首页 >出版文学> The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid>第2章
  ’What,won’tit,then?’hesaid。
  ’Isupposeso,’sheanswered。’Ifitistobe,itis。’
  ’Wellsaid——verywellsaid,mydear。’
  ’Andifitisn’ttobeitisn’t。’
  ’What?Who’sbeenputtingthatintoyourhead?Yourgrumpygranny,Isuppose。However,howisshe?Margery,Ihavebeenthinkingto—
  day——infact,Iwasthinkingityesterdayandalltheweek——thatreallywemightsettleourlittlebusinessthissummer。’
  ’Thissummer?’sherepeated,withsomedismay。’Butthepartnership?
  Rememberitwasnottobetillafterthatwascompleted。’
  ’ThereIhaveyou!’saidhe,takingthelibertytopathershoulder,andthefurtherlibertyofadvancinghishandbehindittotheother。
  ’Thepartnershipissettled。’Tis"VineandHayward,lime—burners,"
  now,and"RichardVine"nolonger。Yes,CousinRichardhassettleditso,foratimeatleast,and’tistobepaintedonthecartsthisweek——blueletters——yallerground。I’llbossoneof’em,anddriveenroundtoyourdoorassoonasthepaintisdry,toshow’eehowitlooks?’
  ’Oh,Iamsureyouneedn’ttakethattrouble,Jim;Icanseeitquitewellenoughinmymind,’repliedtheyounggirl——notwithoutaflittingaccentofsuperiority。
  ’Hullo,’saidJim,takingherbytheshoulders,andlookingatherhard。’Whatdewthatbitofincivilitymean?Now,Margery,let’ssitdownhere,andhavethiscleared。’Herappedwithhisstickupontherailofalittlebridgetheywerecrossing,andseatedhimselffirmly,leavingaplaceforher。
  ’ButIwanttogethome—along,’dearJim,shecoaxed。
  ’Fidgets。Sitdown,there’sadear。Iwantastraightforwardanswer,ifyouplease。Inwhatmonth,andonwhatdayofthemonth,willyoumarryme?’
  ’O,Jim,’shesaid,sittinggingerlyontheedge,’that’stooplain—
  spokenforyouyet。BeforeIlookatitinthatbusinesslightI
  shouldhaveto——to——’
  ’Butyourfatherhassettleditlongago,andyousaiditshouldbeassoonasIbecameapartner。So,dear,youmustnotmindaplainmanwantingaplainanswer。Come,nameyourtime。’
  Shedidnotreplyatonce。Whatthoughtswerepassingthroughherbrainduringtheinterval?Notimagesraisedbyhiswords,butwhirlingfiguresofmenandwomeninredandwhiteandblue,reflectedfromaglassyfloor,inmovementstimedbythethrillingbeatsoftheDrumPolka。Atlastshesaidslowly,’Jim,youdon’tknowtheworld,andwhatawoman’swantscanbe。’
  ’ButIcanmakeyoucomfortable。Iaminlodgingsasyet,butIcanhaveahousefortheasking;andastofurniture,youshallchooseofthebestforyourself——theverybest。’
  ’Thebest!Farareyoufromknowingwhatthatis!’saidthelittlewoman。’Therebeornamentssuchasyouneverdreamof;work—tablesthatwouldsetyouinamaze;silvercandlesticks,teaandcoffeepotsthatwoulddazzleyoureyes;tea—cups,andsaucers,gildedalloverwithguinea—gold;heavyvelvetcurtains,goldclocks,pictures,andlooking—glassesbeyondyourverydreams。Sodon’tsayIshallhavethebest。’
  ’H’m!’saidJimgloomily;andfellintoreflection。’Wheredidyougetthosehighnotionsfrom,Margery?’hepresentlyinquired。’I’llswearyouhadn’tgot’emaweekago。’Shedidnotanswer,andheadded,’YEWdon’texpecttohavesuchthings,Ihope;deservethemasyoumay?’
  ’IwasnotexactlyspeakingofwhatIwanted,’shesaidseverely。’I
  said,thingsawomanCOULDwant。AndsinceyouwishtoknowwhatI
  CANwanttoquitesatisfyme,IassureyouIcanwantthose!’
  ’Youareapink—and—whiteconundrum,Margery,’hesaid;’andIgiveyouupforto—night。AnybodywouldthinkthedevilhadshowedyouallthekingdomsoftheworldsinceIsawyoulast!’
  Shereddened。’Perhapshehas!’shemurmured;thenarose,hefollowingher;andtheysoonreachedMargery’shome,approachingitfromthelowerormeadowside——theoppositetothatofthegardentop,whereshehadmettheBaron。
  ’You’llcomein,won’tyou,Jim?’shesaid,withmoreceremonythanheartiness。
  ’No——Ithinknotto—night,’heanswered。’I’llconsiderwhatyou’vesaid。’
  ’Youareverygood,Jim,’shereturnedlightly。’Good—bye。’
  CHAPTERVII
  Jimthoughtfullyretracedhissteps。Hewasavillagecharacter,andhehadavillager’ssimplicity:thatis,thesimplicitywhichcomesfromthelackofacomplicatedexperience。Butsimplebynaturehecertainlywasnot。AmongtherankandfileofrusticshewasquiteaTalleyrand,orratherhadbeenone,tillhelostagooddealofhisself—commandbyfallinginlove。
  Now,however,thatthecharmingobjectofhisdistractionwasoutofsighthecoulddeliberate,andmeasure,andweighthingswithsomeapproachtokeenness。Thesubstanceofhisquerieswas,WhatchangehadcomeoverMargery——whencethesenewnotions?
  Ponderashewouldhecouldevolvenoanswersaveone,which,eminentlyunsatisfactoryasitwas,hefeltitwouldbeunreasonablenottoaccept:thatshewassimplyskittishandambitiousbynature,andwouldnotbehuntedintomatrimonytillhehadprovidedawell—
  adornedhome。
  Jimretrodthemilestothekiln,andlookedtothefires。Thekilnstoodinapeculiar,interesting,evenimpressivespot。Itwasattheendofashortravineinalimestoneformation,andallaroundwasanopenhillydown。ThenearesthousewasthatofJim’scousinandpartner,whichstoodontheoutskirtsofthedownbesidetheturnpike—road。Fromthishousealittlelanewoundbetweenthesteepescarpmentsoftheravinetillitreachedthekiln,whichfaceddowntheminiaturevalley,commandingitasafortmightcommandadefile。
  Theideaofafortinthisassociationowedlittletoimagination。
  Foronthenibbledgreensteepabovethekilnstoodabye—gone,worn—
  outspecimenofsuchanerection,huge,impressive,anddifficulttoscaleevennowinitsdecay。ItwasaBritishcastleorentrenchment,withtripleringsofdefence,risingrollbehindroll,theiroutlinescuttingsharplyagainstthesky,andJim’skilnnearlyunderminingtheirbase。Whenthelime—kilnflaredupinthenight,whichitoftendid,itsfireslitupthefrontoftheserampartstoagreatmajesty。Theywereoldfriendsofhis,andwhilekeepinguptheheatthroughthelongdarkness,asitwassometimeshisdutytodo,hewouldimaginethedancinglightsandshadesaboutthestupendousearthworktobetheformsofthosegiantswho(hesupposed)hadheapeditup。Oftenheclambereduponit,andwalkedaboutthesummit,thinkingouttheproblemsconnectedwithhisbusiness,hispartner,hisfuture,hisMargery。
  Itwaswhathedidthisevening,continuingthemeditationontheyounggirl’smannerthathehadbegunupontheroad,andstill,asthen,findingnocluetothechange。
  Whilethusengagedheobservedamancominguptheravinetothekiln。Businessmessageswerealmostinvariablyleftatthehousebelow,andJimwatchedthemanwiththeinterestexcitedbyabeliefthathehadcomeonapersonalmatter。OnnearerapproachJimrecognizedhimasthegardeneratMountLodgesomemilesaway。Ifthismeantbusiness,theBaron(ofwhosearrivalJimhadvaguelyheard)wasanewandunexpectedcustomer。
  Itmeantnothingelse,apparently。Theman’serrandwassimplytoinformJimthattheBaronrequiredaloadoflimeforthegarden。
  ’YoumighthavesavedyourselftroublebyleavingwordatMr。
  Vine’s,’saidJim。
  ’Iwastoseeyoupersonally,’saidthegardener,’andtosaythattheBaronwouldliketoinquireofyouaboutthedifferentqualitiesoflimeproperforsuchpurposes。’
  ’Couldn’tyoutellhimyourself?’saidJim。
  ’HesaidIwastotellyouthat,’repliedthegardener;’anditwasn’tformetointerfere。’
  NomotiveotherthantheostensibleonecouldpossiblybeconjecturedbyJimHaywardatthistime;andthenextmorninghestartedwithgreatpleasure,inhisbestbusinesssuitofclothes。Byeleveno’clockheandhishorseandcarthadarrivedontheBaron’spremises,andthelimewasdepositedwheredirected;anexceptionalspot,justwithinviewofthewindowsofthesouthfront。
  BaronvonXanten,paleandmelancholy,wassaunteringinthesunontheslopebetweenthehouseandtheall—the—year—round。HelookedacrosstowhereJimandthegardenerwerestanding,andtheidentityofHaywardbeingestablishedbywhathebrought,theBaroncamedown,andthegardenerwithdrew。
  TheBaron’sfirstinquirieswere,asJimhadbeenledtosupposetheywouldbe,ontheexterminatingeffectsoflimeuponslugsandsnailsinitsdifferentconditionsofslakedandunslaked,groundandinthelump。HeappearedtobemuchinterestedbyJim’sexplanations,andeyedtheyoungmancloselywheneverhehadanopportunity。
  ’AndIhopetradeisprosperouswithyouthisyear,’saidtheBaron。
  ’Very,mynoblelord,’repliedJim,who,inhisuncertaintyonthepropermethodofaddress,wiselyconcludedthatitwasbettertoerrbygivingtoomuchhonourthanbygivingtoolittle。’Inshort,tradeislookingsowellthatI’vebecomeapartnerinthefirm。’
  ’Indeed;Iamgladtohearit。Sonowyouaresettledinlife。’
  ’Well,mylord;Iamhardlysettled,evennow。ForI’vegottofinishit——Imean,togetmarried。’
  ’That’saneasymatter,comparedwiththepartnership。’
  ’Nowamanmightthinkso,mybaron,’saidJim,gettingmoreconfidential。’Buttherealtruthis,’tisthehardestpartofallforme。’
  ’Yoursuitprospers,Ihope?’
  ’Itdon’t,’saidJim。’Itdon’tatalljustatpresent。Inshort,I
  can’tforthelifeo’methinkwhat’scomeovertheyoungwomanlately。’Andhefellintodeepreflection。
  ThoughJimdidnotobserveit,theBaron’sbrowbecameshadowedwithself—reproachasheheardthosesimplewords,andhiseyeshadalookofpity。’Indeed——sincewhen?’heasked。
  ’Sinceyesterday,mynoblelord。’Jimspokemeditatively。Hewasresolvinguponaboldstroke。Whynotmakeaconfidantofthiskindgentleman,insteadoftheparson,ashehadintended?Thethoughtwasnosoonerconceivedthanactedon。’Mylord,’heresumed,’I
  haveheardthatyouareanoblemanofgreatscopeandtalent,whohasseenmorestrangecountriesandcharactersthanIhaveeverheardof,andknowtheinsidesofmenwell。ThereforeIwouldfainputaquestiontoyournoblelordship,ifImaysotroubleyou,andhavingnobodyelseintheworldwhocouldinformmesotrewly。’
  ’AnyadviceIcangiveisatyourservice,Hayward。Whatdoyouwishtoknow?’
  ’Itisthis,mybaron。WhatcanIdotobringdownayoungwoman’sambitionthat’sgottosuchatoweringheightthere’snoreachingitorcompassingit:howgethertobepleasedwithmeandmystationassheusedtobewhenIfirstknewher?’
  ’Truly,that’sahardquestion,myman。Whatdoessheaspireto?’
  ’She’sgotacrazeforfinefurniture。’
  ’Howlonghasshehadit?’
  ’Onlyjustnow。’
  TheBaronseemedstillmoretoexperienceregret。
  ’Whatfurnituredoesshespeciallycovet?’heasked。
  ’Silvercandlesticks,work—tables,looking—glasses,goldtea—things,silvertea—pots,goldclocks,curtains,pictures,andIdon’tknowwhatall——thingsIshallnevergetifIlivetobeahundred——notsomuchthatIcouldn’traisethemoneytobuy’em,asthattoputittootheruses,orsaveitforarainyday。’
  ’Youthinkthepossessionofthosearticleswouldmakeherhappy?’
  ’Ireallythinktheymight,mylord。’
  ’Good。Openyourpocket—bookandwriteasItellyou。’
  Jiminsomeastonishmentdidascommanded,andelevatinghispocket—
  bookagainstthegarden—wall,thoroughlymoistenedhispencil,andwroteattheBaron’sdictation:
  ’Pairofsilvercandlesticks:inlaidwork—tableandwork—box:onelargemirror:twosmallditto:onegiltchinateaandcoffeeservice:onesilvertea—pot,coffee—pot,sugar—basin,jug,anddozenspoons:Frenchclock:pairofcurtains:sixlargepictures。’
  ’Now,’saidtheBaron,’tearoutthatleafandgiveittome。Keepaclosetongueaboutthis;gohome,anddon’tbesurprisedatanythingthatmaycometoyourdoor。’
  ’But,mynoblelord,youdon’tmeanthatyourlordshipisgoingtogive——’
  ’NevermindwhatIamgoingtodo。Onlykeepyourowncounsel。I
  perceivethat,thoughaplaincountryman,youarebynomeansdeficientintactandunderstanding。Ifsendingthesethingstoyougivesmepleasure,whyshouldyouobject?Thefactis,Hayward,I
  occasionallytakeaninterestinpeople,andliketodoalittleforthem。Itakeaninterestinyou。Nowgohome,andaweekhenceinviteMarg——theyoungwomanandherfather,toteawithyou。Therestisinyourownhands。’
  AquestionoftenputtoJiminaftertimeswaswhyithadnotoccurredtohimatoncethattheBaron’sliberalconductmusthavebeendictatedbysomethingmorepersonalthansuddenspontaneousgenerositytohim,astranger。TowhichJimalwaysansweredthat,admittingtheexistenceofsuchgenerosity,therehadappearednothingremarkableintheBaronselectinghimselfasitsobject。TheBaronhadtoldhimthathetookaninterestinhim;andself—esteem,evenwiththemostmodest,isusuallysufficienttoover—rideanylittledifficultythatmightoccurtoanoutsiderinaccountingforapreference。Hemoreoverconsideredthatforeignnoblemen,richandeccentric,mighthavehabitsofactingwhichwerequiteatvariancewiththoseoftheirEnglishcompeers。
  Sohedroveoffhomewardwithalighterheartthanhehadknownforseveraldays。Tohaveaforeigngentlemantakeafancytohim——whatatriumphtoaplainsortoffellow,whohadscarcelyexpectedtheBarontolookinhisface。ItwouldbeafinestorytotellMargerywhentheBarongavehimlibertytospeakout。
  Jimlodgedatthehouseofhiscousinandpartner,RichardVine,awidoweroffiftyoddyears。Havingfailedinthedevelopmentofahouseholdofdirectdescendantsthistradesmanhadbeengladtolethischamberstohismuchyoungerrelative,whenthelatterenteredonthebusinessoflimemanufacture;andtheirintimacyhadledtoapartnership。Jimlivedupstairs;hispartnerliveddown,andthefurnitureofalltheroomswassoplainandoldfashionedastoexcitethespecialdislikeofMissMargeryTucker,andeventoprejudiceheragainstJimfortoleratingit。Notonlywerethechairsandtablesqueer,but,withdueregardtotheprinciplethataman’ssurroundingsshouldbeartheimpressofthatman’slifeandoccupation,thechiefornamentsofthedwellingwereacuriouscollectionofcalcinations,thathadbeendiscoveredfromtimetotimeinthelime—kiln——misshapeningotsofstrangesubstance,someofthemlikePompeianremains。
  Theheadofthefirmwasaquiet—living,narrow—minded,thoughfriendly,manoffifty;andhetookaseriousinterestinJim’slove—
  suit,frequentlyinquiringhowitprogressed,andassuringJimthatifhechosetomarryhemighthavealltheupperflooratalowrent,he,Mr。Vine,contentinghimselfentirelywiththegroundlevel。IthadbeensoconvenientfordiscussingbusinessmatterstohaveJiminthesamehouse,thathedidnotwishanychangetobemadeinconsequenceofachangeinJim’sdomesticestate。Margeryknewofthiswish,andofJim’sconcurrentfeeling;anddidnotliketheideaatall。
  Aboutfourdaysaftertheyoungman’sinterviewwiththeBaron,theredrewupinfrontofJim’shouseatnoonawaggonladenwithcasesandpackages,largeandsmall。Theywerealladdressedto’Mr。Hayward,’
  andtheyhadcomefromthelargestfurnishingware—housesinthatpartofEngland。
  Three—quartersofanhourwereoccupiedingettingthecasestoJim’srooms。ThewaryJimdidnotshowtheamazementhefeltathispatron’smunificence;andpresentlytheseniorpartnercameintothepassage,andwonderedwhatwaslumberingupstairs。
  ’Oh——it’sonlysomethingsofmine,’saidJimcoolly。
  ’Bearinguponthecomingevent——eh?’saidhispartner。
  ’Exactly,’repliedJim。
  Mr。Vine,withsomeastonishmentatthenumberofcases,shortlyafterwentawaytothekiln;whereuponJimshuthimselfintohisrooms,andtherehemighthavebeenheardrippingupandopeningboxeswithacautioushand,afterwardsappearingoutsidethedoorwiththemempty,andcarryingthemofftotheouthouse。
  Atriumphantlooklituphisfacewhen,alittlelaterintheafternoon,hesentintothevaletothedairy,andinvitedMargeryandherfathertohishousetosupper。
  Shewasnotunsociablethatday,and,herfatherexpressingahardandfastacceptanceoftheinvitation,sheperforceagreedtogowithhim。Meanwhileathome,Jimmadehimselfasmysteriouslybusyasbeforeinthoseroomsofhis,andwhenhispartnerreturnedhetoowasaskedtojoininthesupper。
  AtduskHaywardwenttothedoor,wherehestoodtillheheardthevoicesofhisguestsfromthedirectionofthelowgrounds,nowcoveredwiththeirfrequentfleeceoffog。Thevoicesgrewmoredistinct,andthenonthewhitesurfaceofthefogthereappearedtwotrunklessheads,fromwhichbodiesandahorseandcartgraduallyextendedastheapproachingpairrosetowardsthehouse。
  WhentheyhadenteredJimpressedMargery’shandandconductedheruptohisrooms,herfatherwaitingbelowtosayafewwordstotheseniorlime—burner。
  ’Blessme,’saidJimtoher,onenteringthesitting—room;’Iquiteforgottogetalightbeforehand;butI’llhaveoneinajiffy。’
  Margerystoodinthemiddleofthedarkroom,whileJimstruckamatch;andthentheyounggirl’seyeswereconsciousofaburstoflight,andtheriseintobeingofapairofhandsomesilvercandlestickscontainingtwocandlesthatJimwasintheactoflighting。
  ’Why——where——youhavecandlestickslikethat?’saidMargery。Hereyesflewroundtheroomasthegrowingcandle—flamesshowedotherarticles。’Picturestoo——andlovelychina——whyIknewnothingofthis,Ideclare。’
  ’Yes——afewthingsthatcametomebyaccident,’saidJiminquiettones。
  ’Andagreatgoldclockunderaglass,andacupidswingingforapendulum;andOwhatalovelywork—table——woodsofeverycolour——andawork—boxtomatch。MayIlookinsidethatwork—box,Jim?——whoseisit?’
  ’Oyes;lookatit,ofcourse。Itisapoorenoughthing,but’tismine;anditwillbelongtothewomanImarry,whoevershemaybe,aswellasalltheotherthingshere。’
  ’Andthecurtainsandthelooking—glasses:whyIdeclareIcanseemyselfinahundredplaces。’
  ’Thattea—set,’saidJim,placidlypointingtoagorgeouschinaserviceandalargesilvertea—potonthesidetable,’Idon’tuseatpresent,beingabachelor—man;but,saysItomyself,"whoeverI
  marrywillwantsomesuchthingsforgivingherparties;orIcansellem"——butIhaven’ttookstepsfor’tyet——’
  ’Sell’em——no,Ishouldthinknot,’saidMargerywithearnestreproach。’Why,Ihopeyouwouldn’tbesofoolish!Why,thisisexactlythekindofthingIwasthinkingofwhenItoldyouofthethingswomencouldwant——ofcoursenotmeaningmyselfparticularly。
  Ihadnoideathatyouhadsuchvaluable——’
  Margerywasunabletospeakcoherently,somuchwassheamazedatthewealthofJim’spossessions。
  Atthismomentherfatherandthelime—burnercameupstairs;andtoappearwomanlyandpropertoMr。Vine,Margeryrepressedtheremainderofhersurprise。
  Asforthetwoelderlyworthies,itwasnottilltheyenteredtheroomandsatdownthattheirslowereyesdiscernedanythingbrilliantintheappointments。Thenoneofthemstoleaglanceatsomearticle,andtheotheratanother;buteachbeingunwillingtoexpresshiswonderinthepresenceofhisneighbours,theyreceivedtheobjectsbeforethemwithquiteanaccustomedair;thelime—burnerinwardlytryingtoconjecturewhatallthismeant,andthedairymanmusingthatifJim’sbusinessallowedhimtoaccumulateatthisrate,thesoonerMargerybecamehiswifethebetter。Margeryretreatedtothework—table,work—box,andtea—service,whichsheexaminedwithhushedexclamations。
  Anentertainmentthussurprisinglybeguncouldnotfailtoprogresswell。WheneverMargery’scrustyoldfatherfelttheneedofacivilsentence,theflashofJim’sfancyarticlesinspiredhimtoone;
  whilethelime—burner,havingreasonedawayhisfirstominousthoughtthatallthishadcomeoutofthefirm,alsofeltproudandblithe。
  Jimaccompaniedhisdairyfriendspartofthewayhomebeforetheymounted。Herfather,findingthatJimwantedtospeaktoherprivately,andthatsheexhibitedsomeelusiveness,turnedtoMargeryandsaid;’Come,come,mylady;nomoreofthisnonsense。Youjuststepbehindwiththatyoungman,andIandthecartwillwaitforyou。’
  Margery,alittlescaredatherfather’speremptoriness,obeyed。ItwasplainthatJimhadwontheoldmanbythatnight’sstroke,ifhehadnotwonher。
  ’Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay,Jim,’shebegan,lessardentlynow,forshewasnolongerunderthenovelinfluenceoftheshiningsilverandglass。’Well,asyoudesireit,andasmyfatherdesiresit,andasIsupposeitwillbethebestcourseforme,Iwillfixtheday——notthisevening,butassoonasIcanthinkitover。’
  CHAPTERVIII
  Notwithstandingapressofbusiness,JimwentanddidhisdutyinthankingtheBaron。Thelattersawhiminhisfishing—tackleroom,anapartmentlitteredwitheveryappliancethatavotaryoftherodcouldrequire。
  ’Andwhenisthewedding—daytobe,Hayward?’theBaronasked,afterJimhadtoldhimthatmattersweresettled。
  ’Itisnotquitecertainyet,mynoblelord,’saidJimcheerfully。
  ’ButIhope’twillnotbelongafterthetimewhenGodA’mightychristensthelittleapples。’
  ’Andwhenisthat?’
  ’St。Swithin’s——themiddleofJuly。’Tistobesometimeinthatmonth,shetellsme。’
  WhenJimwasgonetheBaronseemedmeditative。Hewentout,ascendedthemount,andenteredtheweather—screen,wherehelookedattheseats,asthoughre—enactinginhisfancythesceneofthatmemorablemorningoffog。Heturnedhiseyestotheangleoftheshelter,roundwhichMargeryhadsuddenlyappearedlikeavision,anditwasplainthathewouldnothavemindedherappearingtherethen。Thejuncturehadindeedbeensuchanimpressiveandcriticalonethatshemusthaveseemedratheraheavenlymessengerthanapassingmilkmaid,moreespeciallytoamanliketheBaron,who,despitethemysteryofhisoriginandlife,revealedhimselftobeamelancholy,emotionalcharacter——theJacquesofthisforestandstream。
  Behindthemountthegroundroseyethigher,ascendingtoaplantationwhichshelteredthehouse。TheBaronstrolleduphere,andbenthisgazeoverthedistance。ThevalleyoftheExelaybeforehim,withitsshiningriver,thebrooksthatfedit,andthetricklingspringsthatfedthebrooks。ThesituationofMargery’shousewasvisible,thoughnotthehouseitself;andtheBarongazedthatwayforaninfinitelylongtime,till,rememberinghimself,hemovedon。
  InsteadofreturningtothehousehewentalongtheridgetillhearrivedatthevergeofChillingtonWood,andinthesamedesultorymannerroamedunderthetrees,notpausingtillhehadcometoThree—
  Walks—End,andthehollowelmhardby。Hepeepedinattherift。Inthesoftdrylayeroftouch—woodthatflooredthehollowMargery’strackswerestillvisible,asshehadmadethemtherewhendressingfortheball。
  ’LittleMargery!’murmuredtheBaron。
  Inamomenthethoughtbetterofthismood,andturnedtogohome。
  Butbehold,aformstoodbehindhim——thatofthegirlwhosenamehadbeenonhislips。
  Shewasinutterconfusion。’I——I——didnotknowyouwerehere,sir!’
  shebegan。’Iwasoutforalittlewalk。’Shecouldgetnofurther;
  hereyesfilledwithtears。Thatspiceofwilfulness,evenhardness,whichcharacterizedherinJim’scompany,magicallydisappearedinthepresenceoftheBaron。
  ’Nevermind,nevermind,’saidhe,maskingunderaseveremannerwhateverhefelt。’Themeetingisawkward,andoughtnottohaveoccurred,especiallyifasIsuppose,youareshortlytobemarriedtoJamesHayward。Butitcannotbehelpednow。YouhadnoideaI
  washere,ofcourse。NeitherhadIofseeingyou。Rememberyoucannotbetoocareful,’continuedtheBaron,inthesamegravetone;
  ’andIstronglyrequestyouasafriendtodoyourutmosttoavoidmeetingslikethis。WhenyousawmebeforeIturned,whydidyounotgoaway?’
  ’Ididnotseeyou,sir。Ididnotthinkofseeingyou。Iwaswalkingthisway,andIonlylookedintoseethetree。’
  ’Thatshowsyouhavebeenthinkingofthingsyoushouldnotthinkof,’returnedtheBaron。’Goodmorning。’
  Margerycouldanswernothing。Abrowbeatenglance,almostofmisery,wasallshegavehim。Hetookaslowstepawayfromher;thenturnedsuddenlybackand,stooping,impulsivelykissedhercheek,takingherasmuchbysurpriseaseverawomanwastakeninherlife。
  Immediatelyafterhewentoffwithaflushedfaceandrapidstrides,whichhedidnotchecktillhewaswithinhisownboundaries。
  Thehaymakingseasonnowsetinvigorously,andtheweir—hatcheswerealldrawninthemeadstodrainoffthewater。Thestreamsranthemselvesdry,andtherewasnolongeranydifficultyinwalkingaboutamongthem。TheBaroncouldverywellwitnessfromtheelevationsabouthishousetheactivitywhichfollowedthesepreliminaries。Thewhiteshirt—sleevesofthemowersglistenedinthesun,thescythesflashed,voicesechoed,snatchesofsongfloatedabout,andtherewereglimpsesofredwaggon—wheels,purplegowns,andmany—colouredhandkerchiefs。
  TheBaronhadbeentoldthatthehaymakingwastobefollowedbythewedding,andhadhegonedownthevaletothedairyhewouldhavehadevidencetothateffect。DairymanTucker’shousewasinawhirlpoolofbustle,andamongotherdifficultieswasthatofturningthecheese—roomintoagenteelapartmentforthetimebeing,andhidingtheawkwardnessofhavingtopassthroughthemilk—housetogettotheparlourdoor。ThesehouseholdcontrivancesappearedtointerestMargerymuchmorethanthegreatquestionofdressingfortheceremonyandtheceremonyitself。Inallrelatingtothatsheshowedanindescribablebackwardness,whichlateronwaswellremembered。
  ’Ifitwereonlysomebodyelse,andIwasoneofthebridesmaids,I
  reallythinkIshouldlikeitbetter!’shemurmuredoneafternoon。
  ’Awaywiththee——that’sonlyyourshyness!’saidoneofthemilkmaids。
  ItissaidthataboutthistimetheBaronseemedtofeeltheeffectsofsolitudestrongly。Solituderevivesthesimpleinstinctsofprimitiveman,andlonelycountrynooksaffordrichsoilforwaywardemotions。Moreover,idlenesswatersthoseunconsideredimpulseswhichashortseasonofturmoilwouldstampout。ItisdifficulttospeakwithanyexactnessofthebearingofsuchconditionsonthemindoftheBaron——amanofwhomsolittlewasevertrulyknown——butthereisnodoubtthathismindranmuchonMargeryasanindividual,withoutreferencetoherrankorquality,ortothequestionwhethershewouldmarryJimHaywardthatsummer。Shewasthesinglelovelyhumanthingwithinhispresenthorizon,forhelivedinabsoluteseclusion;andherimageundulyaffectedhim。
  But,leavingconjecture,letmestatewhathappened。
  OneSaturdayevening,twoorthreeweeksafterhisaccidentalmeetingwithherinthewood,hewrotethenotefollowing:—
  DEARMARGERY,—
  Youmustnotsupposethat,becauseIspokesomewhatseverelytoyouatourchanceencounterbythehollowtree,Ihaveanyfeelingagainstyou。Farfromit。Now,asever,Ihavethemostgratefulsenseofyourconsideratekindnesstomeonamomentousoccasionwhichshallbenameless。
  YousolemnlypromisedtocomeandseemewheneverIshouldsendforyou。Canyoucallforfiveminutesassoonaspossible,anddispersethoseplaguygloomsfromwhichIamsounfortunateastosuffer?IfyourefuseIwillnotanswerfortheconsequences。
  Ishallbeinthesummershelterofthemountto—morrowmorningathalf—pastten。IfyoucomeIshallbegrateful。Ihavealsosomethingforyou。Yours,X。
  Inkeepingwiththetenorofthisepistlethedesponding,self—
  oppressedBaronascendedthemountonSundaymorningandsatdown。
  Therewasnothingheretosignifyexactlythehour,butbeforethechurchbellshadbegunheheardsomebodyapproachingattheback。
  Thelightfootstepmovedtimidly,firsttoonerecess,andthentoanother;thentothethird,wherehesatintheshade。PoorMargerystoodbeforehim。
  Shelookedwornandweary,andherlittleshoesandtheskirtsofherdresswerecoveredwithdust。Theweatherwassultry,thesunbeingalreadyhighandpowerful,andrainhadnotfallenforweeks。TheBaron,whowalkedlittle,hadthoughtnothingoftheeffectsofthisheatanddroughtininducingfatigue。AdistancewhichhadbeenbutareasonableexerciseonafoggymorningwasadragforMargerynow。
  Shewasoutofbreath;andanxiety,evenunhappinesswaswrittenonhereverywhere。
  Herosetohisfeet,andtookherhand。Hewasvexedwithhimselfatsightofher。’Mydearlittlegirl!’hesaid。’Youaretired——youshouldnothavecome。’
  ’Yousentforme,sir;andIwasafraidyouwereill;andmypromisetoyouwassacred。’
  Hebentoverher,lookinguponherdowncastface,andstillholdingherhand;thenhedroppedit,andtookapaceortwobackwards。
  ’Itwasawhim,nothingmore,’hesaid,sadly。’Iwantedtoseemylittlefriend,toexpressgoodwishes——andtopresentherwiththis。’
  Heheldforwardasmallmoroccocase,andshowedherhowtoopenit,disclosingaprettylocket,setwithpearls。’Itisintendedasaweddingpresent,’hecontinued。’TobereturnedtomeagainifyoudonotmarryJimthissummer——itistobethissummer,Ithink?’
  ’Itwas,sir,’shesaidwithagitation。’Butitissonolonger。
  And,therefore,Icannottakethis。’
  ’Whatdoyousay?’
  ’Itwastohavebeento—day;butnowitcannotbe。’
  ’Theweddingto—day——Sunday?’hecried。
  ’WefixedSundaynottohindermuchtimeatthisbusyseasonoftheyear,’repliedshe。
  ’Andhaveyou,then,putitoff——surelynot?’
  ’Yousentforme,andIhavecome,’sheansweredhumbly,likeanobedientfamiliarintheemployofsomegreatenchanter。Indeed,theBaron’spoweroverthisinnocentgirlwascuriouslylikeenchantment,ormesmericinfluence。Itwassomasterfulthatthesexualelementwasalmosteliminated。ItwasthatofProsperooverthegentleAriel。Andyetitwasprobablyonlythatofthecosmopoliteovertherecluse,oftheexperiencedmanoverthesimplemaid。
  ’Youhavecome——onyourwedding—day!——OMargery,thisisamistake。
  Ofcourse,youshouldnothaveobeyedme,since,thoughIthoughtyourweddingwouldbesoon,Ididnotknowitwasto—day。’
  ’Ipromisedyou,sir;andIwouldratherkeepmypromisetoyouthanbemarriedtoJim。’
  ’Thatmustnotbe——thefeelingiswrong!’hemurmured,lookingatthedistanthills。’Thereseemstobeafateinallthis;Igetoutofthefrying—panintothefire。Whatarecompensetoyouforyourgoodness!Thefactis,Iwasoutofhealthandoutofspirits,soI—
  —butnomoreofthat。Nowinstantlytorepairthistremendousblunderthatwehavemade——that’sthequestion。’
  Afterapause,hewentonhurriedly,’Walkdownthehill;getintotheroad。BythattimeIshallbetherewithaphaeton。Wemaygetbackintime。Whattimeisitnow?Ifnot,nodoubttheweddingcanbeto—morrow;soallwillcomerightagain。Don’tcry,mydeargirl。
  Keepthelocket,ofcourse——you’llmarryJim。’
  CHAPTERIX
  Hehasteneddowntowardsthestables,andshewentonasdirected。
  Itseemedasifhemusthaveputinthehorsehimself,soquicklydidhereappearwiththephaetonontheopenroad。Margerysilentlytookherseat,andtheBaronseemedcuttothequickwithself—reproachashenoticedthelistlessindifferencewithwhichsheacted。TherewasnodoubtthatinherheartshehadpreferredobeyingtheapparentlyimportantmandatethatmorningtobecomingJim’swife;buttherewasnolessdoubtthathadtheBaronleftheraloneshewouldquietlyhavegonetothealtar。
  Hedrovealongfuriously,inacloudofdust。TherewasmuchtocontemplateinthatpeacefulSundaymorning——thewindlesstreesandfields,theshakingsunlight,thepauseinhumanstir。Yetneitherofthemheeded,andthustheydrewneartothedairy。Hisfirstexpressedintentionhadbeentogoindoorswithher,butthisheabandonedasimpoliticinthehighestdegree。
  ’Youmaybesoonenough,’hesaid,springingdown,andhelpinghertofollow。’Tellthetruth:sayyouweresentfortoreceiveaweddingpresent——thatitwasamistakeonmypart——amistakeonyours;andI
  thinkthey’llforgive……And,Margery,mylastrequesttoyouisthis:thatifIsendforyouagain,youdonotcome。Promisesolemnly,mydeargirl,thatanysuchrequestshallbeunheeded。’
  Herlipsmoved,butthepromisewasnotarticulated。’O,sir,I
  cannotpromiseit!’shesaidatlast。
  ’Butyoumust;yoursalvationmaydependonit!’heinsistedalmoststernly。’Youdon’tknowwhatIam。’
  ’Then,sir,Ipromise,’shereplied。’Nowleavemetomyself,please,andI’llgoindoorsandmanagematters。’
  Heturnedthehorseanddroveaway,butonlyforalittledistance。
  Outofsighthepulledreinsuddenly。’Onlytogobackandproposeittoher,andshe’dcome!’hemurmured。
  Hestoodupinthephaeton,andbythismeanshecouldseeoverthehedge。Margerystillsatlistlesslyinthesameplace;therewasnotalovelierflowerinthefield。’No,’hesaid;’no,no——never!’Hereseatedhimself,andthewheelsspedlightlybackoverthesoftdusttoMountLodge。
  MeanwhileMargeryhadnotmoved。IftheBaroncoulddissimulateonthesideofseverityshecoulddissimulateonthesideofcalm。Hedidnotknowwhathadbeenveiledbythequietpromisetomanagemattersindoors。Risingatlengthshefirstturnedawayfromthehouse;and,by—and—by,havingapparentlyforgottentillthenthatshecarrieditinherhand,sheopenedthecase,andlookedatthelocket。Thisseemedtogivehercourage。Sheturned,setherfacetowardsthedairyingoodearnest,andthoughherheartfalteredwhenthegatescameinsight,shekeptonanddrewnearthedoor。
  Onthethresholdshestoodlistening。Thehousewassilent。
  Decorationswerevisibleinthepassage,andalsothecarefullysweptandsandedpathtothegate,whichshewastohavetroddenasabride;butthesparrowshoppedoveritasifitwereabandoned;andallappearedtohavebeencheckedatitsclimacteric,likeaclockstoppedonthestrike。Tillthismomentofconfrontingthesuspendedanimationofthesceneshehadnotrealizedthefullshockoftheconvulsionwhichherdisappearancemusthavecaused。Itisquitecertain——apartfromherownrepeatedassurancestothateffectinlateryears——thatinhasteningoffthatmorningtohersuddenengagement,Margeryhadnotcountedthecostofsuchanenterprise;
  whileadimnotionthatshemightgetbackagainintimefortheceremony,ifthemessagemeantnothingserious,shouldalsobementionedinherfavour。But,uponthewhole,shehadobeyedthecallwithanunreasoningobedienceworthyofadiscipleinprimitivetimes。AconvictionthattheBaron’slifemightdependuponherpresence——forshehadbythistimedivinedthetragicaleventshehadinterruptedonthefoggymorning——tookfromherallwilltojudgeandconsidercalmly。Thesimpleaffairsofherandhersseemednothingbesidethepossibilityofharmtohim。
  Awell—knownstepmovedonthesandedfloorwithin,andshewentforward。Thatshesawherfather’sfacebeforeher,justwithinthedoor,canhardlybesaid:itwasratherReproachandRageinahumanmask。
  ’What!yehavedaredtocomebackalive,hussy,tolookupontheduperyyouhavepractisedonhonestpeople!You’vemortifiedusall;
  Idon’twanttosee’ee;Idon’twanttohear’ee;Idon’twanttoknowanything!’Hewalkedupanddowntheroom,unabletocommandhimself。’Nothingbutbeingdeadcouldhaveexcused’eefornotmeetingandmarryingthatmanthismorning;andyetyouhavethebrazenimpudencetostandthereaswellasever!Whatbeyouherefor?’
  ’I’vecomebacktomarryJim,ifhewantsmeto,’shesaidfaintly。
  ’Andifnot——perhapssomuchthebetter。Iwassentforthismorningearly。Ithought——。’Shehalted。Tosaythatshehadthoughtaman’sdeathmighthappenbyhisownhandifshedidnotgotohim,wouldneverdo。’Iwasobligedtogo,’shesaid。’Ihadgivenmyword。’
  ’Whydidn’tyoutellusthen,sothattheweddingcouldbeputoff,withoutmakingfoolso’us?’
  ’BecauseIwasafraidyouwouldn’tletmego,andIhadmadeupmymindtogo。’
  ’Togowhere?’
  Shewassilent;tillshesaid,’IwilltellJimall,andwhyitwas;
  andifhe’sanyfriendofminehe’llexcuseme。’
  ’NotJim——he’snosuchfool。Jimhadputallreadyforyou,Jimhadcalledatyourhouse,a—dressedupinhisnewweddingclothes,anda—
  smilinglikethesun;Jimhadtoldtheparson,hadgottheringersintow,andtheclerkawaiting;andthen——youwasGONE!ThenJimturnedaspaleasrendlewood,andbustedout,"Ifshedon’tmarrymeto—
  day,"’asaid,"shedon’tmarrymeatall!No;letherlookelsewhereforahusband。FortewyearsI’veputupwithherhaughtytricksandhertakings,"’asaid。"I’vedroudgedandI’vetraipsed,I’veboughtandI’vesold,allwi’aneyetoher;I’vesufferedhorseflesh,"hesays——yes,themwashisnoblewords——"butI’llsufferitnolonger。Sheshallgo!""Jim,"saysI,"youbeaman。Ifshe’salive,Icommend’ee;ifshe’sdead,pitymyoldage。""Sheisn’tdead,"sayshe;"forI’vejustheardshewasseenwalkingoffacrossthefieldsthismorning,lookingallofascornfultriumph。"
  Heturnedroundandwent,andtheresto’theneighbourswent;andherebeIlefttothereproacho’t。’
  ’Hewastoohasty,’murmuredMargery。’Fornowhe’ssaidthisI
  can’tmarryhimto—morrow,asImightha’done;andperhapssomuchthebetter。’
  ’Youcanbesocalmaboutit,canye?Bemyarrangementsnothing,then,thatyoushouldbreak’emup,andsayoffhandwhatwasn’tdoneto—daymightha’beendoneto—morrow,andsuchflick—flack?Outo’
  mysight!Iwon’thearanymore。Iwon’tspeakto’eeanymore。’
  ’I’llgoaway,andthenyou’llbesorry!’
  ’Verywell,go。Sorry——notI。’
  Heturnedandstampedhiswayintothecheese—room。Margerywentupstairs。Shetoowasexcitednow,andinsteadoffortifyingherselfinherbedroomtillherfather’sragehadblownover,asshehadoftendoneonlesseroccasions,shepackedupabundleofarticles,creptdownagain,andwentoutofthehouse。Shehadaplaceofrefugeinthesecasesofnecessity,andherfatherknewit,andwaslessalarmedatseeingherdepartthanhemightotherwisehavebeen。
  ThisplacewasRook’sGate,thehouseofhergrandmother,whoalwaystookMargery’spartwhenthatyoungwomanwasparticularlyinthewrong。
  Thedeviouswayshepursued,toavoidthevicinityofMountLodge,wastedious,andshewasalreadyweary。Butthecottagewasarestfulplacetoarriveat,forshewasherownmistressthere——hergrandmothernevercomingdownstairs——andEdy,thewomanwholivedwithandattendedher,beingacipherexceptinmuscleandvoice。
  Theapproachwasbyastraightopenroad,borderedbythinlanktrees,allslopingawayfromthesouth—westwind—quarter,andthesceneboreastrangeresemblancetocertainbitsofDutchlandscapewhichhavebeenimprintedontheworld’seyebyHobbemaandhisschool。
  Havingexplainedtohergrannythattheweddingwasputoff;andthatshehadcometostay,oneofMargery’sfirstactswascarefullytopackupthelocketandcase,herweddingpresentfromtheBaron。Theconditionsofthegiftwereunfulfilled,andshewishedittogobackinstantly。Perhaps,intheintricaciesofherbosom,therelurkedagreatersatisfactionwiththereasonforreturningthepresentthanshewouldhavefeltjustthenwithareasonforkeepingit。
  Tosendthearticlewasdifficult。Intheeveningshewrappedherselfup,searchedandfoundagauzeveilthathadbeenusedbyhergrandmotherinpastyearsforhivingswarmsofbees,buriedherfaceinit,andsalliedforthwithapalpitatinghearttillshedrewnearthetabernacleofherdemi—godtheBaron。Sheventuredonlytotheback—door,whereshehandedintheparceladdressedtohim,andquicklycameaway。
  NowitseemsthatduringthedaytheBaronhadbeenunabletolearntheresultofhisattempttoreturnMargeryintimefortheeventhehadinterrupted。Wishing,forobviousreasons,toavoiddirectinquirybymessenger,andbeingtoounwelltogofarhimself,hecouldlearnnoparticulars。Hewassittinginthoughtafteralonelydinnerwhentheparcelintimatingfailureasbroughtin。Thefootman,whosecuriosityhadbeenexcitedbythemodeofitsarrival,peepedthroughthekeyholeafterclosingthedoor,tolearnwhatthepacketmeant。DirectlytheBaronhadopenedithethrustouthisfeetvehementlyfromhischair,andbegancursinghisruinousconductinbringingaboutsuchadisaster,forthereturnofthelocketdenotednotonlynoweddingthatday,butnoneto—morrow,oratanytime。
  ’Ihavedonethatinnocentwomanagreatwrong!’hemurmured。
  ’Deprivedherof,perhaps,heronlyopportunityofbecomingmistressofahappyhome!’
  CHAPTERX
  Aconsiderableperiodofinactionfollowedamongallconcerned。
  NothingtendedtodissipatetheobscuritywhichveiledthelifeoftheBaron。Thepositionheoccupiedinthemindsofthecountry—folkaroundwasonewhichcombinedthemysteriousnessofalegendarycharacterwiththeunobtrusivedeedsofamoderngentleman。TothisdaywhoevertakesthetroubletogodowntoSilverthorninLowerWessexandmakeinquirieswillfindexistingtherealmostasuperstitiousfeelingforthemoodymelancholystrangerwhoresidedintheLodgesomefortyyearsago。
  Whencehecame,whitherhewasgoing,werealikeunknown。ItwassaidthathismotherhadbeenanEnglishladyofnoblefamilywhohadmarriedaforeignernotunheardofincircleswheremenpileup’thecankeredheapsofstrange—achievedgold’——thathehadbeenbornandeducatedinEngland,takenabroad,andsoon。Butthefactsofalifeinsuchcasesareoflittleaccountbesidetheaspectofalife;
  andhence,thoughdoubtlesstheyearsofhisexistencecontainedtheirshareoftriteandhomelycircumstance,thecurtainwhichmaskedallthiswasneverliftedtogratifysuchatheatreofspectatorsasthoseatSilverthorn。Thereinlayhischarm。Hislifewasavignette,ofwhichthecentralstrokesonlyweredrawnwithanydistinctness,theenvironmentshadingawaytoablank。
  Hemighthavebeensaidtoresemblethatsolitarybirdtheheron。
  Thestill,lonelystreamwashisfrequenthaunt:onitsbankshewouldstandforhourswithhisrod,lookingintothewater,beholdingthetawnyinhabitantswiththeeyeofaphilosopher,andseemingtosay,’Biteordon’tbite——it’sallthesametome。’Hewasoftenmistakenforaghostbychildren;andforapollardwillowbymen,when,ontheirwayhomeinthedusk,theysawhimmotionlessbysomerushybank,unobservantofthedeclineofday。
  WhydidhecometofishnearSilverthorn?Thatwasneverexplained。
  Asfaraswasknownhehadnorelativesnear;thefishingtherewasnotexceptionallygood;thesocietythereaboutwasdecidedlymeagre。
  Thathehadcommittedsomefollyorhastyact,thathehadbeenwrongfullyaccusedofsomecrime,thusrenderinghisseclusionfromtheworlddesirableforawhile,squaredverywellwithhisfrequentmelancholy。Butsuchashewastherehelived,wellsuppliedwithfishing—tackle,andtenantofafurnishedhouse,justsuitedtotherequirementsofsuchaneccentricbeingashe。
  Margery’sfather,havingprivatelyascertainedthatshewaslivingwithhergrandmother,andgettingintonoharm,refrainedfromcommunicatingwithher,inthehopeofseeinghercontriteathisdoor。Ithad,ofcourse,becomeknownaboutSilverthornthatatthelastmomentMargeryrefusedtowedHayward,byabsentingherselffromthehouse。Jimwaspitied,yetnotpitiedmuch,foritwassaidthatheoughtnottohavebeensoeagerforawomanwhohadshownnoanxietyforhim。
  AndwherewasJimhimself?Itmustnotbesupposedthatthattacticianhadallthiswhilewithdrawnfrommortaleyetotearhishairinsilentindignationanddespair。Hehad,intruth,merelyretiredupthelonesomedefilebetweenthedownstohissmoulderingkiln,andtheancientrampartsaboveit;andthere,afterhisfirsthoursofnaturaldiscomposure,hequietlywaitedforoverturesfromthepossiblyrepentantMargery。Butnooverturesarrived,andthenhemeditatedanewontheabsorbingproblemofherskittishness,andhowtosetaboutanothercampaignforherconquest,notwithstandinghislatedisastrousfailure。Whyhadhefailed?Towhatwasherstrangeconductowing?Thatwasthethingwhichpuzzledhim。
  Hehadmadenoadvanceinsolvingtheriddlewhen,onemorning,astrangerappearedonthedownabovehim,lookingasifhehadlosthisway。Themanhadagooddealofblackhairbelowhisfelthat,andcarriedunderhisarmacasecontainingamusicalinstrument。
  DescendingtowhereJimstood,heaskediftherewerenotashortcutacrossthatwaytoTivworthy,whereafetewastobeheld。
  ’Well,yes,thereis,’saidJim。’But’tisanenormousdistancefor’ee。’
  ’Oh,yes,’repliedthemusician。’Iwishtointerceptthecarrieronthehighway。’
  ThenearestwaywaspreciselyinthedirectionofRook’sGate,whereMargery,asJimknew,wasstaying。Havingsometimetospare,Jimwasstronglyimpelledtomakeakindacttothelostmusicianapretextfortakingobservationsinthatneighbourhood,andtellinghisacquaintancethathewasgoingthesameway,hestartedwithoutfurtherado。
  Theyskirtedthelonglengthofmeads,andinduetimearrivedatthebackofRook’sGate,wherethepathjoinedthehighroad。Ahedgedividedthepublicwayfromthecottagegarden。Jimdrewupatthispointandsaid,’Yourroadisstraighton:Iturnbackhere。’
  Butthemusicianwasstandingfixed,asifingreatperplexity。
  Thrustinghishandintohisforestofblackhair,hemurmured,’Surelyitisthesame——surely!’
  Jim,followingthedirectionofhisneighbour’seyes,foundthemtobefixedonafiguretillthatmomenthiddenfromhimself——MargeryTucker——whowascrossingthegardentoanoppositegatewithalittlecheeseinherarms,herheadthrownback,andherfacequiteexposed。
  ’Whatofher?’saidJim。
  ’TwomonthsagoIformedoneofthebandattheYeomanryBallgivenbyLordToneboroughinthenextcounty。Isawthatyoungladydancingthepolkathereinrobesofgauzeandlace。NowIseehercarryacheese!’
  ’Never!’saidJimincredulously。
  ’ButIdonotmistake。Isayitisso!’
  Jimridiculedtheidea;thebandsmanprotested,andwasabouttolosehistemper,whenJimgaveinwiththegood—natureofapersonwhocanaffordtodespiseopinions;andthemusicianwenthisway。
  AshedwindledoutofsightJimbegantothinkmorecarefullyoverwhathehadsaid。Theyoungman’sthoughtsgrewquitetoanexcitement,fortherecameintohismindtheBaron’sextraordinarykindnessinregardtofurniture,hithertoaccountedforbytheassumptionthatthenoblemanhadtakenafancytohim。Coulditbe,amongalltheamazingthingsoflife,thattheBaronwasatthebottomofthismischief;andthathehadamusedhimselfbytakingMargerytoaball?
  DoubtsandsuspicionswhichdistractsomeloverstoimbecilityonlyservedtobringoutJim’sgreatqualities。Wherehetrustedhewasthemosttrustingfellowintheworld;wherehedoubtedhecouldbeguiltyoftheslyeststrategy。Oncesuspicious,hebecameoneofthosesubtle,watchfulcharacterswho,withoutintegrity,makegoodthieves;withalittle,goodjobbers;withalittlemore,gooddiplomatists。Jimwashonest,andheconsideredwhattodo。
  Retracinghissteps,hepeepedagain。Shehadgonein;butshewouldsoonreappear,foritcouldbeseenthatshewascarryinglittlenewcheesesonebyonetoaspring—cartandhorsetetheredoutsidethegate——hergrandmother,thoughnotaregulardairywoman,stillmanagingafewcowsbymeansofamanandmaid。WiththelightnessofacatJimcreptroundtothegate,tookapieceofchalkfromhispocket,andwroteupontheboarding’TheBaron。’ThenheretreatedtotheothersideofthegardenwherehehadjustwatchedMargery。
  Induetimesheemergedwithanotherlittlecheese,cameontothegarden—door,andglanceduponthechalkedwordswhichconfrontedher。
  Shestarted;thecheeserolledfromherarmstotheground,andbrokeintopieceslikeapudding。
  Shelookedfearfullyround,herfaceburninglikesunset,and,seeingnobody,stoopedtopickuptheflaccidlumps。Jim,withapaleface,departedasinvisiblyashehadcome。Hehadprovedthebandsman’staletobetrue。Onhiswaybackheformedaresolution。Itwastobeardthelioninhisden——tocallontheBaron。
  MeanwhileMargeryhadrecoveredherequanimity,andgatheredupthebrokencheese。Butshecouldbynomeansaccountforthehandwriting。Jimwasjustthesortoffellowtoplayhersuchatrickatordinarytimes,butsheimaginedhimtobefartooincensedagainsthertodoitnow;andshesuddenlywonderedifitwereanysortofsignalfromtheBaronhimself。
  Ofhimshehadlatelyheardnothing。IfevermonotonypervadedalifeitpervadedhersatRook’sGate;andshehadbeguntodespairofanyhappychange。Butitispreciselywhenthesocialatmosphereseemsstagnantthatgreateventsarebrewing。Margery’squietwasbrokenfirst,aswehaveseen,byaslightstart,onlysufficienttomakeherdropacheese;andthenbyamoreseriousmatter。
  Shewasinsidethesamegardenonedaywhensheheardtwowatermentalkingwithout。TheconversationwastotheeffectthatthestrangegentlemanwhohadtakenMountLodgefortheseasonwasseriouslyill。
  ’Howill?’criedMargerythroughthehedge,whichscreenedherfromrecognition。
  ’Badabed,’saidoneofthewatermen。
  ’Inflammationofthelungs,’saidtheother。
  ’Gotwet,fishing,’thefirstchimedin。
  Margerycouldgathernomore。AnidealadmirationratherthananypositivepassionexistedinherbreastfortheBaron:shehadoflateseentoolittleofhimtoallowanyincipientviewsofhimasalovertogrowtoformidabledimensions。Itwasanextremelyromanticfeeling,delicateasanaroma,capableofquickeningtoanactiveprinciple,ordyingto’apainlesssympathy,’asthecasemightbe。
  Thisnewsofhisillness,coupledwiththemysteriouschalkingonthegate,troubledher,andrevivedhisimagemuch。Shetooktowalkingupanddownthegarden—paths,lookingintotheheartsofflowers,andnotthinkingwhattheywere。Hislastrequesthadbeenthatshewasnottogotohimifbeshouldsendforher;andnowsheaskedherself,wasthenameonthegateahinttoenablehertogowithoutinfringingtheletterofherpromise?ThusunexpectedlyhadJim’smanoeuvreoperated。
  Tendayspassed。AllshecouldhearoftheBaronwerethesamewords,’Badabed,’tilloneafternoon,afteragallopofthephysiciantotheLodge,thetidingsspreadlikelightningthattheBaronwasdying。
  Margerydistressedherselfwiththequestionwhethershemightbepermittedtovisithimandsayherprayersathisbedside;butshefearedtoventure;andthuseight—and—fortyhoursslippedaway,andtheBaronstilllived。Despitehershynessandaweofhimshehadalmostmadeuphermindtocallwhen,justatduskonthatOctoberevening,somebodycametothedoorandaskedforher。
  Shecouldseethemessenger’sheadagainstthelownewmoon。Hewasaman—servant。Hesaidhehadbeenallthewaytoherfather’s,andhadbeensentthencetoherhere。Hesimplybroughtanote,and,deliveringitintoherhands,wentaway。
  DEARMARGERYTUCKER(ranthenote)——TheysayIamnotlikelytolive,soIwanttoseeyou。Behereateighto’clockthisevening。Comequitealonetotheside—door,andtapfourtimessoftly。Mytrustymanwilladmityou。Theoccasionisanimportantone。Prepareyourselfforasolemnceremony,whichIwishtohaveperformedwhileitliesinmypower。
  VONXANTEN。
  CHAPTERXI
  Margery’sfaceflushedup,andherneckandarmsglowedinsympathy。
  Thequicknessofyouthfulimagination,andtheassumptivenessofwoman’sreason,sentherstraightasanarrowthisthought:’Hewantstomarryme!’
  Shehadheardofsimilarstrangeproceedings,inwhichtheorange—
  flowerandthesadcypresswereintertwined。Peoplesometimeswishedontheirdeath—beds,frommotivesofesteem,toformalegaltiewhichtheyhadnotcaredtoestablishasadomesticoneduringtheiractivelife。
  ForafewminutesMargerycouldhardlybecalledexcited;shewasexcitementitself。Betweensurpriseandmodestysheblushedandtrembledbyturns。Shebecamegrave,satdowninthesolitaryroom,andlookedintothefire。Atseveno’clocksheroseresolved,andwentquitetranquillyupstairs,whereshespeedilybegantodress。
  Inmakingthishastytoiletnine—tenthsofhercareweregiventoherhands。Thesummerhadleftthemslightlybrown,andsheheldthemupandlookedatthemwithsomemisgiving,thefourthfingerofherlefthandmoreespecially。Hotwashingsandcoldwashings,certainproductsfrombeeandflowerknownonlytocountrygirls,everythingshecouldthinkof,wereuseduponthoselittlesunburnthands,tillshepersuadedherselfthattheywerereallyaswhiteascouldbewishedbyahusbandwithahundredtitles。Herdressingcompleted,sheleftwordwithEdythatshewasgoingforalongwalk,andsetoutinthedirectionofMountLodge。
  Shenolongertrippedlikeagirl,butwalkedlikeawoman。Whilecrossingtheparkshemurmured’BaronessvonXanten’inapronunciationofherown。Thesoundofthattitlecausedhersuchagitationthatshewasobligedtopause,withherhanduponherheart。
  Thehousewassocloselyneighbouredbyshrubberiesonthreeofitssidesthatitwasnottillshehadgonenearlyrounditthatshefoundthelittledoor。Theresolutionshehadbeenanhourinformingfailedherwhenshestoodattheportal。Whilepausingforcouragetotap,acarriagedroveuptothefrontentrancealittlewayoff,andpeepingroundthecornershesawalightaclergyman,andagentlemaninwhomMargeryfanciedthatsherecognizedawell—knownsolicitorfromtheneighbouringtown。Shehadnolongeranydoubtofthenatureoftheceremonyproposed。’ItissuddenbutImustobeyhim!’shemurmured:andtappedfourtimes。
  Thedoorwasopenedsoquicklythattheservantmusthavebeenstandingimmediatelyinside。Shethoughthimthemanwhohaddriventhemtotheball——thesilentmanwhocouldbetrusted。Withoutawordheconductedherupthebackstaircase,andthroughadooratthetop,intoawidecorridor。Shewasaskedtowaitinalittledressing—room,wheretherewasafire,andanoldmetal—framedlooking—glassoverthemantel—piece,inwhichshecaughtsightofherself。Aredspotburntineachofhercheeks;therestofherfacewaspale;andhereyeswerelikediamondsofthefirstwater。
  Beforeshehadbeenseatedmanyminutesthemancamebacknoiselessly,andshefollowedhimtoadoorcoveredbyaredandblackcurtain,whichhelifted,andusheredherintoalargechamber。
  Ascreenedlightstoodonatablebeforeher,andonherleftthehangingsofatalldarkfour—postbedsteadobstructedherviewofthecentreoftheroom。Everythinghereseemedofsuchamagnificenttypetohereyesthatshefeltconfused,diminishedtohalfherheight,halfherstrength,halfherprettiness。Themanwhohadconductedherretiredatonce,andsomeonecamesoftlyroundtheangleofthebed—curtains。Heheldouthishandkindly——ratherpatronisingly:itwasthesolicitorwhomsheknewbysight。Thisgentlemanledherforward,asifshehadbeenalambratherthanawoman,tilltheoccupantofthebedwasrevealed。
  TheBaron’seyeswereclosed,andherentryhadbeensonoiselessthathedidnotopenthem。Thepallorofhisfacenearlymatchedthewhitebed—linen,andhisdarkhairandheavyblackmoustachewerelikedashesofinkonacleanpage。Nearhimsattheparsonandanothergentleman,whomsheafterwardslearnttobeaLondonphysician;andontheparsonwhisperingafewwordstheBaronopenedhiseyes。Assoonashesawherhesmiledfaintly,andheldouthishand。
  Margerywouldhaveweptforhim,ifshehadnotbeentoooverawedandpalpitatingtodoanything。Shequiteforgotwhatshehadcomefor,shookhandswithhimmechanically,andcouldhardlyreturnananswertohisweak’DearMargery,youseehowIam——howareyou?’
  Inpreparingformarriageshehadnotcalculatedonsuchasceneasthis。HeraffectionfortheBaronhadtoomuchofthevagueinittoaffordhertrustfulnessnow。Shewishedshehadnotcome。OnasignfromtheBaronthelawyerbroughtherachair,andtheoppressivesilencewasbrokenbytheBaron’swords。
  ’Iampulleddowntodeath’sdoor,Margery,’hesaid;’andIsupposeIsoonshallpassthrough……Mypeacehasbeenmuchdisturbedinthisillness,forjustbeforeitattackedmeIreceived——thatpresentyoureturned,fromwhich,andinotherways,Ilearntthatyouhadlostyourchanceofmarriage……NowitwasIwhodidtheharm,andyoucanimaginehowthenewshasaffectedme。Ithasworriedmealltheillnessthrough,andIcannotdismissmyerrorfrommymind……
  IwanttorightthewrongIhavedoneyoubeforeIdie。Margery,youhavealwaysobeyedme,and,strangeastherequestmaybe,willyouobeymenow?’
  Shewhispered’Yes。’
  ’Well,then,’saidtheBaron,’thesethreegentlemenarehereforaspecialpurpose:onehelpsthebody——he’scalledaphysician;
  anotherhelpsthesoul——he’saparson;theotherhelpstheunderstanding——he’salawyer。Theyareherepartlyonmyaccount,andpartlyonyours。’
  Thespeakerthenmadeasigntothelawyer,whowentoutofthedoor。
  Hecamebackalmostinstantly,butnotalone。Behindhim,dressedupinhisbestclothes,withaflowerinhisbuttonholeandabridegroom’sair,walked——Jim。
  CHAPTERXII
  Margerycouldhardlyrepressascream。Asforflushingandblushing,shehadturnedhotandturnedpalesomanytimesalreadyduringtheevening,thattherewasreallynownothingofthatsortleftforhertodo;andsheremainedincomplexionmuchasbefore。O,themockeryofit!Thatsecretdream——thatsweetword’Baroness!’——whichhadsustainedherallthewayalong。InsteadofaBarontherestoodJim,white—waistcoated,demure,everyhairinplace,and,ifshemistooknot,evenadeedysparkinhiseye。
  Jim’ssurprisingpresenceonthescenemaybebrieflyaccountedfor。
  HisresolvetoseekanexplanationwiththeBaronatallriskshadprovedunexpectedlyeasy:theinterviewhadatoncebeengranted,andthen,seeingthecrisisatwhichmattersstood,theBaronhadgenerouslyrevealedtoJimthewholeofhisindebtednesstoandknowledgeofMargery。ThetruthoftheBaron’sstatement,theinnocentnatureasyetoftheacquaintanceship,hissorrowfortherupturehehadproduced,wassoevidentthat,farfromhavinganyfurtherdoubtsofhispatron,Jimfranklyaskedhisadviceonthenextsteptobepursued。AtthisstagetheBaronfellill,and,desiringmuchtoseethetwoyoungpeopleunitedbeforehisdeath,hehadsentanewHayward,andproposedtheplanwhichtheyweretonowabouttoattempt——amarriageatthebedsideofthesickmanbyspeciallicence。TheinfluenceatLambethofsomefriendsoftheBaron’s,andthecharitablebequestsofhislatemothertoseveraldeservingChurchfunds,weregenerallysupposedtobeamongthereasonswhytheapplicationforthelicencewasnotrefused。
  This,however,isofsmallconsequence。TheBaronprobablyknew,inproposingthismethodofcelebratingthemarriage,thathisenormouspoweroverherwouldoutweighanysentimentalobstacleswhichshemightsetup——inwardobjectionsthat,withouthispresenceandfirmness,mightprovetoomuchforheracquiescence。Doubtlessheforesaw,too,theadvantageofgettingherintothehousebeforemakingtheindividualityofherhusbandcleartohermind。
  Now,theBaron’sconjectureswererightastotheevent,butwrongastothemotives。Margerywasaperfectlittledissembleronsomeoccasions,andoneofthemwaswhenshewishedtohideanysuddenmortificationthatmightbringherintoridicule。Shehadnosoonerrecoveredfromherfirstfitofdiscomfiturethanpridebadehersufferanythingratherthanrevealherabsurddisappointment。Hencethesceneprogressedasfollows:
  ’Comehere,Hayward,’saidtheinvalid。Haywardcamenear。TheBaron,holdingherhandinoneofhisown,andherlover’sintheother,continued,’Willyou,inspiteofyourrecentvexationwithher,marryhernowifshedoesnotrefuse?’
  ’Iwill,sir,’saidJimpromptly。
  ’AndMargery,whatdoyousay?Itismerelyasettingofthingsright。Youhavealreadypromisedthisyoungmantobehiswife,andshould,ofcourse,performyourpromise。Youdon’tdislikeJim?’
  ’O,no,sir,’shesaid,inalow,dryvoice。
  ’IlikehimbetterthanIcantellyou,’saidtheBaron。’Heisanhonourableman,andwillmakeyouagoodhusband。Youmustrememberthatmarriageisalifecontract,inwhichgeneralcompatibilityoftemperandworldlypositionisofmoreimportancethanfleetingpassion,whichneverlongsurvives。Now,willyou,atmyearnestrequest,andbeforeIgototheSouthofEuropetodie,agreetomakethisgoodmanhappy?Ihaveexpressedyourviewsonthesubject,haven’tI,Hayward?’
  ’ToaT,sir,’saidJimemphatically;withamotionofraisinghishattohisinfluentialally,tillherememberedhehadnohaton。
  ’And,thoughIcouldhardlyexpectMargerytogieinformyasking,I
  feelssheoughttogieinforyours。’
  ’Andyouaccepthim,mylittlefriend?’
  ’Yes,sir,’shemurmured,’ifhe’llagreetoathingortwo。’
  ’Doubtlesshewill——whatarethey?’
  ’ThatIshallnotbemadetolivewithhimtillIaminthemindforit;andthatmyhavinghimshallbekeptunknownforthepresent。’
  ’Well,whatdoyouthinkofit,Hayward?’
  ’AnythingthatyouorshemaywishI’lldo,mynoblelord,’saidJim。
  ’Well,herrequestisnotunreasonable,seeingthattheproceedingsare,onmyaccount,alittlehurried。Sowe’llproceed。Youratherexpectedthis,frommyallusiontoaceremonyinmynote,didyounot,Margery?’
  ’Yes,sir,’saidshe,withaneffort。
  ’Good;Ithoughtso;youlookedsolittlesurprised。’
  Wenowleavethesceneinthebedroomforaspotnotmanyyardsoff。
  WhenthecarriageseenbyMargeryatthedoorwasdrivinguptoMountLodgeitarrestedtheattention,notonlyoftheyounggirl,butofamanwhohadforsometimebeenmovingslowlyabouttheoppositelawn,engagedinsomeoperationwhilehesmokedashortpipe。Ashortobservationofhisdoingswouldhaveshownthathewasshelteringsomedelicateplantsfromanexpectedfrost,andthathewasthegardener。Whenthelightatthedoorfellupontheenteringformsofparsonandlawyer——theformerastranger,thelatterknowntohim——
  thegardenerwalkedthoughtfullyroundthehouse。Reachingthesmallside—entrancehewasfurthersurprisedtoseeitnoiselesslyopentoayoungwoman,inwhosemomentarilyilluminedfeatureshediscernedthoseofMargeryTucker。
  Altogethertherewassomethingcuriousinthis。Themanreturnedtothelawnfront,andperfunctorilywentonputtingsheltersovercertainplants,thoughhisthoughtswereplainlyotherwiseengaged。
  Onthegrasshisfootstepswerenoiseless,andthenightmoreoverbeingstill,hecouldpresentlyhearamurmuringfromthebedroomwindowoverhishead。
  Thegardenertookfromatreealadderthathehadusedinnailingthatday,setitunderthewindow,andascendedhalf—way,hoodwinkinghisconsciencebyseizinganailortwowithhishandandtestingtheirtwig—supportingpowers。Hesoonheardenoughtosatisfyhim。
  Thewordsofachurch—serviceinthestrangeparson’svoicewereaudibleinsnatchesthroughtheblind:theywerewordsheknewtobepartofthesolemnizationofmatrimony,suchas’weddedwife,’
  ’richerforpoorer,’andsoon;thelessfamiliarpartsbeingamoreorlessconfusedsound。
  Satisfiedthataweddingwasinprogressthere,thegardenerdidnotforamomentdreamthatoneofthecontractingpartiescouldbeotherthanthesickBaron。Hedescendedtheladderandagainwalkedroundthehouse,waitingonlytillhesawMargeryemergefromthesamelittledoor;when,fearingthathemightbediscovered,hewithdrewinthedirectionofhisowncottage。
  Thisbuildingstoodatthelowercornerofthegarden,andassoonasthegardenerenteredhewasaccostedbyahandsomewomaninawidow’scap,whocalledhimfather,andsaidthatsupperhadbeenreadyforalongtime。Theysatdown,butduringthemealthegardenerwassoabstractedandsilentthathisdaughterputherheadwinninglytoonesideandsaid,’Whatisit,fatherdear?’
  ’Ah——whatisit!’criedthegardener。’Somethingthatmakesverylittledifferencetome,butmaybeofgreataccounttoyou,ifyouplayyourcardswell。THERE’SBEENAWEDDINGATTHELODGETO—NIGHT!’
  Herelatedtoher,withacautiontosecrecy,allthathehadheardandseen。
  ’Wearefolkthathavegottogettheirliving,’hesaid,’andsuchonesmustn’ttelltalesabouttheirbetters,——Lordforgivethemockeryoftheword!——butthere’ssomethingtobemadeofit。She’sanicemaid;so,Harriet,doyoutakethefirstchanceyougetforhonouringher,beforeothersknowwhathashappened。Sincethisisdonesoprivatelyitwillbekeptprivateforsometime——tillafterhisdeath,noquestion;——whenIexpectshe’lltakethishouseforherself;andblazeoutasawidow—ladytenthousandpoundstrong。
  Youbeingawidow,shemaymakeyouhercompany—keeper;andsoyou’llhaveahomebyalittlecontriving。’
  Whilethisconversationprogressedatthegardener’sMargerywasonherwayoutoftheBaron’shouse。Shewas,indeed,married。But,asweknow,shewasnotmarriedtotheBaron。Theceremonyoversheseemedbutlittlediscomposed,andexpressedawishtoreturnaloneasshehadcome。Tothis,ofcourse,noobjectioncouldbeofferedunderthetermsoftheagreement,andwishingJimafrigidgood—bye,andtheBaronaveryquietfarewell,shewentoutbythedoorwhichhadadmittedher。Oncesafeandaloneinthedarknessoftheparksheburstintotears,whichdroppeduponthegrassasshepassedalong。IntheBaron’sroomshehadseemedscaredandhelpless;nowherreasonandemotionsreturned。Thefurthershegotawayfromtheglamourofthatroom,andtheinfluenceofitsoccupant,themoreshebecameofopinionthatshehadactedfoolishly。Shehaddisobedientlyleftherfather’shouse,toobeyhimhere。Shehadpleasedeverybodybutherself。
  However,thinkingwasnowtoolate。Howshegotintohergrandmother’shouseshehardlyknew;butwithoutasupper,andwithoutconfrontingeitherherrelativeorEdy,shewenttobed。
  CHAPTERXIII
  Ongoingoutintothegardennextmorning,withastrangesenseofbeinganotherpersonthanherself,shebeheldJimleaningmutelyoverthegate。
  Henodded。’Goodmorning,Margery,’hesaidcivilly。
  ’Goodmorning,’saidMargeryinthesametone。
  ’Ibegyourpardon,’hecontinued。’Butwhichwaywasyougoingthismorning?’
  ’Iamnotgoinganywherejustnow,thankyou。ButIshallgotomyfather’sby—and—bywithEdy。’Shewentonwithasigh,’Ihavedonewhathehasallalongwished,thatis,marriedyou;andthere’snolongerreasonforenmityatweenhimandme。’
  ’Trew——trew。Well,asIamgoingthesameway,Icangiveyoualiftinthetrap,forthedistanceislong。’
  ’Nothankyou——Iamusedtowalking,’shesaid。
  Theyremainedinsilence,thegatebetweenthem,tillJim’sconvictionswouldapparentlyallowhimtoholdhispeacenolonger。
  ’Thisisabadjob!’hemurmured。
  ’Itis,’shesaid,asonewhosethoughtshaveonlytooreadilybeenidentified。’HowIcametoagreetoitismorethanIcantell!’
  Andtearsbeganrollingdownhercheeks。
  ’Theblameismoreminethanyours,Isuppose,’hereturned。’I
  oughttohavesaidNo,andnotbackedupthegentlemanincarryingoutthisscheme。’Twashisownnotionentirely,asperhapsyouknow。
  Ishouldneverhavethoughtofsuchaplan;buthesaidyou’dbewilling,andthatitwouldbeallright;andIwastooreadytobelievehim。’
  ’Thethingis,howtoremedyit,’saidshebitterly。’Ibelieve,ofcourse,inyourpromisetokeepthisprivate,andnottotroublemebycalling。’
  ’Certainly,’saidJim。’Idon’twanttotroubleyou。Asforthat,why,mydearMrs。Hayward——’
  ’Don’tMrs。Haywardme!’saidMargerysharply。’Iwon’tbeMrs。
  Hayward!’
  Jimpaused。’Well,youareshebylaw,andthatwasallImeant,’hesaidmildly。