’IsaidIwouldacknowledgenosuchthing，andIwon’t。Athingcan’tbelegalwhenit’sagainstthewishesofthepersonsthelawsaremadetoprotect。SoIbegyounottocallmethatanymore。’
’Verywell，MissTucker，’saidJimdeferentially。’Wecanliveonexactlyasbefore。Wecan’tmarryanybodyelse，that’strue；butbeyondthatthere’snodifference，andnoharmdone。Yourfatheroughttobetold，Isuppose，evenifnobodyelseis？Itwillpartlyreconcilehimtoyou，andmakeyourlifesmoother。’
Insteadofdirectlyreplying，Margeryexclaimedinalowvoice：
’O，itisamistake——Ididn’tseeitall，owingtonothavingtimetoreflect!Iagreed，thinkingthatatleastIshouldgetreconciledtofatherbythestep。Butperhapshewouldassoonhavemenotmarriedatallasmarriedandparted。Imustha’beenenchanted——bewitched——
whenIgavemyconsenttothis!Ionlydidittopleasethatdeargooddyingnobleman——thoughwhyheshouldhavewisheditsomuchI
can’ttell!’
’NorIneither，’saidJim。’Yes，we’vebeenfooledintoit，Margery，’hesaid，withextraordinarygravity。’He’shadhiswaywi’
us，andnowwe’vegottosufferforit。Beingagentlemanofpatronage，andhavingboughtseveralloadsoflimeo’me，andhavinggivenmeallthatsplendidfurniture，Icouldhardlyrefuse——’
’What，didhegiveyouthat？’
’Aysure——tohelpmewinye。’
Margerycoveredherfacewithherhands；whereuponJimstoodupfromthegateandlookedcriticallyather。’’Tisafootyplotbetweenyoutwomento——snareme!’sheexclaimed。’Whyshouldyouhavedoneit——whyshouldhehavedoneit——whenI’venotdeservedtobetreatedso。Heboughtthefurniture——didhe!O，I’vebeentakenin——I’vebeenwronged!’Thegriefandvexationoffindingthatlongago，whenfondlybelievingtheBarontohavelover—likefeelingshimselfforher，hewasstillconspiringtofavourJim’ssuit，wasmorethanshecouldendure。
Jimwithdistantcourtesywaited，nibblingastraw，tillherparoxysmwasover。’Oneword，MissTuck——Mrs。——Margery，’hethenrecommencedgravely。’You’llfindmemanenoughtorespectyourwish，andtoleaveyoutoyourself——foreverandever，ifthat’sall。ButI’vejustonewordofadvicetorender’ee。Thatis，thatbeforeyougotoSilverthornDairyyourselfyouletmedriveaheadandcallonyourfather。He’sfriendswithme，andhe’snotfriendswithyou。Icanbreakthenews，alittleatatime，andIthinkIcangainhisgoodwillforyounow，eventhoughtheweddingbenonaturalweddingatall。Atanycount，Icanhearwhathe’sgottosayabout’ee，andcomebackhereandtell’ee。’
Shenoddedacoolassenttothis，andheleftherstrollingaboutthegardeninthesunlightwhilehewentontoreconnoitreasagreed。ItmustnotbesupposedthatJim’sdutifulechoesofMargery’sregretatherprecipitatemarriagewereallgospel；andthereisnodoubtthathisprivateintention，aftertellingthedairy—farmerwhathadhappened，wastoaskhistemporaryassenttohercaprice，till，inthecourseoftime，sheshouldbereasonedoutofherwhimsandinducedtosettledownwithJiminanaturalmanner。Hehad，itistrue，beensomewhatnettledbyherfirmobjectiontohim，andherkeensorrowforwhatshehaddonetopleaseanother；buthehopedforthebest。
But，alasfortheastuteJim’scalculations!Hedroveontothedairy，whosewhitewallsnowgleamedinthemorningsun；madefastthehorsetoaringinthewall，andenteredthebarton。Beforeknocking，heperceivedthedairymanwalkingacrossfromagateintheotherdirection，asifhehadjustcomein。Jimwentovertohim。
Sincetheunfortunateincidentonthemorningoftheintendedweddingtheyhadmerelybeenonnoddingterms，fromasenseofawkwardnessintheirrelations。
’What——isthatthee？’saidDairymanTucker，inavoicewhichunmistakablystartledJimbyitsabruptfierceness。’Aprettyfellowthoube’st!’
Itwasabadbeginningfortheyoungman’slifeasason—in—law，andauguredillforthedelicateconsultationhedesired。
’What’sthematter？’saidJim。
’Matter!Iwishsomefolkswouldburntheirlimewithoutburningotherfolks’propertyalongwi’it。Yououghttobeashamedofyourself。Youcallyourselfaman，JimHayward，andanhonestlime—
burner，andarespectable，market—keepingChristen，andyetatsixo’clockthismorning，insteado’beingwhereyououghttoha’been——
atyourwork，therewasneithervellormarko’theetobeseen!’
’Faith，Idon’tknowwhatyouareravingat，’saidJim。
’Why——thesparksfromthycouch—heapblewoveruponmyhay—rick，andtherick’sburnttoashes；andalltocomeouto’mywell—squeezedpocket。I’lltelltheewhatitis，youngman。There’snobusinessinthee。I’veknownSilverthornfolk，quickanddead，forthelastcouple—o’—scoreyear，andI’veneverknewonesothree—cunningforharmasthee，mygentlemanlime—burner；andIreckonitoneo’theluckiestdayso’mylifewhenI’scapedhavingtheeinmyfamily。
Thatmaidofminewasright；Iwaswrong。Sheseedtheetobeadrawlachetingrogue，and’twasherwisdomtogooffthatmorningandgetrido’thee。Icommendherfor’t，andI’mgoingtofetchherhometo—morrow。’
’Youneedn’ttakethetrouble。She’scominghome—alongto—nightofherownaccord。Ihaveseenherthismorning，andshetoldmeso。’
’Somuchthebetter。I’llwelcomeherwarm。Nation!I’dsoonerseehermarriedtotheparishfoolthanthee。Notyou——youdon’tcareformyhay。Tarryingaboutwhereyoushouldn’tbe，inbed，nodoubt；
that’swhatyouwasa—doing。Now，don’tyoudarkenmydoorsagain，andthesooneryoubeoffmybito’groundthebetterIshallbepleased。’
Jimlooked，ashefelt，stultified。Iftherickhadbeenreallydestroyed，alittleblamecertainlyattachedtohim，buthecouldnotunderstandhowithadhappened。However，blameornone，itwasclearhecouldnot，withanyself—respect，declarehimselftobethispepperyoldgaffer’sson—in—lawinthefaceofsuchanattackasthis。
Formonths——almostyears——theonetransactionthathadseemednecessarytocomposethesetwofamiliessatisfactorilywasJim’sunionwithMargery。Nosoonerhaditbeencompletedthanitappearedonallsidesasthegravestmishapforboth。Statingcoldlythathewoulddiscoverhowmuchoftheaccidentwastobeattributedtohisnegligence，andpaythedamage，hewentoutofthebarton，andreturnedthewayhehadcome。
Margeryhadbeenkeepingalook—outforhim，particularlywishinghimnottoenterthehouse，lestothersshouldseetheseriousnessoftheirinterview；andassoonassheheardwheelsshewenttothegate，whichwasoutofview。
’Surelyfatherhasbeenspeakingroughlytoyou!’shesaid，onseeinghisface。
’Nottheleastdoubtthathehave，’saidJim。
’Butishestillangrywithme？’
’Notintheleast。He’swaitingtowelcome’ee。’
’Ah!becauseI’vemarriedyou。’
’Becausehethinksyouhavenotmarriedme!He’sjawedmeuphillanddown。Hehatesme；andforyoursakeIhavenotexplainedaword。’
Margerylookedtowardshomewithasad，severegaze。’Mr。Hayward，’
shesaid，’wehavemadeagreatmistake，andweareinastrangeposition。’
’True，butI’lltellyouwhat，mistress——Iwon’tstand——’Hestoppedsuddenly。’Well，well；I’vepromised!’hequietlyadded。
’Wemustsufferforourmistake，’shewenton。’Thewaytosufferleastistokeepourowncounselonwhathappenedlastevening，andnottomeet。Imustnowreturntomyfather。’
Heinclinedhisheadinindifferentassent，andshewentindoors，leavinghimthere。
CHAPTERXIV
Margeryreturnedhome，asshehaddecided，andresumedheroldlifeatSilverthorn。Andseeingherfather’sanimositytowardsJim，shetoldhimnotawordofthemarriage。
Herinnerlife，however，wasnotwhatitoncehadbeen。Shehadsufferedamentalandemotionaldisplacement——ashock，whichhadsetashadeofastonishmentonherfaceasapermanentthing。
HerindignationwiththeBaronforcollusionwithJim，atfirstbitter，lessenedwiththelapseofafewweeks，andatlengthvanishedintheinterestofsometidingsshereceivedoneday。
TheBaronwasnotdead，buthewasnolongerattheLodge。Tothesurpriseofthephysicians，asufficientimprovementhadtakenplaceinhisconditiontopermitofhisremovalbeforethecoldweathercame。Hisdesireforremovalhadbeensuch，indeed，thatitwasadvisabletocarryitoutatalmostanyrisk。Theplanadoptedhadbeentohavehimborneonmen’sshouldersinasortofpalanquintotheshorenearIdmouth，adistanceofseveralmiles，whereayachtlayawaitinghim。Bythismeansthenoiseandjoltingofacarriage，alongirregularbye—roads，wereavoided。Thesingularprocessionoverthefieldstookplaceatnight，andwaswitnessedbybutfewpeople，onebeingalabouringman，whodescribedthescenetoMargery。Whentheseasidewasreachedalong，narrowgangwaywaslaidfromthedeckoftheyachttotheshore，whichwassosteepastoallowtheyachttoliequitenear。Themen，withtheirburden，ascendedbythelightoflanterns，thesickmanwaslaidinthecabin，and，assoonashisbearershadreturnedtotheshore，thegangwaywasremoved，aropewasheardskirringoverwoodinthedarkness，theyachtquivered，spreadherwovenwingstotheair，andmovedaway。Soonshewasbutasmall，shapelessphantomuponthewidebreastofthesea。
ItwassaidthattheyachtwasboundforAlgiers。
Whentheinimicalautumnandwinterweathercameon，Margerywonderedifhewerestillalive。Thehousebeingshutup，andtheservantsgone，shehadnomeansofknowing，till，onaparticularSaturday，herfatherdrovehertoExonburymarket。Here，inattendingtohisbusiness，helefthertoherselfforawhile。Walkinginaquietstreetintheprofessionalquarterofthetown，shesawcomingtowardsherthesolicitorwhohadbeenpresentatthewedding，andwhohadactedfortheBaroninvarioussmalllocalmattersduringhisbriefresidenceattheLodge。
Shereddenedtopeonyhues，avertedhereyes，andwouldhavepassedhim。Buthecrossedoverandbarredthepavement，andwhenshemethisglancehewaslookingwithfriendlyseverityather。Thestreetwasquiet，andhesaidinalowvoice，’How’sthehusband？’
’Idon’tknow，sir，’saidshe。
’What——andareyourstipulationsaboutsecrecyandseparatelivingstillinforce？’
’Theywillalwaysbe，’shereplieddecisively。’Mr。HaywardandI
agreedonthepoint，andwehavenottheslightestwishtochangethearrangement。’
’H’m。Then’tisMissTuckertotheworld；Mrs。Haywardtomeandoneortwoothersonly？’
Margerynodded。Thenshenervedherselfbyaneffort，and，thoughblushingpainfully，asked，’MayIputonequestion，sir？IstheBarondead？’
’Heisdeadtoyouandtoallofus。Whyshouldyouask？’
’Because，ifhe’salive，IamsorryImarriedJamesHayward。IfheisdeadIdonotmuchmindmymarriage。’
’Irepeat，heisdeadtoyou，’saidthelawyeremphatically。’I’lltellyouallIknow。Myprofessionalservicesforhimendedwithhisdeparturefromthiscountry；butIthinkIshouldhaveheardfromhimifhehadbeenalivestill。Ihavenotheardatall：andthis，takeninconnectionwiththenatureofhisillness，leavesnodoubtinmymindthatheisdead。’
Margerysighed，andthankingthelawyershelefthimwithatearfortheBaroninhereye。Afterthisincidentshebecamemorerestful；
andthetimedrewonforherperiodicalvisittohergrandmother。
AfewdayssubsequenttoherarrivalheragedrelativeaskedhertogowithamessagetothegardeneratMountLodge（whostilllivedonthere，keepingthegroundsinorderforthelandlord）。Margeryhatedthatdirectionnow，butshewent。TheLodge，whichshesawoverthetrees，wastoherlikeaskullfromwhichthewarmandlivingfleshhadvanished。ItwastwilightbythetimeshereachedthecottageatthebottomoftheLodgegarden，and，theroombeingilluminatedwithin，shesawthroughthewindowawomanshehadneverseenbefore。
Shewasdark，andratherhandsome，andwhenMargeryknockedsheopenedthedoor。Itwasthegardener’swidoweddaughter，whohadbeenadvisedtomakefriendswithMargery。
Shenowfoundheropportunity。Margery’serrandwassooncompleted，theyoungwidow，tohersurprise，treatingherwithpreternaturalrespect，andafterwardsofferingtoaccompanyherhome。Margerywasnotsorrytohaveacompanioninthegloom，andtheywalkedontogether。Thewidow，Mrs。Peach，wasdemonstrativeandconfidential；
andtoldMargeryallaboutherself。Shehadcomequiterecentlytolivewithherfather——duringtheBaron’sillness，infact——andherhusbandhadbeencaptainofaketch。
’Isawyouonemorning，ma’am，’shesaid。’Butyoudidn’tseeme。
ItwaswhenyouwerecrossingthehillinsightoftheLodge。Youlookedatit，andsighed。’Tisthelotofwidowstosigh，ma’am，isitnot？’
’Widows——yes，Isuppose；butwhatdoyoumean？’
Mrs。Peachloweredhervoice。’Ican’tsaymore，ma’am，withproperrespect。ButthereseemstobenoquestionofthepoorBaron’sdeath；andthoughtheseforeignprincescantake（asmypoorhusbandusedtotellme）whattheycallleft—handedwives，andleavethembehindwhentheygoabroad，widowhoodiswidowhood，left—handedorright。Andreally，tobetheleft—handedwifeofaforeignbaronisnoblerthantobemarriedallroundtoacommonman。You’llexcusemyfreedom，ma’am；butbeingawidowmyself，Ihavepitiedyoufrommyheart；soyoungasyouare，andhavingtokeepitasecret，and（excusingme）havingnomoneyoutofhisvastrichesbecause’tisswallowedupbyBaronessNumberOne。’
NowMargerydidnotunderstandawordmoreofthisthanthebarefactthatMrs。PeachsuspectedhertobetheBaron’sundoweredwidow，andsuchwasthemilkmaid’snaturethatshedidnotdenythewidow’simpeachment。Thelattercontinued—
’Butah，ma’am，allyourtroublesarestraightbackwardinyourmemory——whileIhavetroublesbeforeaswellasgriefbehind。’
’Whatmaytheybe，Mrs。Peach？’inquiredMargerywithanairoftheBaroness。
Theotherdroppedhervoicetorevelationtones：’Ihavebeenforgetfulenoughofmyfirstmantolosemyhearttoasecond!’
’Youshouldn’tdothat——itiswrong。Youshouldcontrolyourfeelings。’
’ButhowamItocontrolmyfeelings？’
’Bygoingtoyourdeadhusband’sgrave，andthingsofthatsort。’
’Doyougotoyourdeadhusband’sgrave？’
’HowcanIgotoAlgiers？’
’Ah——tootrue!Well，I’vetriedeverythingtocuremyself——readthewordsagainstit，gonetotheTablethefirstSundayofeverymonth，andallsorts。But，avast，myshipmate!——asmypoormanusedtosay—
—there’tisjustthesame。Inshort，I’vemadeupmymindtoencouragethenewone。’TisflatteringthatI，anew—comer，shouldhavebeenfoundoutbyayoungmansosoon。’
’Whoishe？’saidMargerylistlessly。
’Amasterlime—burner。’
’Amasterlime—burner？’
’That’shisprofession。He’sapartner—in—co。，doingverywellindeed。’
’Butwhat’shisname？’
’Idon’tliketotellyouhisname，for，though’tisnight，thatcoversallshame—facedness，myfaceisashotasa’Talianiron，I
declare!Doyoujustfeelit。’
MargeryputherhandonMrs。Peach’sface，and，sureenough，hotitwas。’Doeshecomecourting？’sheaskedquickly。
’Wellonlyinthewayofbusiness。Henevercomesunlesslimeiswantedintheneighbourhood。He’sintheYeomanry，too，andwilllookveryfinewhenhecomesoutinregimentalsfordrillinMay。’
’Oh——intheYeomanry，’Margerysaid，withaslightrelief。’Thenitcan’t——isheayoungman？’
’Yes，juniorpartner—in—co。’
ThedescriptionhadanoddresemblancetoJim，ofwhomMargeryhadnotheardawordformonths。Hehadpromisedsilenceandabsence，andhadfulfilledhispromiseliterally，withagratuitousadditionthatwasratheramazing，ifindeeditwereJimwhomthewidowloved。
OnepointinthedescriptionpuzzledMargery：JimwasnotintheYeomanry，unless，byasurprisingdevelopmentofenterprise，hehadentereditrecently。
AtpartingMargerysaid，withaninterestquitetender，’Ishouldliketoseeyouagain，Mrs。Peach，andhearofyourattachment。Whencanyoucall？’
’Oh——anytime，dearBaroness，I’msure——ifyouthinkIamgoodenough。’
’Indeed，Ido，Mrs。Peach。Comeassoonasyou’veseenthelime—
burneragain。’
CHAPTERXV
SeeingthatJimlivedseveralmilesfromthewidow，Margerywasrathersurprised，andevenfeltaslightsinkingoftheheart，whenhernewacquaintanceappearedatherdoorsosoonastheeveningofthefollowingMonday。SheaskedMargerytowalkoutwithher，whichtheyoungwomanreadilydid。
’Iamcomeatonce，’saidthewidowbreathlessly，assoonastheywereinthelane，’foritissoexcitingthatIcan’tkeepit。I
musttellittosomebody，ifonlyabird，oracat，oragardensnail。’
’Whatisit？’askedhercompanion。
’I’vepulledgrassfrommyhusband’sgravetocureit——wovethebladesintotruelover’sknots；tookoffmyshoesuponthesod；but，avast，myshipmate，——’
’Uponthesod——why？’
’Tofeelthedampearthhe’sin，andmakethesenseofitentermysoul。Butno。Ithasswelledtoahead；heisgoingtomeetmeattheYeomanryReview。’
’Themasterlime—burner？’
Thewidownodded。
’Whenisittobe？’
’To—morrow。Helookssolovelyinhisaccoutrements!He’ssuchasplendidsoldier；thatwasthelaststrawthatkindledmysoultosayyes。He’shomefromExonburyforanightbetweenthedrills，’
continuedMrs。Peach。’Hegoesbackto—morrowmorningfortheReview，andwhenit’soverhe’sgoingtomeetme。But，guidemyheart，thereheis!’
Herexclamationhadriseinthesuddenappearanceofabrilliantreduniformthroughthetrees，andthetrampofahorsecarryingthewearerthereof。Inanotherhalf—minutethemilitarygentlemanwouldhaveturnedthecorner，andfacedthem。
’He’dbetternotseeme；he’llthinkIknowtoomuch，’saidMargeryprecipitately。’I’llgouphere。’
Thewidow，whosethoughtshadbeenofthesamecast，seemedmuchrelievedtoseeMargerydisappearintheplantation，inthemidstofaspringchorusofbirds。Onceamongthetrees，Margeryturnedherhead，and，beforeshecouldseetherider’spersonsherecognizedthehorseasTony，thelightestofthreethatJimandhispartnerowned，forthepurposeofcartingoutlimetotheircustomers。
Jim，then，hadjoinedtheYeomanrysincehisestrangementfromMargery。AmanwhohadworntheyoungQueenVictoria’suniformforsevendaysonlycouldnotbeexpectedtolookasifitwerepartofhisperson，inthemanneroflong—trainedsoldiers；buthewasawell—formedyoungfellow，andofanagewhenfewpositionscameamisstoonewhohasthecapacitytoadapthimselftocircumstances。
MeetingtheblushingMrs。Peach（towhomMargeryinhermindsternlydeniedtherighttoblushatall），Jimalightedandmovedonwithher，probablyatMrs。Peach’sownsuggestion；sothatwhattheysaid，howlongtheyremainedtogether，andhowtheyparted，Margeryknewnot。Shemighthaveknownsomeofthesethingsbywaiting；butthepresenceofJimhadbredinherheartasuddendisgustforthewidow，andageneralsenseofdiscomfiture。Shewentawayinanoppositedirection，turningherheadandsayingtotheunconsciousJim，’There’safinerodinpickleforyou，mygentleman，ifyoucarryoutthatprettyscheme!’
Jim’smilitarycouphaddecidedlyastonishedher。Whathemightdonextshecouldnotconjecture。Theideaofhisdoinganythingsufficientlybrillianttoarrestherattentionwouldhaveseemedludicrous，hadnotJim，byenteringtheYeomanry，revealedacapacityfordazzlingexploitswhichmadeitunsafetopredictanylimitationtohispowers。
Margerywasnowexcited。ThedaringofthewretchedJiminburstingintoscarletamazedherasmuchashisdoubtfulacquaintanceshipwiththedemonstrativeMrs。Peach。TogotothatReview，towatchthepair，toeclipseMrs。Peachinbrilliancy，tomeetandpasstheminwitheringcontempt——ifsheonlycoulddoit!But，alas!shewasaforsakenwoman。
’IftheBaronwerealive，orinEngland，’shesaidtoherself（forsometimesshethoughthemightpossiblybealive），’andheweretotakemetothisReview，wouldn’tIshowthatforwardMrs。Peachwhataladyislike，andkeepamongtheselectcompany，andnotmixwiththecommonpeopleatall!’
ItmightatfirstsightbethoughtthatthebestcourseforMargeryatthisjuncturewouldhavebeentogotoJim，andniptheintrigueinthebudwithoutfurtherscruple。Butherowndeclarationinafterdayswasthatwhoevercouldsaythatwasfarfromrealizinghersituation。Itwashardtobreaksuchiceasdividedtheirtwolivesnow，andtoattemptitatthatmomentwasatoohumiliatingproclamationofdefeat。Theonlyplanshecouldthinkof——perhapsnotawiseoneinthecircumstances——wastogototheReviewherself；
andbethegayestthere。
Amethodofdoingthiswithsomeproprietysoonoccurredtoher。Shedarednotaskherfather，whoscornedtowastetimeinsight—seeing，andwhoseanimositytowardsJimknewnoabatement；butshemightcallonheroldacquaintance，Mr。Vine，Jim’spartner，whowouldprobablybegoingwiththerestoftheholiday—folk，andaskifshemightaccompanyhiminhisspring—trap。Shehadnosoonerperceivedthefeasibilityofthis，throughherbeingathergrandmother’s，thanshedecidedtomeetwiththeoldmanearlythenextmorning。
InthemeantimeJimandMrs。Peachhadwalkedslowlyalongtheroadtogether，Jimleadingthehorse，andMrs。Peachinforminghimthatherfather，thegardener，wasatJim’svillagefurtheron，andthatshehadcometomeethim。Jim，forreasonsofhisown，wasgoingtosleepathispartner’sthatnight，andthustheirroutewasthesame。
Theshadesofeveclosedinuponthemastheywalked，andbythetimetheyreachedthelime—kiln，whichitwasnecessarytopasstogettothevillage，itwasquitedark。Jimstoppedatthekiln，toseeifmattershadprogressedrightlyinhissevendays’absence，andMrs。
Peach，whostucktohimlikeateazle，stoppedalso，sayingshewouldwaitforherfatherthere。
Sheheldthehorsewhileheascendedtothetopofthekiln。Thenrejoiningher，andnotquiteknowingwhattodo，hestoodbesideherlookingattheflames，whichto—nightburntupbrightly，shiningalongwayintothedarkair，evenuptotherampartsoftheearthworkabovethem，andoverheadintothebosomsoftheclouds。
Itwasduringthisproceedingthatacarriage，drawnbyapairofdarkhorses，camealongtheturnpikeroad。Thelightofthekilncausedthehorsestoswervealittle，andtheoccupantofthecarriagelookedout。Hesawthebluish，lightning—likeflamesfromthelimestone，risingfromthetopofthefurnace，andhardbythefiguresofJimHayward，thewidow，andthehorse，standingoutwithspectraldistinctnessagainstthemassofnightbehind。ThesceneworetheaspectofsomeunholyassignationinPandaemonium，anditwasallthemoreimpressivefromthefactthatbothJimandthewomanwerequiteunconsciousofthestrikingspectacletheypresented。Thegentlemaninthecarriagewatchedthemtillhewasborneoutofsight。
Havingseentothekiln，Jimandthewidowwalkedonagain，andsoonMrs。Peach’sfathermetthem，andrelievedJimofthelady。Whentheyhadparted，Jim，withanexpirationnotunlikeabreathofrelief；wentontoMr。Vine’s，and，havingputthehorseintothestable，enteredthehouse。Hispartnerwasseatedatthetable，solacinghimselfafterthelaboursofthedaybyluxuriousalternationsbetweenalongclaypipeandamugofperry。
’Well，’saidJimeagerly，’what’sthenews——howdoshetakeit？’
’Sitdown——sitdown，’saidVine。’’Tisworkingwell；notbutthatI
deservesomethingo’theeforthetroubleI’vehadinwatchingher。
Thesoldieringwasafinemove；butthewomanisabetter!——whoinventedit？’
’Imyself，’saidJimmodestly。
’Well；jealousyismakingherriselikeathunderstorm，andinadayortwoyou’llhaveherfortheasking，mysonny。What’sthenextstep？’
’Thewidowisgettingratheraweightuponafeller，worseluck，’
saidJim。’ButImustkeepitupuntilto—morrow，atanyrate。I
havepromisedtoseeherattheReview，andnowthegreatthingisthatMargeryshouldseewea—smilingtogether——Iinmyfull—dressuniformandclinkingarmso’war。’Twillbeagoodstrongsting，andwillendthebusiness，Ihope。Couldn’tyoumanagetoputthehossinanddriveherthere？She’dgoifyouweretoaskher。’
’Withallmyheart，’saidMr。Vine，moisteningtheendofanewpipeinhisperry。’Icancallathergrammer’sforher——’twillbeallinmyway。’
CHAPTERXVI
Margerydulyfollowedupherintentionbyarrayingherselfthenextmorninginherloveliestguise，andkeepingwatchforMr。Vine’sappearanceuponthehighroad，feelingcertainthathiswouldformoneintheprocessionofcartsandcarriageswhichsetintowardsExonburythatday。Jimhadgonebyataveryearlyhour，andshedidnotseehimpass。HeranticipationwasverifiedbytheadventofMr。
Vineabouteleveno’clock，dressedtohishighesteffort；butMargerywassurprisedtofindthat，insteadofherhavingtostophim，hepulledintowardsthegateofhisownaccord。TheinvitationplannedbetweenJimandtheoldmanonthepreviousnightwasnowpromptlygiven，and，asmaybesupposed，aspromptlyaccepted。Suchastrangecoincidenceshehadneverbeforeknown。Shewasquiteready，andtheydroveonwardatonce。
TheReviewwasheldonsomehighgroundalittlewayoutofthecity，andherconductorsuggestedthattheyshouldputupthehorseattheinn，andwalktothefield——aplanwhichpleasedherwell，foritwasmoreeasytotakepreliminaryobservationsonfootwithoutbeingseenherselfthanwhensittingelevatedinavehicle。
Theywerejustintimetosecureagoodplacenearthefront，andinafewminutesaftertheirarrivalthereviewingofficercameontheground。Margery’seyehadrapidlyrunoverthetroopinwhichJimwasenrolled，andshediscernedhiminoneoftheranks，lookingremarkablynewandbright，bothastouniformandcountenance。
Indeed，ifshehadnotworkedherselfintosuchadesperatestateofmindshewouldhavefeltproudofhimthenandthere。Hisshapelyuprightfigurewasquitenoteworthyintherowofrotundyeomenonhisrightandleft；whilehischargerTonyexpressedbyhisbearing，evenmorethanJim，thatheknewnothingaboutlime—cartswhatever，andeverythingabouttrumpetsandglory。HowJimcouldhavescrubbedTonytosuchshiningblacknessshecouldnottell，forthehorseinhisnaturalstatewasingrainedwithlime—dust，thatburntthecolouroutofhiscoatasitdidoutofJim’shair。Nowheprancedmartially，andwasawar—horseeveryinchofhim。
HavingdiscoveredJimhernextsearchwasforMrs。Peach，and，bydintofsomeobliqueglancingMargeryindignantlydiscoveredthewidowinthemostforwardplaceofall，herheadandbrightfaceconspicuouslyadvanced；and，whatwasmoreshocking，shehadabandonedhermourningforavioletdrawn—bonnetandagayspencer，togetherwithaparasolluxuriouslyfringedinawayMargeryhadneverbeforeseen。’Wheredidshegetthemoney？’saidMargery，underherbreath。’Andtoforgetthatpoorsailorsosoon!’
ThesegeneralreflectionswereprecipitatelypostponedbyherdiscoveringthatJimandthewidowwereperfectlyalivetoeachother’swhereabouts，andintheinterchangeoftelegraphicsignsofaffection，whichonthelatter’sparttooktheformofaplayfulflutteringofherhandkerchieforwavingofherparasol。RichardVinehadplacedMargeryinfrontofhim，toprotectherfromthecrowd，ashesaid，hehimselfsurveyingthesceneoverherbonnet。
MargerywouldhavebeenevenmoresurprisedthanshewasifshehadknownthatJimwasnotonlyawareofMrs。Peach’spresence，butalsoofherown，thetreacherousMr。Vinehavingdrawnouthisflame—
colouredhandkerchiefandwavedittoJimovertheyoungwoman’sheadassoonastheyhadtakenuptheirposition。
’Mypartnermakesatidysoldier，eh——MissTucker？’saidtheseniorlime—burner。’ItismybeliefasaChristianthathe’sgotapartyherethathe’smakingsignsto——thathandsomefigureo’funstraightover—righthim。’
’Perhapsso，’shesaid。
’Andit’sgrowingwarmbetween’emifIdon’tmistake，’continuedthemercilessVine。
Margerywassilent，bitingherlip；andthetroopsbeingnowsetinmotion，allsignallingceasedforthepresentbetweensoldierHaywardandhispretendedsweetheart。
’HaveyouapieceofpaperthatIcouldmakeamemorandumon，Mr。
Vine？’askedMargery。
Vinetookouthispocket—bookandtorealeaffromit，whichhehandedherwithapencil。
’Don’tmovefromhere——I’llreturninaminute，’shecontinued，withtheinnocenceofawomanwhomeansmischief。And，withdrawingherselftotheback，wherethegrasswasclear，shepencilleddownthewords’JIM’SMARRIED。’
ArmedwiththisdocumentshecreptintothethrongbehindtheunsuspectingMrs。Peach，slippedthepaperintoherpocketonthetopofherhandkerchief；andwithdrewunobserved，rejoiningMr。Vinewithabearingofnonchalance。
By—and—bythetroopswereindifferentorder，Jimtakingaleft—handpositionalmostclosetoMrs。Peach。Hebentdownandsaidafewwordstoher。Fromhermannerofnoddingassentitwassurelysomearrangementaboutameetingby—and—bywhenJim’sdrillwasover，andMargerywasmorecertainofthefactwhen，theReviewhavingended，andthepeoplehavingstrolledofftoanotherpartofthefieldwheresportsweretotakeplace，Mrs。Peachtrippedawayinthedirectionofthecity。
’I’lljustsayawordtomypartneraforehegoesofftheground，ifyou’llsparemeaminute，’saidtheoldlime—burner。’PleasestayheretillI’mbackagain。’HeedgedalongthefronttillhereachedJim。
’Howisshe？’saidthelatter。
’Inatrimmingsweat，’saidMr。Vine。’Andmycounselto’eeistocarrythislarrynofurther。’Twilldonogood。She’sasreadytomakefriendswith’eeasanywifecanbe；andmoreshowingoffcanonlydoharm。’
’ButImustfinishoffwithaspurt，’saidJim。’AndthisishowI
amgoingtodoit。IhavearrangedwithMrs。Peachthat，assoonaswesoldiershaveenteredthetownandbeendismissed，I’llmeetherthere。Itisreallytosaygood—bye，butshedon’tknowthat；andI
wantedittolooklikealopementtoMargery’seyes。WhenI’mclearofMrs。PeachI’llcomebackhereandmakeitupwithMargeryonthespot。Butdon’tsayI’mcoming，orshemaybeinclinedtothrowoffagain。JusthinttoherthatImaybemeaningtobeofftoLondonwiththewidow。’
Theoldmanstillinsistedthatthiswasgoingtoofar。
’No，no，itisn’t，’saidJim。’Iknowhowtomanageher。’TwilljustmellowherheartnicelybythetimeIcomeback。Imustbringherdownrealtender，or’twillallfail。’
HisseniorreluctantlygaveinandreturnedtoMargery。AshorttimeafterwardstheYeomanryhandstruckup，andJimwiththeregimentfollowedtowardsExonbury。
’Yes，yes；theyaregoingtomeet，’saidMargerytoherself，perceivingthatMrs。PeachhadsotimedherdepartureastobeinthetownatJim’sdismounting。
’Nowwewillgoandseethegames，’saidMr。Vine；’theyarereallyworthseeing。There’sgreasypoles，andjumpinginsacks，andothertrialsoftheintellect，thatnobodyoughttomisswhowantstobeabreastofhisgeneration。’
Margeryfeltsoindignantattheapparentassignation，whichseemedabouttotakeplacedespiteheranonymouswriting，thatshehelplesslyassentedtogoanywhere，droppingbehindVine，thathemightnotseehermood。
Jimfollowedouthisprogrammewithliteralexactness。NosoonerwasthetroopdismissedinthecitythanhesentTonytostableandjoinedMrs。Peach，whostoodontheedgeofthepavementexpectinghim。Butthisacquaintancewastoend：hemeanttopartfromherforeverandinthequickesttime，thoughcivilly；foritwasimportanttobewithMargeryassoonaspossible。Hehadnearlycompletedthemanoeuvretohissatisfactionwhen，indrawingherhandkerchieffromherpockettowipethetearsfromhereyes，Mrs。
Peach’shandgraspedthepaper，whichshereadatonce。
’What!isthattrue？’shesaid，holdingitouttoJim。
Jimstartedandadmittedthatitwas，beginninganelaborateexplanationandapologies。ButMrs。Peachwasthoroughlyroused，andthenovercome。’He’smarried，he’smarried!’shesaid，andswooned，orfeignedtoswoon，sothatJimwasobligedtosupporther。
’He’smarried，he’smarried!’saidaboyhardbywhowatchedthescenewithinterest。
’He’smarried，he’smarried!’saidahilariousgroupofotherboysnear，withsmilesseveralinchesbroad，andshiningteeth；andsotheexclamationechoeddownthestreet。
Jimcursedhisill—luck；thelossoftimethatthisdilemmaentailedgrewserious；forMrs。Peachwasnowinsuchahystericalstatethathecouldnotleaveherwithanygoodgraceorfeeling。Itwasnecessarytotakehertoarefreshmentroom，lavishrestorativesuponher，andaltogethertowastenearlyhalfanhour。Whenshehadkepthimaslongasshechose，sheforgavehim；andthusatlasthegotaway，hisheartswellingwithtendernesstowardsMargery。Heatoncehurriedupthestreettoeffectthereconciliationwithher。
’HowshallIdoit？’hesaidtohimself。’Why，I’llsteproundtoherside，fishforherhand，drawitthroughmyarmasifIwasn’tawareofit。Thenshe’lllookinmyface，Ishalllookinhers，andweshallmarchoffthefieldtriumphant，andthethingwillbedonewithouttakingsortears。’
Heenteredthefieldandwentstraightasanarrowtotheplaceappointedforthemeeting。Itwasatthebackofarefreshmenttentoutsidethemassofspectators，anddividedfromtheirviewbythetentitself。Heturnedthecornerofthecanvas，andtherebeheldVineattheindicatedspot。ButMargerywasnotwithhim。
Vine’shatwasthrustbackintohispoll。Hisfacewaspale，andhismannerbewildered。’Hullo？what’sthematter？’saidJim。’Where’smyMargery？’
’You’vecarriedthisfootygametoofar，myman!’exclaimedVine，withtheairofafriendwhohas’alwaystoldyouso。’’Yououghttohavedroppeditseveraldaysago，whenshewouldhavecometo’eelikeacooingdove。Nowthisistheendo’t!’
’Hey!what，myMargery？Hasanythinghappened，forGod’ssake？’
’She’sgone。’
’Whereto？’
’That’smorethanearthlymancantell!Ineverseesuchathing!
’Twasastrokeo’theblackart——asifsheweresperritedaway。WhenwegottothegamesIsaid——mind，youtoldmeto!——Isaid，"JimHaywardthinkso’goingofftoLondonwiththatwidowwoman"——mindyoutoldmeto!Sheshowednowonderment，thougha’seemedverylow。
Thenshesaidtome，"Idon’tlikestandinghereinthisslummockycrowd。Ishallfeelmoreathomeamongthegentlepeople。"Andthenshewenttowherethecarriagesweredrawnup，andnearhertherewasagrandcoach，a—blazingwithlionsandunicorns，andhauledbytwocoal—blackhorses。Ihardlythoughtmuchofitthen，andbydegreeslostsightofherbehindit。Presentlytheothercarriagesmovedoff，andIthoughtstilltoseeherstandingthere。Butno，shehadvanished；andthenIsawthegrandcoachrollingaway，andglimpsedMargeryinit，besideafinedarkgentlemanwithblackmustachios，andaverypaleprince—likeface。Assoonasthehorsesgotintothehardroadtheyrattledonlikehell—and—skimmer，andwentoutofsightinthedust，and——that’sall。Ifyou’dcomebackalittlesooneryou’dha’caughther。’
Jimhadturnedwhiterthanhispipeclay。’O，thisistoobad——toobad!’hecriedinanguish，strikinghisbrow。’Thatpaperandthatfaintingwomankeptmesolong。Whocouldhavedoneit？But’tismyfault。I’vestunghertoomuch。Ishouldn’thavecarrieditsofar。’
’Youshouldn’t——justwhatIsaid，’repliedhissenior。
’ShethinksI’vegoneoffwiththatcustwidow；andtospitemeshe’sgoneoffwiththeman!Doyouknowwhothatstrangerwi’thelionsandunicornsis？Why，’tisthatforeignerwhocallshimselfaBaron，andtookMountLodgeforsixmonthslastyeartomakemischief——avillain!O，myMargery——thatitshouldcometothis!She’slost，she’sruined!——Whichwaydidtheygo？’
Jimturnedtofollowinthedirectionindicated，when，behold，therestoodathisbackherfather，DairymanTucker。
’Nowlookhere，youngman，’saidDairymanTucker。’I’vejustheardallthatwailing——andstraightwaywillask’eetostopitsharp。
’Tislikeyourbrazenimpudencetoteaveandwailwhenyoubeanotherwoman’shusband；yes，faith，Isee’dhera—faintinginyerarmswhenyouwantedtogetawayfromher，andhonestfolka—standingroundwhoknewyou’dmarriedher，andsaidso。Iheardit，thoughyoudidn’tseeme。"He’smarried!"saysthey。Someslyregister—officebusiness，nodoubt；butslydoingswillout。AsforMargery——who’stobecalledhighertitlesinthesepartshencefor’ard——I’mherfather，andIsayit’sallrightwhatshe’sdone。Don’tIknowprivatenews，hey？Haven’tIjustlearntthatsecretweddingsofhighpeoplecanhappenatexpecteddeathbedsbyspeciallicence，aswellaslowpeopleatregistrars’offices？Andcan’thusbandscomebackandclaimtheirownwhentheychoose？Begone，youngman，andleavenoblemen’swivesalone；andIthankGodIshallberidofanumskull!’
SwiftwordsofexplanationrosetoJim’slips，buttheypausedthereanddied。Atthatlastmomenthecouldnot，asMargery’shusband，announceMargery’sshameandhisown，andtransformherfather’striumphtowretchednessatablow。
’I——I——mustleavehere，’hestammered。Goingfromtheplaceinanoppositecoursetothatofthefugitives，hedoubledwhenoutofsight，andinanincrediblyshortspacehadenteredthetown。Herehemadeinquiriesfortheemblazonedcarriage，andgainedfromoneortwopersonsageneralideaofitsroute。TheythoughtithadtakenthehighwaytoLondon。SaddlingpoorTonybeforehehadhalfeatenhiscorn，Jimgallopedalongthesameroad。
CHAPTERXVII
NowJimwasquitemistakeninsupposingthatbyleavingthefieldinaroundaboutmannerhehaddeceivedDairymanTuckerastohisobject。
ThatastuteoldmanimmediatelydivinedthatJimwasmeaningtotrackthefugitives，inignorance（asthedairymansupposed）oftheirlawfulrelation。Hewassoonassuredofthefact，for，creepingtoaremoteangleofthefield，hesawJimhasteningintothetown。
Vowingvengeanceontheyounglime—burnerforhismischievousinterferencebetweenanoblemanandhissecretly—weddedwife，thedairy—farmerdeterminedtobalkhim。
TuckerhadriddenontotheReviewground，sothattherewasnonecessityforhim，astherehadbeenforpoorJim，tore—enterthetownbeforestarting。Thedairymanhastilyuntiedhismarefromtherowofotherhorses，mounted，anddescendedtoabridle—pathwhichwouldtakehimobliquelyintotheLondonroadamileorsoahead。
Theoldman’sroutebeingalongonesideofanequilateraltriangle，whileJim’swasalongtwosidesofthesame，theformerwasatthepointofintersectionlongbeforeHayward。
Arrivedhere，thedairymanpulledupandlookedaround。Itwasaspotatwhichthehighwayforked；theleftarm，themoreimportant，ledonthroughShertonAbbasandMelchestertoLondon；therighttoIdmouthandthecoast。NothingwasvisibleonthewhitetracktoLondon；butontheotherthereappearedthebackofacarriage，whichrapidlyascendedadistanthillandvanishedunderthetrees。ItwastheBaron’swho，accordingtothesworninformationofthegardeneratMountLodge，hadmadeMargeryhiswife。
Thecarriagehavingvanished，thedairymangazedintheoppositedirection，towardsExonbury。HerehebeheldJiminhisregimentals，laboriouslyapproachingonTony’sback。
Soonhereachedtheforkingroads，andsawthedairymanbythewayside。ButJimdidnothalt。Thenthedairymanpractisedthegreatestduplicityofhislife。
’RightalongtheLondonroad，ifyouwanttocatch’em!’hesaid。
’Thank’ee，dairyman，thank’ee!’criedJim，hispalefacelightingupwithgratitude，forhebelievedthatTuckerhadlearnthismistakefromVine，andhadcometohisassistance。Withoutdrawingreinhediminishedalongtheroadnottakenbytheflyingpair。Thedairymanrubbedhishandswithdelight，andreturnedtothecityasthecathedralclockstruckfive。
Jimpursuedhiswaythroughthedust，uphillanddownhill；butneversawaheadofhimthevehicleofhissearch。Thatvehiclewaspassingalongadivergingwayatadistanceofmanymilesfromwhereherode。Stillhespedonwards，tillTonyshowedsignsofbreakingdown；andthenJimgatheredfrominquirieshemadethathehadcomethewrongway。Itburstuponhismindthatthedairyman，stillignorantofthetruth，hadmisinformedhim。HeavierinhisheartthanwordscandescribeheturnedTony’sdroopinghead，andresolvedtodraghiswayhome。
Butthehorsewasnowsojadedthatitwasimpossibletoproceedfar。
Havinggoneabouthalfamilebackhecameagaintoasmallroadsidehamletandinn，whereheputupTonyforarestandfeed。Asforhimself，therewasnoquietinhim。Hetriedtositandeatintheinnkitchen；buthecouldnotstaythere。Hewentout，andpacedupanddowntheroad。
Standinginsightofthewhitewaybywhichhehadcomehebeheldadvancingtowardshimthehorsesandcarriagehesought，nowblackanddaemonicagainsttheslantingfiresofthewesternsun。
Thewhyandwhereforeofthissuddenappearancehedidnotpausetoconsider。Hisresolvetointerceptthecarriagewasinstantaneous。
Heranforward，anddoggedlywaitingbarredthewaytotheadvancingequipage。
TheBaron’scoachmanshouted，butJimstoodfirmasarock，andontheformerattemptingtopushpasthimJimdrewhissword，resolvingtocutthehorsesdownratherthanbedisplaced。Theanimalswerethrownnearlybackupontheirhaunches，andatthisjunctureagentlemanlookedoutofthewindow。ItwastheBaronhimself。
’Who’sthere？’heinquired。
’JamesHayward!’repliedtheyoungmanfiercely，’andhedemandshiswife。’
TheBaronleaptout，andtoldthecoachmantodrivebackoutofsightandwaitforhim。
’Iwashasteningtofindyou，’hesaidtoJim。’Yourwifeiswheresheoughttobe，andwhereyououghttobealso——byyourownfireside。Where’stheotherwoman？’
Jim，withoutreplying，lookedincredulouslyintothecarriageasitturned。Margerywascertainlynotthere。’Theotherwomanisnothingtome，’hesaidbitterly。’IusedhertowarmupMargery：I
havenowdonewithher。ThequestionIask，mylord，is，whatbusinesshadyouwithMargeryto—day？’
’Mybusinesswastohelphertoregainthehusbandshehadseeminglylost。Isawher；shetoldmeyouhadelopedbytheLondonroadwithanother。I，whohave——mostly——hadherhappinessatheart，toldherI
wouldhelphertofollowyouifshewished。Shegladlyagreed；wedroveafter，butcouldhearnotidingsofyouinfrontofus。ThenI
tookher——toyourhouse——andtheresheawaitsyou。Ipromisedtosendyoutoherifhumaneffortcoulddoit，andwastrackingyouforthatpurpose。’
’Thenyou’vebeena—pursuingafterme？’
’Youandthewidow。’
’AndI’vebeenpursuingafteryouandMargery!Mynoblelord，youractionsseemtoshowthatIoughttobelieveyouinthis；andwhenyousayyou’veherhappinessatheart，Idon’tforgetthatyou’veformerlyprovedittobeso。Well，HeavenforbidthatIshouldthinkwrongfullyofyouifyoudon’tdeserveit!Amysterytomeyouhavealwaysbeen，mynoblelord，andinthisbusinessmorethaninany。’
’Iamgladtohearyousaynoworse。Inonehouryou’llhaveproofofmyconduct——goodandbad。CanIdoanythingmore？Saytheword，andI’lltry。’
Jimreflected。’Baron，’hesaid，’Iamaplainman，andwishonlytoleadaquietlifewithmywife，asamanshould。Youhavegreatpoweroverher——powertoanyextent，forgoodorotherwise。Ifyoucommandheranythingonearth，righteousorquestionable，thatshe’lldo。Sothat，sinceyouaskmeifyoucandomoreforme，I’llanswerthis，youcanpromisenevertoseeheragain。Imeannoharm，mylord；butyourpresencecandonogood；youwilltroubleus。IfI
returntoher，willyouforeverstayaway？’
’Hayward，’saidtheBaron，’IsweartoyouthatIwilldisturbyouandyourwifebymypresencenomore。AndhetookJim’shand，andpresseditwithinhisownuponthehiltofJim’ssword。
InrelatingthisincidenttothepresentnarratorJimusedtodeclarethat，tohisfancy，theruddylightofthesettingsunburnedwithmorethanearthlyfireontheBaron’sfaceasthewordswerespoken；
andthattherubyflashofhiseyeinthesamelightwaswhatheneverwitnessedbeforenorsinceintheeyeofmortalman。Afterthistherewasnothingmoretodoorsayinthatplace。Jimaccompaniedhisnever—to—be—forgottenacquaintancetothecarriage，closedthedoorafterhim，wavedhishattohim，andfromthathourheandtheBaronmetnotagainonearth。
AfewwordswillsufficetoexplainthefortunesofMargerywhiletheforegoingeventswereinactionelsewhere。OnleavinghercompanionVineshehadgonedistractedlyamongthecarriages，therathertoescapehisobservationthanofanysetpurpose。Standinghereshethoughtsheheardhernamepronounced，andturning，sawherforeignfriend，whomshehadsupposedtobe，ifnotdead，athousandmilesoff。Hebeckoned，andshewentclose。’Youareill——youarewretched，’hesaid，lookingkeenlyinherface。’Where’syourhusband？’
ShetoldhimhersadsuspicionthatJimhadrunawayfromher。TheBaronreflected，andinquiredafewotherparticularsofherlatelife。Thenhesaid：’YouandImustfindhim。Comewithme。’AtthiswordofcommandfromtheBaronshehadenteredthecarriageasdocilelyasachild，andthereshesatbesidehimtillhechosetospeak，whichwasnottilltheyweresomewayoutofthetown，attheforkingways，andtheBaronhaddiscoveredthatJimwascertainlynot，astheyhadsupposed，makingofffromMargeryalongthatparticularbranchoftheforkthatledtoLondon。
’Topursuehiminthiswayisuseless，Iperceive，’hesaid。’AndthepropercoursenowisthatIshouldtakeyoutohishouse。ThatdoneIwillreturn，andbringhimtoyouifmortalpersuasioncandoit。’
’Ididn’twanttogotohishousewithouthim，sir，’saidshe，tremblingly。
’Didn’twantto!’heanswered。’Letmeremindyou，MargeryHayward，thatyourplaceisinyourhusband’shouse。Tillyouarethereyouhavenorighttocriticizehisconduct，howeverwilditmaybe。Whyhaveyounotbeentherebefore？’
’Idon’tknow，sir，’shemurmured，hertearsfallingsilentlyuponherhand。
’Don’tyouthinkyououghttobethere？’
Shedidnotanswer。
’Ofcourseyouought。’
Stillshedidnotspeak。
TheBaronsankintosilence，andallowedhiseyetorestonher。
Whatthoughtswereallatonceengaginghismindafterthosemomentsofreproof？Margeryhadgivenherselfintohishandswithoutaremonstrance，herhusbandhadapparentlydesertedher。Shewasabsolutelyinhispower，andtheywereonthehighroad。
Thathisfirstimpulseininvitinghertoaccompanyhimhadbeenthelegitimateonedenotedbyhiswordscannotreasonablybedoubted。
Thathissecondwasotherwisesoonbecamerevealed，thoughnotatfirsttoher，forshewastoobewilderedtonoticewheretheyweregoing。InsteadofturningandtakingtheroadtoJim’s，theBaron，asifinfluencedsuddenlybyherreluctancetoreturnthitherifJimwasplayingtruant，signalledtothecoachmantotakethebranchroadtotheright，asherfatherhaddiscerned。
TheysoonapproachedthecoastnearIdmouth。Thecarriagestopped。
Margeryawokefromherreverie。
’Wherearewe？’shesaid，lookingoutofthewindow，withastart。
Beforeherwasaninletofthesea，andinthemiddleoftheinletrodeayacht，itsmastsrepeatingasiffrommemorytherockingtheyhadpractisedintheirnativeforest。
’Atalittlesea—sidenook，wheremyyachtliesatanchor，’hesaidtentatively。’Now，Margery，infiveminuteswecanbeaboard，andinhalfanhourwecanbesailingawayalltheworldover。Willyoucome？’
’Icannotdecide，’shesaid，inlowtones。
’Whynot？’
’Because——’
Thenonasudden，Margeryseemedtoseeallcontingencies：shebecamewhiteasafleece，andabewilderedlookcameintohereyes。
WithclaspedhandssheleantontheBaron。
BaronvonXantenobservedherdistractedlook，avertedhisface，andcomingtoadecisionopenedthecarriagedoor，quicklymountedoutside，andinasecondortwothecarriagelefttheshorebehind，andascendedtheroadbywhichithadcome。
InaboutanhourtheyreachedJimHayward’shome。TheBaronalighted，andspoketoherthroughthewindow。’Margery，canyouforgivealover’sbadimpulse，whichIswearwasunpremeditated？’heasked。’Ifyoucan，shakemyhand。’
Shedidnotdoit，buteventuallyallowedhimtohelpheroutofthecarriage。Heseemedtofeeltheawkwardnesskeenly；andseeingit，shesaid，’OfcourseIforgiveyou，sir，forIfeltforamomentasyoudid。Willyousendmyhusbandtome？’
’Iwill，ifanymancan，’saidhe。’SuchpenanceismilderthanI
deserve!Godblessyouandgiveyouhappiness!Ishallneverseeyouagain!’Heturned，enteredthecarriage，andwasgone；andhavingfoundoutJim’scourse，cameupwithhimupontheroadasdescribed。
Induetimethelatterreachedhislodgingathispartner’s。ThewomanwhotookcareofthehouseinVine’sabsenceatoncetoldJimthataladywhohadcomeinacarriagewaswaitingforhiminhissitting—room。Jimproceededthitherwithagitation，andbeheld，shrinkinglyensconcedinthelargeslipperychair，andsurroundedbythebrilliantarticlesthathadsolongawaitedher，hislong—
estrangedwife。
Margery’seyeswereroundandfear—stricken。Sheessayedtospeak，butJim，strangelyenough，foundthereadiertonguethen。’WhydidI
doit，youwouldask，’hesaid。’Icannottell。Doyouforgivemydeception？OMargery——youaremyMargerystill!ButhowcouldyoutrustyourselfintheBaron’shandsthisafternoon，withoutknowinghimbetter？’
’HesaidIwastocome，andIwent，’shesaid，aswellasshecouldfortearfulness。
’Youobeyedhimblindly。’
’Idid。ButperhapsIwasnotjustifiedindoingit。’
’Idon’tknow，’saidJimmusingly。’Ithinkhe’sagoodman。’
Margerydidnotexplain。Andthenasunniermoodsucceededhertremblingsandtears，tilloldMr。Vinecameintothehousebelow，andJimwentdowntodeclarethatallwaswell，andsentoffhispartnertobreakthenewstoMargery’sfather，whoasyetremainedunenlightened。
Thedairymanboretheintelligenceofhisdaughter’suntitledstateasbesthecould，andpunishedherbynotcomingnearherforseveralweeks，thoughatlasthegrumbledhisforgiveness，andmadeupmatterswithJim。ThehandsomeMrs。PeachvanishedtoPlymouth，andfoundanothersailor，notwithoutareasonablecomplaintagainstJimandMargeryboththatshehadbeenunfairlyused。
Asforthemysteriousgentlemanwhohadexercisedsuchaninfluenceovertheirlives，hekepthisword，andwasastrangertoLowerWessexthenceforward。BaronornoBaron，Englishmanorforeigner，hehadshownagenuineinterestinJim，andrealsorrowforacertainrecklessphaseofhisacquaintancewithMargery。Thathehadamoretenderfeelingtowardtheyounggirlthanhewishedheroranyoneelsetoperceivetherecouldbenodoubt。Thathewasstronglytemptedattimestoadoptotherthanconventionalcourseswithregardtoherisalsoclear，particularlyatthatcriticalhourwhensherolledalongthehighroadwithhiminthecarriage，afterturningfromthefanciedpursuitofJim。Butatothertimesheschooledimpassionedsentimentsintofairconduct，whichevenerredonthesideofharshness。Inafteryearstherewasareportthatanotherattemptonhislifewithapistol，duringoneofthosefitsofmoodinesstowhichheseemedconstitutionallyliable，hadbeeneffectual；butnobodyinSilverthornwasinapositiontoascertainthetruth。
Thereheisstillregardedasonewhohadsomethingabouthimmagicalandunearthly。Inhismysterylethimremain；foraman，nolessthanalandscape，whoawakensaninterestunderuncertainlightsandtouchesofunfathomableshade，maycutbutapoorfigureinagarishnoontideshine。
WhensheheardofhismournfuldeathMargerysatinhernursing—
chair，gravelythinkingfornearlytenminutes，tothetotalneglectofherinfantinthecradle。Jim，fromtheothersideofthefire—
place，said：’Youaresorryenoughforhim，Margery。Iamsureofthat。’
’Yes，yes，’shemurmured，’Iamsorry。’Afteramomentsheadded：
’Nowthathe’sdeadI’llmakeaconfession，Jim，thatIhavenevermadetoasoul。Ifhehadpressedme——whichhedidnot——togowithhimwhenIwasinthecarriagethatnightbesidehisyacht，Iwouldhavegone。AndIwasdisappointedthathedidnotpressme。’
’Supposeheweretosuddenlyappearnow，andsayinavoiceofcommand，"Margery，comewithme!"’
’IbelieveIshouldhavenopowertodisobey，’shereturned，withamischievouslook。’Hewaslikeamagiciantome。Ithinkhewasone。Hecouldmovemeasaloadstonemovesaspeckofsteel……
Yetno，’sheadded，hearingtheinfantcry，’hewouldnotmovemenow。Itwouldbesounfairtobaby。’
’Well，’saidJim，withnogreatconcern（for’lajalousieretrospective，’asGeorgeSandcallsit，hadnearlydiedoutofhim），’howeverhemightmove’ee，mylove，he’llnevercome。Hesworeittome：andhewasamanofhisword。’
Midsummer，1883。