is t r ess J ud i th .

T h e Pa rs o n h ad h is fo u r h u n d red p o u n d s sa fe an d ,

t ol d h is m o t h e r to t e l l h im S O A nd in t i m e h e s e n t.

h is m essage O f th a n ks ba c k aga i n a n d h op ed b y t his

t i m e t h ey had go o d t id i ngs o f J ess e H e wi s h e d t h e .
 TIN -!
E TTLI NG
.
3 27

f o ur h u nd r ed h ad b een in t i m e t o b e O f u s e : but n o
d o ub t t h i ngs we r e bes t as t hey we r e bad as t h ey ,

s eem e d S O w rote Amos c h ee r ful ly fro m A ust r al ia

.

i n l ette r s t ha t too k th ree m o nths to c om e an d that ,

M ist r es s B u l le n r ead in th e q u i et o f h e r o wn r oo m .

Fo r no n e bu t s h e c a r ed f o r A mos h e r d a r l i ng h e r
, ,

B enj am i n : s he a nd God sa id M ist r ess B ul l en th in k

, ,

i ng O f h ow h e h ad b ee n kep t in s t raigh t paths a l l

th r ough tho u gh God had c has t en ed h i m S h e kn e w
,
.

n o w why h e had t o begi n a n e w l i fe S h e kn e w

“ '

h o w he h ad r epa id good fo r evi l t o h is b roth e r NO .

wo nd e r sh e b rood ed ove r h is l e t ters a nd l ik e t ha t

, ,

M othe r b l esse d above wo m e n kep t h is s ayings in h e r

,

h ear t
.

S o meti m e s as t he e n d o f th e fir s t yea r o f J esse s

,
’

d isappea ra n c e d r e w n igh s h e co ul d n o t h el p t he o f t
,

recur r en c e O f a tho u ght wh ich s he fel t w r ong in ha r

b o u rin g
. I f J ess e sho u l d pe r s is t i n stayi ng away
i f a fte r a long ti m e A m o s sho u ld co m e ho m e — wo ul d
J u dith eve r c o m e t o l ove Amos an d fo rget J ess e ?
Th e tho u gh t c a m e : b u t M ist r es s B u l l en d r ove it
fr o m he r I t was n o t a loya l tho ugh t fo r h e r t o h ave
.
,

who Sho ul d cl i ng t o J ess e as his b et r o th ed was d oi ng .

S O Sh e r easoned .

Poo r l ittle be tr o t hed whos e f a c e h ad g rown so

,

c h an g e d an d wan who d id n ot p ic k u p with su n an d

 TIN TTL I N G
'

3 28 ! E
-
.

wa r m t h as h e r fa t h e r h op ed she Wou l d : wh o s ti l l
l ooked ou t fo r t h e m a i l —boy da y b y d ay, a n d sti l l
d ay by d ay was l e ft u n co m fo rt ed .

I t was c ru e l O f J ess e ve r y c ru e l sai d , . M is t r es s B u l

l en no w, wh e n th e s ad eyes O f J u d ith h a u n t ed h e r
I t was n ot wha t S he wo u l d d o, sa id she aga i n i f Sh e
,

we r e i n t h e p la ce J es se of .

SO th e yea r pass ed b y a n d o n c e , ag a i n th e l eaves

b ega n t h e i r fa ll i ng A S i l en c e fel l u po n t h e n a m e O f
.

J ess e u po n th e s u bj ect wh ich wa s n ea res t t o th ei r

,

l i ps . Fo r wh a t u se was i t t o sp ea k ? H ad th ey not

sa i d eve ryth i ng to c om fo rt th e m selves a n d fo u nd no

c o m fo r t ?
A n d th en ,
as wi n t e r c a m e o n, th e t h ough t th a t
M ist ress B u l l e n t r i ed to ba n i sh s t r u ggl ed aga i n i n to
e x is te n c e . J ess e h a d b ee n fa ls e ,
h ad fo r sak en J u d i th .

I f A m os ca m e bac k i f J ud ith l i t t l e b y l i ttl e c o ul d

,

k n ow a l l wou l d sh e n o t
,
be b ro u gh t a t l en gth to l ove
M istress B u l l e n s h ea r t l ea pt wh e n
’
him S he th ough t
Of it fo r all s he h a d l os t h e r el d es t bo rn a n d l oo k ed ,

fo r h i m d a i ly a nd fo u n d l i fe
, SO u tte rl y s ad .

O n e n igh t a wi n t e r n igh t wh e n t h e Pa rso n was

, ,

i n h i s st ud y— an d h e was m uch give n t o s i tti n g a l o ne

t he re n o w a d ays fo r th e fac e O f J ud i th s m ot e h im
- -
,

so rely— M ist re s s B u l le n s at ove r a l et t e r to h er

y ou n ges t s on .
3 30 T I N -! ETTLI NG .

O h yes ! I sho u l d l i k e t o s e e h i m T h ey tak e a .

l ong t i m e go i ng o u t th ere d o n t th ey ? th e le tt ers I

,
’

m ea n Wo u ld h e c o m e h o m e d o yo u th i n k m oth er , , .

”
i f h e th o u gh t I was d yi ng ? s h e s a i d wist ful ly t h i nk ,

i ng Of ho w h e h ad sp u r n ed h e r wh e n s h e h ad b ee n
i n h ea l th O f la t e t i m es a nd h o w h e m igh t r efus e t o
, ,

co m e n ow .

H e wo u l d co m e f o r a k in d wo r d fr o m yo u d ea r ,

h ea rt— h e wo ul d co m e i f i t wo u l d co m fo r t yo u VVO u ld .

”
it ?

Y e s, sa i d M is t r ess J u d i th t ea r ful l y . I t was n o

time no w t o t hi n k i f A m os h a d b een u n k i n d . Al l
tha t m u st b e fo rgotten no w
I f h e co ul d co m e ho me
.

— a nd h e h ad o nl y t al ked O f go i n g f o r a y e a r o r
(
t wo)— ah th e n i f J ess e d i d n o t co m e Sh e cou l d l eave
, , ,

a m essage wi th A m os . H e wo u ld fi n d h i m ou t a nd
b r i n g h i m ho m e .

J us t t he n th e Pa r so n c a m e in : t h e Pa r so n who
h at ed s c e nes A nd M is t r ess B u l l e n go t u p a n d wit h
.
,

tr e m bl i ng fi nge r s w r ot e t o A m os .

I t h i n k i f yo u wo u ld co m e s oo n d ea r s o n yo u , ,

m igh t b e a c o m for t t o h e r S h e i s ve ry d own h ea r t ed

.
-
,

an d sh e b i d m e ask yo u wh eth e r yo u wo u l d com e .

S h e i s very s i c kl y th is wi nt e r bu t n o th i ng t o fea r I
,
.

t h i nk k no wi ng h o w i t a l l
,
has bee n i t wo u ld b e wel l
,

”
f o r yo u t o co m e .
 T I N K ETTL I NG
-
.
33 1

Was t h a t t oo m uch hO pe f o r h i m ? M ist r ess B u l l e n

hoped no t .

S h e d i d n o t h ea r J ud i th b y th e fi r e sayin g to h er
“ ’
s el f as sh e rocked to a nd fro J esse s b ro th e r ! m y
, ,

o wn love s b roth e r ! I m us t h ave n o ha r d tho ughts

’

O f h i m now .

M ist ress J u d ith was p repa ri ng h e r s el f fo r H eaven .

F o r tho ugh oth e r s d id n o t k n ow i t Sh e k new th a t

, ,

she h ad take n m a ny s teps d own i nto th e d a r k

-

val ley wh e r e he r m o t he r a n d M aste r H ur s t h ad g o n e

befo re .
 C H APT E R XL

A H O M E —CO M I N G .

T was fu l l y SIX m o n th s fro m th is n igh t wh e n

M is t r ess B ul l e n an d J u d i th s at t ogeth e r a nd
t al ked Of A m os — S i x m on ths fro m t h e fa l l i n g Of t h os e
’

s ad l eaves wh ich h a d b u ri ed t h e fi rs t yea r Of J ess e s

a bs e n c e : a n d t h ere h ad b een no t id i ngs O f J es se .

O n ce or twi ce th e Pa rs o n t h o ugh t h e h ad caugh t

a gl i m ps e Of h ope a ray O f poss ibi l i ty
, ; bu t th e pal e
t ra c e h a d a lways wa n ed a n d fad ed a nd ,
n o th i ng h ad
c o m e Of i t .

O nl y J ud i th bel i eve d th a t J ess e wo u l d st i l l co m e ,

a n d m igh t co m e a n y d ay . As fo r t h e Pa r son a n d
M ist r ess B u l l e n t h e i r so r r ow h ad a l m os t t u rn ed t o
wrath . Fo r tha t so m e m essage h ad r ea c h ed J esse ,

a t th e fu rth e r en ds O f th e wo rld eve n was certa i n , . He

m u st be st ayi ng away wi l l i ngl y k n owi ng W h at h e was
,

cau si n g a h o m e O f s u f feri n g a n d , too coward l y to

fac e h is peo pl e aga i n .

A n d t h e r e was J u d i th fa i l i ng d ay by day g r owi n g ,

wh i te r a n d th i n n er a n d st i l l t ryi n g t o b e cal m a n d
,
334 A HOME - COMI NG .

f ro m th e awak en i ng ga rde n was wa ft ing i n u po n M is

t ress J ud i th as S he l ay .

I t bro ugh t back to her all too pl ain ly those d ays

O f spri ng whe n Sh e a n d h e r bet r oth ed h ad go ne h and
i n h a n d th r o ugh th e wood s togeth e r ga th eri ng p r i m ,

ros es tha t h a d fi l l ed a nd o ve rfl o we d h e r basket , a nd

t ha t we re wha t n o earth ly p r i m ros es c o u l d eve r be
aga i n F o r i f J esse ca m e back i f th ey we r e m a rr ied
.
,

be fo re a noth er s pri ng ca m e r o u nd a n d i f th ey we nt ,

aga i n t o Pri m r ose S pi n ney (a nd h e r e M ist r ess J ud ith

-

u nco n s c i ously m oved h e r foo t to s e e wh eth e r i n deed

s h e co u ld eve r get t o P r i m ros e S p in ney aga in a nd -

,

h e r h ea rt fel l seeing h o w h eavy a nd po we r less i t was)

, ,

st i l l n eve r agai n co u l d s he b e wha t sh e h ad b ee n that

d ay wh e n J esse i n h e r eyes was j us t a nd t r u e a nd ,

Sh e k n ew n oth i ng O f s in ex c ept i n P axto n D i ck a n d ,

whe n s h e h ad given th a t p r o m is e t h at seem ed t o h e r

as bind ing as a ny m a rr iage vo w cou ld b e
“
Wh ateve r h appens I wil l n eve r fo r sake yo u J ess e , ,

”
n ei the r i n th is worl d no r i n th e wo rl d t o co m e
, .

L yi ng o n h e r s o fa t o d ay th e w r eck O f wha t Sh e
,

h ad bee n o n ce a n d b r o ugh t s o low by th e s in s o f

,

J esse J ud i th c lasped he r h a nd s a nd s a id t o h ersel f

, ,

”
Amen .

”
D id yo u s pea k d ea r h ea r t
,
? s ai d M i s tr ess B u l l en .

”
NO m othe r
,
.
 A HOM E COM I N G
-
.
335

I f yo u k n e w h o w i t co m fo r ts m e to h ea r yo u cal l
”
m e th at sa i d M is t ress B ul l en h e r voic e tre m b l i ng a
, ,

good d ea l as Sh e k n it t ed fast er S h e wa n te d t o s ay
, .

s o m eth i ng a nd d i d n o t k n ow
,
ho w to s ay She
it .

h ad ca ugh t a t th e fi rs t s traw a n d ,
no w k ept s i l e nc e
n ot k n owi ng how to Sp ea k fu r th er .

”
D ea r hea rt s ai d s he a t l ength s u m m o n i ng u p ,

h e r cou rage d o yo u eve r th i n k wh at i t wi l l b e i f

J esse b id es away a n d fo r sa kes yo u a l togeth er
,
— do
yo u eve r th i n k tha t i f o n e who h ad loved v o u lo nger ,

3)
a n d l oved yo u t ru er we re to co m e
,

J ud i th h ad s ta r ted u p fro m h e r pi l low ; S he was

l ean i ng fo rward no w a n d bend i ng d own h e r ea r to

wa rd s th e wi nd ow .

H ol d yo u r p ea ce , Sh e sa id ,
“
h e wo n t b id e away ’

— fo r eve r . I h ea r h i m a t th e d oo r . I h ea r d h i s
step I k n o w
,
.

“
D ea r h ea r t h ave pat i e nc e
, ,
sa id M is t ress B ul l en ,

l ay J ud i th s head back u po n th e pi l lo w
’
t ryi ng to .

’
— ”
“
Yo u ve s o O fte n though t i t was h e befo re to d ay .

’ ”
G e n l e m an
ask i ng fo r M ist ress B ul l en ,
sa i d Ru th
i n a n agitate d wh isp e r a t th e d oo r .

M is t r ess B u l le n m oved to th e d oo r h el d i t Open a ,

m o m en t a nd l ook ed ou t . B u t b e fo re s he co ul d spea k
or s to p h i m so m e , one had p ush ed past h e r i nto t he

r oom .
 A HOM E COMING -
.

W i th wh i t e fa c e a n d eyes l a rg e wi th a so rr o wful
wi l d i n t en si ty O f ex pectat i o n M is t r ess J u d i th h ad
,
s at

u p r igh t on h e r so fa h o ld i n g th e wra p pe r t ha t was

,

ov er he r with th i n c l en ch ed h a nd s .

A t th e s ou nd of footst eps she s p read ou t h e r wh i t e

a r m s gave a
,
lo w m oa n O f s t ifl ed j o y th en wi th a l o u d
,

c ry of t ri u m ph
‘

A n d yo u h ave co me y J es se
—m l—
’

I ny o wn l ove !
‘

A n d t h ey s a id yo u -wo u l d fo rsa k e m e
’

B u t M is t ress J u d ith s h ea d s a n k back ’

u po n t h e
pi l low a n d the c ry O f t ri u m ph ch a ng ed s ud d enl y
“

, to

a wa i l O f pa i n .

F o r t he re ,
wi th i n r e ach O f h er o u ts p read a r m s wa t c h ,

i ng th e h o r r o r O f d i sa ppo i nt m en t th a t h ad c o m e u po n
h e r face h e a r i ng th e wo rd s t h at
,
Wo u l d h ave g r eeted
a no th e r s tood Am os w ith th e l ow wa i l O f pa i n th a t
, ,

was his g r eeti ng r ingin g i n h is e a rs .

3 38 T H E END .

J ud i t h O nl y i n t o h e r f a c e t h e r e c a m e a l o o k t ha t
.

’
c a r ried t h e t r u th s t r aigh t a n d fas t t o t he Pa r so n s
’
h ea r t I t was th e l oo k J ud i th s m oth e r h a d wo r n
.

whe n d eath was layi ng his ha nd u po n h e r T h e l i k e .

n ess had b ee n fa i n t be fo r e b et ween t h e m oth e r an d

t h e c h i ld . Bu t no w as h e l oo ked at h e r a n d we n t
,

O ff in h is o wn fash io n i nt o m is t y d r ea m s h e ,
O fte n
wa n d e r ed back i n t o h is l i fe l ived t wen t y yea r s , ago

w J ud i th l yi ng in the
u rs e s a rm s fel t th e ’
aga i n ,
sa n ,

Ol d b la n k c o me back u po n h i m m issed wo m a n s h a n d s ,
’

abo u t h is s t ud y ta b l e — a n d t he n awo ke : awo ke t o

fi nd J u d ith h is d a ugh te r lyi ng by h i m ; h is d a ugh t e r
wh o wo u l d n eve r b e b ri d e t o a ny o n e b ut D eath .

A n d al r ead y th e o ld b la n k was c o m i ng in s t r a n g e ,

n e w r ea l ity : a n d o n c e aga i n abo u t h is s t u d y t a b l e h e

m issed a d ea r wo ma n s ways a nd fi nge rs N O s cisso r s

’
.

n o w agape u po n t h e P l at o — n o t h r ead e n t a n gl ed a l l

abou t h is fee t Fo r o n ly h e r o wn r oo m wi th t h e
.

l att ice wi n d o w s aw M ist ress J ud it h n o w .

“ ”
H asl i ng t o n Feas t ca m e aga i n a n d wen t : an d i t
was t wo d ays a fte r wh i l e r os es a n d h o n eys u c kl e an d
,
“

al l J u n e flo we r s we r e b l o wi ng tha t th e n ew s we n t o u t

in al l th e vi ll ag e t h at M i s tr ess J u d i t h was “
d rawi ng
”
O ff to d ea t h
.

M ist r ess H u r s t ran o u t across th e way ea r l i e r t han

on o t he r d ay s . S he had ke pt watc h O ff and on f or
 THE E ND . 3 39

l ong we eks pas t : Sh e a nd M is t ress B ul l en R ut h the , ,

Pa rs o n a n d Am os
, .

,
Whe n o n e was t i red o u t wi th watching o r wit h
n u rs i ng an oth er cam e a nd th e place a t th e s i c kbed
, ,

was n eve r e m pty . A nd fo r e m ost am ong th em al l,

a l ways r ead y t o go a m essage ,

to re ad , to bring M is

t r ess J u d i th fl owers was Amos ,

.

“
Y o u sho u ld t el l h er d ea r so n sa id M ist r ess Bu l
, ,

l e n o n e d ay when J u d ith seem ed ral lyi ng a l ittl e

, .

Te l l h e r h o w l ong yo u loved h e r— a nd h o w t r ue
”
B ut O h m oth e r m other !
“
,
was Amos s on ly
,
’

a n swe r Tha t wa i l O f pa i n tha t look tha t m et h im

.
,

wh en h e fi rs t ca m e ho m e — h o w o u ld they be f o r c

gotte n ? H is love ! wh at was tha t to M is tress J u d ith ,

who loved J ess e who h ad given J esse he r p r om is e

,

l ong ago a n d who was passing n ow b e yond all ea r thly

l oves a nd p ro m ises ?
S O wait in g u po n h e r a n d blessi ng G o d t ha t h e
, ,

c ould b e n ea r h er n o w wh o had s o long be en d riven

f r om he r Am os h eld his peace
,
.

I t was ha r d enough so meti m es O n c e when i t .

,

s ee med to co m e across her that i n h e r g ri ef a t n o t ,

fin d ing J esse sta nd ing th ere bes id e he r s he n u g ht ,

h ave wou nd ed A mos — s he cal l ed h im t o h e r an d ,

said ho ld i ng o u t h e r ha nd
,

“
I m ve ry h ar d o n yo u a nd al l h e r e Amos T ro ub l e
’

, .
3 40 TH E END .

h as m ad e m e th i nk too m u c h a b o u t m ys el f .
’
I ve
O fte n grieved Si nce th i nki ng ,
ho w m u ch I h u r t you
wh en I cried fo r pai n th i nk ing i t was J esse c o m i ng
,

th rough th e d oo r . B ut i t was n ot t h at I was vexe d

you A m os — yo u wo n t t h i n k th at wil l ’
to see , , yo u ?
B eca us e though th ere was a stra nge cold n ess
,
be
t ween u s f o r a l ong wh i l e a nd I to ok i t ve r y ,

m u ch t o h ea rt a t fi r st wh en yo u n eve r ca m e t o ,

s ee m e — wh at i s i t A m os —were yo u go i ng t o
,

speak —\7Vel l wa i t a m i n u t e beca us e m y breath s

,
’

ve ry short to day — it s been S O s i nce th e last col d I

-
’

t ook And get u p Am os d o n t k n eel u po n th e h a rd

.
, ,
’

floor a n d l ook so st ra nge — yo u d o n t fee l i l l d o yo u ’

, ,

A m os — Ah I was goi ng t o s ay tha t s p i t e Of al l

, ,

’
that I fee l i t s a l l passed by a n d th at yo u h ad so m e
, ,

good reaso n t o be a ngry with m e D on t s to p m e .

’

A mos beca us e I ca n t sp ea k m u ch l o nge r a n d i t ’

,
,

l ies S O at my h ea rt I wa n t to speak i t o u t An d I
, .

wa nt to say I l ove yo u — a s m y d ea r b roth e r A m os ,

as m y d ea r l ove s br o ther — a nd h e a nd I a re o n e ,

you kn ow .
I gave h i m m y p rom ise tha t I wo ul d
n ever fo rs ake h i m co m e wh a t m igh t . Y ou th in k
’

I m righ t Am os Yo u wo uld n t th i n k i t r ight fo r

, .
’

m e to give h i m u p wo u ld yo u ? N o r th e th ough t O f
,

”
h im eve n n o w wh en I m goi ng s o fas t ?
,
’
3 42 TH E END .

t ook a hand ke rc h i e f an d wi ped th e t e a rs f r o m he r

,

cheeks .

“
Thank yo u S he s a i d very fee b ly an d t h e n t he y
, ,

”
h ea r d h e r say A m os !
H e s t ooped d own a nd p u t his e ar c l os e t o h e r m o ut h .

Y o u 11 s ee h i m — b y a n d b y— a n d b r i ng h im h o m e
’
.

Y o u 11 t el l h i m I was ve r y t ru e t o h i m Yo u l l b id
’ ’
.

h i m p ray t o J es u s — t o fo rgive
Th e n h e r b r eat h fa i l ed b u t a fte r a m om e n t wi t h a
, , .

s truggl e Sh e sai d
,

Yo u l l n o t be h a r d o n h i m — d 07z t l et fo l k s ay h e
’ ’

k i ll ed m e— it s n o t tru e it s n o t tr u e — I wa nt
’ ’

An d th e n t h e re was a s i l en c e t h at was n ever

b roken .

O n c e S he l o oked r o u n d as f o r s o m e o n e H er ,
.

f a t h e r c a m e n ea r e r a n d h el d h e r h a n d B ut h e .

h a d n o wo r d s an d it was M is tr e s s B u l l en who s a i d
,

c al m ly
Yo u l l m e e t him in H e av e n d e ar h e art A re yo u
’

, .

happy n o w swee t l ov e ?,

S h e h ad fi xed h e r ey es o n h e r f a t h e r wi t h a , .

b eau t i fu l q u ie t s m i l e I t was all t h e a nswe r t he y

.

wanted And aft e r an i n s t a n t S he l oo k e d u p h ig h

.
,

ab ove t he i r h ead s an d h e r l i ps m oved

,
.

”
D O yo u s e e an y t h i ng d ea r h ea rt ? as ked M i s tre ss
,

B ul le n s o ftly .
 TH E END .
3 43

S om e o newh ite
‘

—in A n d t he s m i l e d eep
en ed a nd o ve rfl o we d h e r eyes that h ad a l r ead y take n

t h ei r fi rst look in to t he val l ey th at is c al l ed D a r k .

M ist ress H u rst lean ed fo r wa r d stayi ng h e r s obs , .

Was i t l i ke th e bl essed S avio u r m y de ar— all ,

”
s h i n ing and g l o r i o u s a nd th at ? ,

B u t fr o m M istress J u d it h c a m e n o answ e r T he .

s om e o n e in wh i t e h ad tak en he r awa y .

T wo yea rs a f t e r , on a wi n t e r n igh t c a m e , a kno c k

at t h e d oo r Of T r otter s E n d ’

Th e Pa rson M ist r ess B u l l en a n d A m os we r e s i t t i n g

, ,

rou nd t h e fir e : f o r T r o tt e r s E nd was h o m e t o t he m

’

all no w.

Th ey got u p d r ew th e cu rt ai n u nd i d
, , t he sh u tt e r ,

an d l ook ed ou t .

I n th e l igh t t ha t s tr ea m ed fr o m t he wi ndo w t h ey
c o u l d s ee a m an s tand i ng in th e r ai n .

At th e Sigh t of f a c es at th e wi ndo w h e mo v e d b ac k .

Bu t they h ad al l se e n h is face
And i t was Am os who wen t ou t a n d open e d t h e d oo r .

H ave I atoned b r oth e r ? , asked J esse s voi ce ’

,
be
f o re h e wou ld c o m e a step fu rther . Is s he you rs n o w;

l ad ? G od kn ows ’
I ve giv e n yo u ti m e— s u re ly , I ve
’

”
g ive n you time !
3 44 TH E END .

Th ey stood l oo ki ng a t each oth e r— d a rk sh ad ows ,

h al f l ighted by th e pal e flOOd fro m th e Open doo r .

There was a l o ng s il en c e ,
Th e n Am os sa id ,

”
A nd t/z at was why yo u bod e away ?
Why els e lad wh y else ? I t was th e l eas t I cou ld
,

do —
to se t h e r fr ee — a nd l eave h er fo r yo u , l ad .

Th e r e was an oth e r l ong s i l ence lo nge r tha n the l as t

, .

B u t sh e d ied s a id Am os
, .

And t he n he d r e w J esse i n ,
an d c losed t he d oor.

TH E END 1 .
 U N I VE R S I T Y O F CAL I FO R N I A L I B R AR Y

T h is b oo k is D U E on th e l ast d ate st am p ed b e l o w.

F m L 9—3 2m -8
or
’
57