"Oh，myGod！"hesaid。Butthenextinstanthisheadlifteditself。"Itisthemysteryoftheworld——thisthing。Atidalwavegatheringitselfmountainhighandcrashingdownuponone’shelplessnessmightbeaseasilydefied。Itissupposedtodisperse，Ibelieve。Thathasbeensaidsooftenthattheremustbetruthinit。Intwentyorthirtyorfortyyearsoneistoldonewillhavegotoverit。Butonemustlivethroughtheyears——onemustLIVEthroughthem——andthechieffeatureofone’smadnessisthatoneisconvincedthattheywilllastforever。"
　　"Goon，"saidMr。Penzance，becausehehadpausedandstoodbitinghislip。"Sayallthatyoufeelinclinedtosay。
　　Itisthebestthingyoucando。Ihavenevergonethroughthismyself，butIhaveseenandknowntheamazingnessofitformanyyears。Ihaveseenitcomeandgo。"
　　"Canyouimagine，"MountDunstansaid，"thatthemostdamnablethoughtofall——whenamanispassingthroughit——
　　isthepossibilityofitsGOING？Anythingelseratherthantheknowledgethatyearscouldchangeordeathcouldendit！
　　Eternityseemsonlytoofferspaceforit。Oneknows——butonedoesnotbelieve。Itdoessomethingtoone’sbrain。"
　　"Noscientist，howsoeverprofound，haseverdiscoveredwhat，"thevicarmusedaloud。
　　"TheBookofRevelationshasshowntomehow——howMAGNIFICENTlifemightbe！"MountDunstanclenchedandunclenchedhishands，hiseyesflashing。"Magnificent——thatistheword。Togotoheronequalgroundtotakeherhandsandspeakone’spassionasonewould——ashereyesanswered。
　　Oh，onewouldknow！Tobringherhometothisplace——havingmadeitasitoncewas——tolivewithherhere——tobeWITH
　　herasthesunroseandsetandtheseasonschanged——withthejoyoflifefillingeachofthem。SHEisthejoyofLife——theveryheartofit。YouseewhereIam——yousee！"
　　"Yes，"Penzanceanswered。Hesaw，andbowedhishead，andMountDunstanknewhewishedhimtocontinue。
　　"Sometimes——oflate——ithasbeentoomuchformeandI
　　havegivenfreereintomyfancy——knowingthattherecouldneverbemorethanfancy。IwasdoingitthisafternoonasI
　　watchedhermoveaboutamongthepeople。AndMaryLithcombegantotalkabouther。"Hesmiledagrimsmile。
　　"Perhapsitwasaninterventionofthegodstodragmedownfrommyimpiousheights。Shewasquiteunconsciousthatshewasdrivinghomefactslikenails——thefactsthateverymanwhowantedmoneywantedReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter——andthattheyounglady，notbeingdull，wasnotunawareoftheobvioustruth！Andthatmenwithprizestoofferwerereadytooffertheminapropermanner。Alsothatshewasonlyabrilliantbirdofpassage，who，inafewmonths，wouldbecaughtinthedazzlingnetofthegreatworld。AndthatevenLordWestholtandDunholmCastlewerenotquitewhatshemightexpect。LadyMarywassincerelyinterested。Shedroveithomeinherardour。ShetoldmetoLOOKather——toLOOK
　　athermouthandchinandeyelashes——andtomakenoteofwhatshestoodforinacrowdofordinarypeople。Icouldhavelaughedaloudwithrageandself—mockery。"
　　Mr。Penzancewasrestinghisforeheadonhishand，hiselbowonhischair’sarm。
　　"Thisisprofoundunhappiness，"hesaid。"Itisprofoundunhappiness。"
　　MountDunstanansweredbyabrusquegesture。
　　"Butitwillpassaway，"wentonPenzance，"andnotasyoufearitmust，"inanswertoanothergesture，fiercelyimpatient。"Notthatway。Someday——ornight——youwillstandheretogether，andyouwilltellherallyouhavetoldme。IKNOWitwillbeso。"
　　"What！"MountDunstancriedout。Butthewordshadbeenspokenwithsuchabsoluteconvictionthathefelthimselfbecomepale。
　　ItwaswiththesameconvictionthatPenzancewenton。
　　"Ihavespentmyquietlifeinthinkingoftheforcesforwhichwefindnoexplanation——ofthecausesofwhichweonlyseetheeffects。LongagoinlookingatyouinoneofmyponderingmomentsIsaidtomyselfthatYOUwereofthePrimevalForcewhichcannotloseitsway——whichsweepsaclearpathwayforitselfasitmoves——andwhichcannotbeheldback。Isaidtoyoujustnowthatbecauseyouareastrongmanyoucannotbesurethatawomanyouare——eveninspiteofyourself——
　　makingmadloveto，isunconsciousthatyouaredoingit。Youdonotknowwhatyourstrengthliesin。Idonot，thewomandoesnot，butwemustallfeelit，whetherwecomprehenditorno。Yousaidofthisfinecreature，sometimesince，thatshewasLife，andyouhavejustsaidagainsomethingofthesamekind。Itisquitetrue。SheisLife，andthejoyofit。Youaretwostrongforces，andyouaredrawingtogether。"
　　Herosefromhischair，andgoingtoMountDunstanputhishandonhisshoulder，hisfineoldfacesingularlyraptandglowing。
　　"Sheisdrawingyouandyouaredrawingher，andeachistoostrongtoreleasetheother。Ibelievethattobetrue。
　　Bothbodiesandsoulsdoit。Theyarenotseparatethings。Theymoveontheirwayasthestarsdo——theymoveontheirway。"
　　Ashespoke，MountDunstan’seyeslookedintohisfixedly。
　　Thentheyturnedasideandlookeddownuponthemantelagainstwhichhewasleaning。Heaimlesslypickeduphispipeandlaiditdownagain。Hewaspalerthanbefore，buthesaidnosingleword。
　　"Youthinkyourreasonsforholdingalooffromherarethereasonsofaman。"Mr。Penzance’svoicesoundedtohimremote。"Theyarethereasonsofaman’spride——butthatisnotthestrongestthingintheworld。Itonlyimaginesitis。Youthinkthatyoucannotgotoherasaluckiermancould。Youthinknothingshallforceyoutospeak。Askyourselfwhy。Itisbecauseyoubelievethattoshowyourheartwouldbetoplaceyourselfinthehumiliatingpositionofamanwhomightseemtoherandtotheworldtobeabasefellow。"
　　"Animpudent，pushing，basefellow，"thrustinMountDunstanfiercely。"Oneofavulgarlot。Athingfancyingevenitsbeggaryworthbuying。Whathasaman——whoseverynameishungwithtatteredugliness——tooffer？"
　　Penzance’shandwasstillonhisshoulderandhislookathimwaslong。
　　"Hisverypride，"hesaidatlast，"hisveryobstinacyandhaughty，stubborndetermination。Thosebrokenbecausetheotherfeelingisthestrongerandovercomeshimutterly。"
　　AflushleapedtoMountDunstan’sforehead。Hesetbothelbowsonthemantelandlethisforeheadfallonhisclenchedfists。AndthesavageBritonroseinhim。
　　"No！"hesaidpassionately。"ByGod，no！"
　　"Yousaythat，"saidtheolderman，"becauseyouhavenotyetreachedtheendofyourtether。Unhappyasyouare，youarenotunhappyenough。Ofthetwo，youloveyourselfthemore——yourprideandyourstubbornness。"
　　"Yes，"betweenhisteeth。"IsupposeIretainyetasortofrespect——andaffection——formypride。MayGodleaveittome！"
　　Penzancefelthimselfcuriouslyexalted；heknewhimselfunreasoninglypassingthroughanoddlyunpractical，upliftedmoment，inwhoseimpellinghesingularlybelieved。
　　"Youaredrawingherandsheisdrawingyou，"hesaid。
　　"Perhapsyoudreweachotheracrossseas。Youwillstandheretogetherandyouwilltellherofthis——onthisveryspot。"
　　MountDunstanchangedhispositionandlaughedroughly，asiftorousehimself。Hethrewouthisarminabig，uneasygesture，takingintheroom。
　　"Oh，come，"hesaid。"Youtalklikeaseer。Lookaboutyou。Look！Iamtobringherhere！"
　　"Ifitistheprimevalthingshewillnotcare。Whyshouldshe？"
　　"She！Bringalifelikeherstothis！Orperhapsyoumeanthatherownwealthmightmakehersurroundingsbecoming——
　　thatamanwouldendurethat？"
　　"Ifitistheprimevalthing，YOUwouldnotcare。Youwouldhaveforgottenthatyoutwohadeverlivedanhourapart。"
　　Hespokewithadeep，movedgravity——almostasifhewerespeakingofthefirstTitanbuildingoftheearth。MountDunstanstaringathisdelicate，insistent，elderlyface，triedtolaughagain——andfailedbecausetheeffortseemedactuallyirreverent。
　　Itwasasingularhypnoticmoment，indeed。Hehimselfwashypnotised。Aflashlightofnewvisionblazedbeforehimandlefthimdumb。Hetookuphispipehurriedly，andwithstillunsteadyfingersbegantorefillit。Whenitwasfilledhelightedit，andthenwithoutawordofanswerleftthehearthandbegantotrampupanddowntheroomagain——outofthedimlightintotheshadows，backoutoftheshadowsandintothedimlightagain，hisbrowworkingandhisteethholdinghardhisambermouthpiece。
　　Themorningawakeningofanormalhealthyhumancreatureshouldbeajoyousthing。Afterthesoul’slonghoursofreleasefromtheburdenofthebody，itslonghoursspent——
　　onecanonlysayinaweatthemysteryofit，"away，away"——
　　inflight，perhaps，onbroad，tirelesswings，beatingsoftlyinfair，farskies，breathingpurelife，tobebroughtbacktorenewthestrengthofeachdawningday；afterthesehoursofquiescenceoflimbandnerveandbrain，themorninglifereturningshouldunsealforthebodycleareyesofpeaceatleast。Intimetocomethiswillbeso，whenthesoul’swingsarestronger，thebodymoreattunedtoinfinitelawandtheraceagreaterpower——butasyetitoftenseemsasthoughthewingedthingcamebackalaggingandreluctantrebelagainstitsfateandthechainwhichdrawsitbackaprisonertoitstoil。
　　IthadseemedsooftentoMountDunstan——oftenerthannot。Youthshouldnotknowsuchawakening，hewaswellaware；buthehadknownitsometimesevenwhenhehadbeenachild，andsincehisreturnfromhisill—starredstruggleinAmerica，thedullandreluctantfacingofthedayhadbecomeahabit。Yetonthemorningafterhistalkwithhisfriend——
　　thecurious，uplifted，unpracticaltalkwhichhadseemedtohypnotisehim——heknewwhenheopenedhiseyestothelightthathehadawakenedasamanshouldawake——withanunreasoningsenseofpleasureinthelifeandhealthofhisownbody，ashestretchedmightylimbs，strongafterthenight’srest，andfeelingthattherewasworktobedone。Itwasallunreasoning——
　　therewasnomoretobedonethanonthoseotherdayswhichhehadwakenedtowithbitterness，becausetheyseemeduselessandemptyofanyworth——butthismorningthemerelightofthesunwasofuse，therustleofthesmallbreezeintheleaves，thesoftfloatingpastofthewhiteclouds，themerefactthatthegreatblind—faced，statelyhousewashisown，thathecouldtrampfaroverlandswhichwerehisheritage，unfedthoughtheymightbe，andthattheveryrusticswhowouldpasshiminthelaneswere，sotospeak，hisownpeople：thathehadname，life，eventhecommonthingofhungerforhismorningfood——itwasallofuse。
　　Analluringpicture——ofacertaindeep，clearbathingpoolintheparkrosebeforehim。Ithadnotcalledtohimformanyaday，andnowhesawitsdarkbluenessgleambetweenflagsandgreenrushesinitsencirclingthicknessofshrubsandtrees。
　　Hesprangfromhisbed，andinafewminuteswasstridingacrossthegrassofthepark，histowelsoverhisarm，hisheadthrownbackashedrankinthefreshnessofthemorning—
　　scentedair。Itwasscentedwithdewandgrassandthebreathofwakingtreesandgrowingthings；earlytwittersandthrillsweretobeheardhereandthere，insistingonmorningjoyfulness；rabbitsfriskedaboutamongthefine—grassedhummocksoftheirwarrenand，ashepassed，scuttledbackintotheirholes，withawhiskingofshortwhitetails，atwhichhelaughedwithfriendlyamusement。Croppingstagsliftedtheirantleredheads，andfawnswithdappledsidesandimmenselustrouseyesgazedathimwithoutactualfear，evenwhiletheysidledclosertotheirmothers。Askylarkspringingsuddenlyfromthegrassafewyardsfromhisfeetmadehimstopshortonceandstandlookingupwardandlistening。Whocouldpassbyaskylarkatfiveo’clockonasummer’smorning——thelittle，heavenlylight—heartcirclingandwheeling，showeringdowndiamonds，showeringdownpearls，fromitstinypulsating，trillingthroat？
　　"Doyouknowwhytheysinglikethat？Itisbecauseallbutthejoyofthingshasbeenkepthiddenfromthem。Theyknewnothingbutlifeandflightandmating，andthegoldofthesun。Sotheysing。"Thatshehadoncesaid。
　　Helisteneduntilthejewelledrainseemedtohavefallenintohissoul。Thenhewentonhiswaysmilingasheknewhehadneversmiledinhislifebefore。Heknewitbecauseherealisedthathehadneverbeforefeltthesamevigorous，lightnormalityofspirit，thesamesenseofbeingasothermen。Itwasasthoughsomethinghadsweptagreatclearspaceabouthim，andhavingroomforairhebreatheddeepandwasgladofthecommonestgiftsofbeing。
　　Thebathingpoolhadbeenthegreatestpleasureofhisuncared—forboyhood。NooneknewwhichlongpassedawayMountDunstanhadmadeit。Theoldestvillagerhadtoldhimthatithad"allusbenthere，"eveninhisfather’stime。Sincehehimselfhadknownithehadseenthatitwaskeptatitsbest。
　　Itsdarkbluedepthsreflectedintheirpellucidclearnessthewaterplantsgrowingatitsedgeandtheenclosingshrubsandtrees。Theturfborderingitwasvelvet—thickandgreen，andafewflag—stepsleddowntothewater。Birdscametheretodrinkandbatheandpreenanddresstheirfeathers。Heknewtherewereoftennestsinthebushes——sometimesthenestsofnightingaleswhofilledthesoftdarknessormoonlightofearlyJunewiththewonderfulnessofnestingsong。Sometimesastrayingfawnpokedinatendernose，andafterdrinkingdelicatelystoleaway，asifitknewitselfatrespasser。
　　Toundressandplungeheadlongintothedarksapphirewaterwasarapturousthing。Heswamswiftlyandslowlybyturns，hefloated，lookingupwardatheaven’sblue，listeningtobirds’
　　songandinhalingallthefragranceoftheearlyday。Strengthgrewinhimandlifepulsedasthewaterlappedhislimbs。Hefoundhimselfthinkingwithpleasureofalongwalkheintendedtotaketoseeafarmerhemusttalktoabouthishopgardens；
　　hefoundhimselfthinkingwithpleasureofotherthingsassimpleandcommontoeverydaylife——suchthingsasheordinarilyfacedmerelybecausehemust，sincehecouldnotaffordanexperiencedbailiff。Hewashisownbailiff，hisownsteward，merely，hehadoftenthought，anunsuccessfulfarmerofhalf—
　　starvedlands。Butthismorningneitherhenortheyseemedsostarved，and——fornoreason——therewasafutureofsomesort。
　　Heemergedfromhispoolglowing，theturffeelinglikevelvetbeneathhisfeet，afinelightinhiseyes。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，throwingouthisarmsinalordlystretchofphysicalwell—being，"itmightbeamagnificentthing——merestrongliving。THISismagnificent。"
　　CHAPTERXXXVI
　　BYTHEROADSIDEEVERYWHERE
　　HisbreakfastandthetalkoveritwithPenzanceseemedgoodthings。ItsuddenlyhadbecomeworthwhiletodiscusstheapproachinghopharvestandtheyearlyinfluxofthehoppickersfromLondon。Yesterdaythesubjecthadappeareddiscouragingenough。Thegreathopgardensoftheestatehadbeenintimespastitsmostprolificsourceofagriculturalrevenueandtheboastandwonderofthehop—growingcounty。
　　Theneglectandscantfoodoftheleanyearshadcostthemtheirreputation。Eachseasontheyhadneededsmallerbandsof"hoppers，"andtheirstandardhadbeenlowered。Ithadbeenhishabittothinkofthemgloomily，asofhopelessandirretrievableloss。Becausethismorning，foraremotereason，thepulseoflifebeatstronginhimhewastakinganewview。
　　Mightnotstudyofthesubject，constantattentionandtheapplicationofallavailableresourcetooneendproduceappreciableresults？Theideapresenteditselfintheformofathingworththinkingof。
　　"Itwouldprovideanoutlookandgiveoneworktodo，"heputittohiscompanion。"Tohavearoofoverone’shead，asoundbody，andworktodo，isnotsobad。SuchthingsformthewholeofG。Selden’scheerfulaim。Hisspiritisalightwithinme。IwillwalkoverandtalktoBolter。"
　　Bolterwasafarmerwhosestruggletomakeendsmeetwasalmosttoomuchforhim。Holdingswhoseowners，eitherthroughneglectorlackofmoney，havefailedtodotheirdutyaslandlordsinthematterofrepairsoffarmhouses，outbuildings，fences，andotherthings，graduallyfallintopoorhands。Resourcefulandprosperousfarmersdonotcaretoholdlandsunderunprosperouslandlords。TherewerefarmslyingvacantontheMountDunstanestate，therewereotherswhosetenantswereuncertainrentpayersorslipshodworkersordishonestinsmallways。Wasteorsaleofthefertiliserwhichshouldhavebeengiventothesoilasitsdue，neglectinthecaseofthingswhosedecaymeantdepreciationofpropertyandexpensetothelandlord，weredishonesties。ButMountDunstanknewthatifheturnedoutThornandFittle，whomnowatchingcouldwhollyfrustrateintheirtricks，UnderMountFarmandOakfieldRisewouldstandemptyformanyayear。ButforhispovertyBolterwouldhavebeenagoodtenantenough。Hewasintroublenowbecause，thoughhishopspromisedwell，hefaceddifficultiesinthematterof"pickers。"Lastyearhehadnotbeenabletopaysatisfactorypricesinreturnforlabour，andasaresulttheprospectofsecuringgoodworkerswasanunpromisingone。
　　Thehordesofmen，women，andchildrenwhoflockyearafteryeartothehop—growingdistrictsknoweachother。Theylearnalsowhichmaybecalledthegoodneighbourhoodsandwhichthebad；thegardenswhoseholdersareconsideredsatisfactoryasmasters，andthosewhoareundesirable。Theyknowbyexperienceorreportwherethebest"huts"areprovided，wheretentsaresupplied，andwhereonemustgetalongasonecan。
　　Generallytheregularflocksareundera"captain，"whogathershisfollowerseachseason，managesthemandlooksaftertheirinterestsandtheiremployers’。Insomecasesthesamecaptainbringshisregimenttothesamegardensyearafteryear，andendsbycountinghimselfasofthesoilandalmostofthefamilyofhisemployer。Eachhard，thick—foggedwintertheyfightthroughintheirEastEndcourtsandstreets，theylookforwardtotheopen—airweeksspentbetweenlong，narrowgreengrovesoftallgarlandedpoles，whosewreathingshangthickwithfreshandpungent—scentedhopclusters。Childrenplay"’oppin"indingyroomsandalleys，andtalktoeachotherofdayswhenthesunshonehotandbirdsweresingingandflowerssmellingsweetinthehedgerows；ofotherswhentherainstreameddownandmademudofthesoftearth，andyettherewaspleasureinthegipsyinglife，andhighcheerinthefireofsticksbuiltinthefieldbysomeboldspirit，whohungoveritatinkettletoboilfortea。Theyneverforgotthegentrytheyhadcaughtsightofridingordrivingbyontheroad，theparsonwhocametotalk，andtheoccasionalgroupsofladiesfromthe"greathouse"whocameintothegardenstowalkaboutandlookatthebinsandaskqueerquestionsintheirgentry—soundingvoices。Theyneverknewanything，andtheyalwaysseemedtobeentertained。Sometimestherewereenterprising，laughingones，whoaskedtobeshownhowtostripthehopsintothebins，andafterbeingshownplayedattheworkforalittlewhile，takingofftheirglovesandshowingwhitefingerswithringson。Theyalwayslookedasiftheyhadjustbeenwashed，andasifalloftheirclotheswerefreshfromthetub，andwhenanyonestoodnearthemitwasobservablethattheysmeltnice。Generallytheygavepenniestothechildrenbeforetheyleftthegarden，andsometimesshillingstothewomen。Thehoppickingwas，infact，awonderfulblendofworkandholidaycombined。
　　MountDunstanhadlikedthe"hopping"fromhisfirstmemoriesofit。Hecouldrecallhissensationsofwelcomingarenewalofinterestingthingswhen，seasonafterseason，hehadbeguntomarktheearlystragglersontheroad。Thestragglerswerenotoftheclassgatheredundercaptains。Theywerederelicts——trampswhospenttheirsummersonthehighwaysandtheirwintersinsuchworkhousesaswouldtakethemin；tinkers，whodifferfromthetrampsonlybecausesometimestheyownedaricketycartfullofstrangehouseholdgoodsanddrunkententh—handperambulatorspiledwithdirtybundlesandbabies，theselastpropelledbyrobustorworn—out，slatternlywomen，whosatbythesmallroadsidefirestirringthebatteredpotortendingthebatteredkettle，whenrestingtimehadcomeandfoodmustbecooked。
　　Gipsiestherewerewhohadcookingfiresalso，andhobbledhorsescroppingthegrass。Nowandthenappearedagrandone，whowasrumouredtobeaLeeandthereforeroyal，andwhocameandlivedregallyinagailypaintedcaravan。Duringthelatesummerweeksonebegantoseeslouchingfigurestrampingalongthehighroadatintervals。Theseweremenwhowereold，menwhoweremiddle—agedandsomewhowereyoung，allofthemmoreorlessdust—grimed，weather—beaten，orragged。Occasionallyonewastobeseeninheavybeeryslumberunderthehedgerow，orlyingonthegrasssmokinglazily，orwithpainfulthriftcobblingupaholeinagarment。
　　Suchastheseweredriftinginearlythattheymightbeonthegroundwhenpickerswerewanted。Theyweretheforerunnersoftheregulararmy。
　　OnhiswalktoWestWays，thefarmBolterlivedon，MountDunstanpassedtwoorthreeofthesestrays。Theyweretheusualflotsamandjetsam，butontheroadsidenearahopgardenhecameuponagroupofanaspectsounusualthatitattractedhisattention。Itsunusualnessconsistedinitsairofexceedingbustlingcheerfulness。Itwasadomesticgroupofthemostlucklesstype，andragged，dirty，andwornbyanevidentlylongtramp，mightwellhavebeenexpectedtolookforlorn，discouraged，andoutofspirits。Aslouchingfatheroffivechildren，oneplainlybutafewweeksold，andslunginadirtyshawlatitsmother’sbreast，anunhealthylookingslatternmother，twoancientperambulators，onepiledwithdingybundlesandcookingutensils，theseven—year—oldeldestgirlunpackingthingsandkeepinganeyeatthesametimeonthetwoyoungest，whowereneitherofthemoldenoughtobesteadyontheirfeet，thesix—year—oldgleefullyaidingtheslouchingfathertobuildthewaysidefire。Themothersatuponthegrassnursingherbabyandstaringaboutherwithanexpressionatoncestupefiedandilluminatedbysometemporarybliss。
　　Eventheslouchingfatherwasgrinning，asifgoodluckhadbefallenhim，andthetwoyoungestweretumblingaboutwithsquealsofgoodcheer。Thiswasnotthehumourinwhichsuchagroupusuallydroppedwearilyonthegrassatthewaysidetoeatitsmeagreanduninvitingmealandrestitsdragginglimbs。Ashedrewnear，MountDunstansawthatatthewoman’ssidetherestoodabasketfulloffoodandacanfullofmilk。
　　Ordinarilyhewouldhavepassedon，but，perhapsbecauseofthehumanglowthemorninghadbroughthim，hestoppedandspoke。
　　"Haveyoucomeforthehopping？"heasked。
　　Themantouchedhisforehead，apparentlynotconsciousthatthegrinwasyetonhisface。
　　"Yes，sir，"heanswered。
　　"Howfarhaveyouwalked？"
　　"Agoodfiftymilessincewestarted，sir。Ittookusagoodbit。Wewasprettydoneupwhenwestoppedhere。Butwe’ve’adawonderfulpieceofgoodluck。"Andhisgrinbroadenedimmensely。
　　"Iamgladtohearthat，"saidMountDunstan。Thegoodluckwasplainlyofanaturetohaveexcitedthemgreatly。
　　Chancegoodluckdidnothappentopeoplelikethemselves。
　　Theywereinthestateofmindwhichintheirclasscanonlyberelievedbytalk。Thewomanbrokein，herweakmouthandchinquiteunsteady。
　　"Seemslikeitcan’tbetrue，sir，"shesaid。"I’donlyjustcomeoutoftheUnion——afterthisone，"signifyingthenewbabyatherbreast。"Iwasn’tfittodragalongdayafterday。We’adtostop’ere’cosIwasnearfaintingaway。"
　　"Shelookedfairwhitewhenshesatdown，"putintheman。
　　"Likeshewasgoin’off。"
　　"Andthatveryminute，"saidthewoman，"ayoungladycamebyon’orseback，an’theminutesheseesmeshestopsher’orsean’getsdown。"
　　"Ineverseennothinglikethequickwayshedoneit，"saidthehusband。"Sharp，likeshewasasoldierunderorder。
　　Downan’givethebridletothegrooman’comesover"
　　"Andkneelsdown，"thewomantookhimup，"rightbymean’says，`What’sthematter？WhatcanIdo？’an’findsoutintwominutesan’sendstothefarmforsomebrandyan’allthisbasketfulofstuff，"jerkingherheadtowardsthetreasureatherside。"An’
　　gives’IM，"withanotherjerktowardshermate，"moneyenoughto’elpusalongtillI’mfaironmyfeet。Thatquickitwas——thatquick，"passingherhandoverherforehead，"asifitwasn’tforthebasket，"withanervous，half—hystericgiggle，"Iwouldn’tbelievebutwhatitwasadream——Iwouldn’t。"
　　"Shewasaverykindyounglady，"saidMountDunstan，"andyouwereinluck。"
　　Hegaveafewcopperstothechildrenandstrodeonhisway。Theglowwashotinhisheart，andheheldhisheadhigh。
　　"Shehasgoneby，"hesaid。"Shehasgoneby。"
　　HeknewheshouldfindheratWestWaysFarm，andhedidso。Slimandstraightasayoungbirchtree，andelatewithherrideinthemorningair，shestoodsilhouettedinherblackhabitagainsttheancientwhitewashedbrickporchasshetalkedtoBolter。
　　"Ihavebeendrinkingaglassofmilkandaskingquestionsabouthops，"shesaid，givinghimherhandbareofglove。
　　"UntilthisyearIhaveneverseenahopgardenorahoppicker。"
　　AftertheexchangeofafewwordsBolterrespectfullymeltedawayandleftthemtogether。
　　"ItwassuchawonderfuldaythatIwantedtobeoutundertheskyforalongtime——toridealongway，"sheexplained。"IhavebeenlookingathopgardensasIrode。I
　　havewatchedthemallthesummer——fromthetimewhentherewasonlyalittlethingwithtwoorthreepalegreenleaveslookingimploringlyallthewayuptothetopofeachimmenselytallhoppole，fromitsplaceintheearthatthebottomofit——
　　asifitwassayingoverandoveragain，underitsbreath，`CanIgetupthere？CanIgetup？CanIdoitintime？CanIdoitintime？’Yes，thatwaswhattheyweresaying，thelittleboldthings。Ihavewatchedthemeversince，puttingouttendrilsandtakingholdofthepolesandpullingandclimbinglikelittleacrobats。Andcurlingroundandunfoldingleavesandmoreleaves，untilatlasttheythrewthemoutasiftheywerebeginningtoboastthattheycouldclimbupintotheblueoftheskyifthesummerwerelongenough。Andnow，lookatthem！"herhandwavedtowardsthegreatgardens。"Forestsofthem，coolgreenpathwaysandavenueswithleafcanopiesoverthem。"
　　"Youhaveseenitall，"hesaid。"Youdoseethings，don’tyou？AfewhundredyardsdowntheroadIpassedsomethingyouhadseen。Iknewitwasyouwhohadseenit，thoughthepoorwretcheshadnotheardyourname。"
　　Shehesitatedamoment，thenstoopeddownandtookupinherhandabitofpebbledearthfromthepathway。Therewasstormintheblueofhereyesasshehelditoutforhimtolookatasitlayonthebarerose—fleshofherpalm。