fast。"Withsuchdifferencesofopinionasoccasionallyarosebetweenthevicarandhischurchwardenshewasimmediatelyfamiliar。ThehistoryofthefeveramongthehoppickersatDunstanvillagehehadbeenabletorelateindetailfromthemomentofitsoutbreak。ItwashewhohadfirstdramaticallyrevealedthetruthoftheactionMissVanderpoelhadtakeninthematter，whichrevelationhadarousedsuchenthusiasmashadfilledTheClockInntooverflowingandgivenanimpetustothesaleofbeer。Tread，itwassaid，hadevenmadeaspeechwhichhehadendedwithvaguebutexcellentintentionsbyproposingthejointhealthsofherladyship’ssisterandthe"PresidentofAmerica。"Mr。TewsonwasalwaysgladtoseeMissVanderpoelcrosshisthreshold。ThiswasnotalonebecausesherepresentedthecustomoftheCourt，whichsinceherarrivalhadmeantlargeregularordersandlargebillspromptlypaid，butthatshebroughtwithheranexoticatmosphereofinterestandexcitement。
　　Hehadmentionedtofriendsthatsomehowatalkwithhermadehimfeel"setupfortheday。"Bettywasnotatallsurethathedidnotprepareandhoardupchoiceremarksorbitsofinformationasopeningstoconversation。
　　Thismorninghehadthrillingnewsforherandbeganwithitatonce。
　　"Dr。FenwickatStornhamisverylow，miss，"hesaid。
　　"He’sverylow，you’llbesorrytohear。Theworryaboutthefeverupsethimterribleandhisbronchitistookhimbad。
　　He’sanoldman，youknow。"
　　MissVanderpoelwasverysorrytohearit。ItwasquiteinthenaturalorderofthingsthatsheshouldaskotherquestionsaboutDunstanvillageandtheMount，andsheaskedseveral。
　　Thefeverwasdyingoutandpaleconvalescentsweresometimesseeninthevillageorstrollingaboutthepark。Hislordshipwastakingcareofthepeopleanddoinghisbestforthemuntiltheyshouldbestrongenoughtoreturntotheirhomes。
　　"Buthe’sverystrictaboutmakingitplainthatit’syou，miss，theyhavetothankforwhathedoes。"
　　"Thatisnotquitejust，"saidMissVanderpoel。"HeandMr。Penzancefoughtonthefield。Ionlysuppliedsomeoftheammunition。"
　　"Thecountydoesn’tthinkofhimasitdidevenayearago，miss，"saidTewsonrathersmugly。"Hewasveryillthoughtofthenamongthegentry。It’swonderfulthechangethat’scomeabout。Ifheshouldfallillthere’llbeadealofsympathy。"
　　"Ihopethereisnoquestionofhisfallingill，"saidMissVanderpoel。
　　Mr。Tewsonloweredhisvoiceconfidentially。Thiswasreallyhismostvaluableitemofnews。
　　"Well，miss，"headmitted，"Ihaveheardthathe’sbeenlookingverybadforagoodbit，anditwastoldmequiteprivate，becausethedoctorsandthevicardon’twantthepeopletobeupsetbyhearingit——thatforaweekhe’snotbeenwellenoughtomakehisrounds。"
　　"Oh！"Theexclamationwasafaintone，butitwasanexclamation。"Ihopethatmeansnothingreallyserious，"
　　MissVanderpoeladded。"Everyonewillhopeso。"
　　"Yes，miss，"saidMr。Tewson，deftlytwistingthestringroundthepackagehewastyingupforher。"Asadrewarditwouldbeifhelosthislifeafterdoingallhehasdone。A
　　sadreward！Butthere’dbeagooddealofsympathy。"
　　ThesmallpackagecontainedtriflesofsewingandknittingmaterialsshewasgoingtotaketoMrs。Welden，andsheheldoutherhandforit。Sheknewshedidnotsmilequitenaturallyasshesaidhergood—morningtoTewson。Shewentoutintothepaleambersunshineandstoodafewmoments，gladtofindherselfbathedinitagain。Shesuddenlyneededairandlight。"Asadreward！"Sometimespeoplewerenotrewarded。Bravemenwereshotdeadonthebattlefieldwhentheyweredoingbravethings；bravephysiciansandnursesdiedoftheplaguestheyfaithfullywrestledwith。Hereweredreadandpainconfrontingher——BettyVanderpoel——andwhilealmosteveryoneelseseemedtohavefacedthem，shewaswhollyunusedtotheirappallingclutch。Whatalifehershadbeen——
　　thatinlookingbackoveritsheshouldrealisethatshehadneverbeentouchedbyanythinglikethisbefore！TherecamebacktoherthelookofalmostawedwonderinG。Selden’shonesteyeswhenhesaid："Whatitmustbetobeyou——justYOU！"Hehadbeenthinkingonlyofthemillionsandofthefreedomfromalleverydayanxietiesthemillionsgave。Shesmiledfaintlyasthethoughtcrossedherbrain。Themillions！
　　Therollingupofthemyearbyyear，becausemillionswerebreeders！Thenewspaperstoriesofthem——thewonderatandbeliefintheirpower！Itwasallgoingonjustasbefore，andyetherestoodaVanderpoelinanEnglishvillagestreet，ofnomoreworthasfaraspowertoaidherselfwentthanJoeButtle’sgirlwiththethickwaistandroundredcheeks。JennyButtlewouldhavebelievedthatherladyship’srichAmericansistercoulddoanythingshechose，openanydoor，commandanypresence，sweepasideanyobstaclewithawaveofherhand。
　　Butofthetwo，JennyButtle’spathwouldhavelaidstraighterbeforeher。Ifshehadhad"ayoungman"whohadfallenillshewouldhavebeenfreeifhismotherhadcherishednoobjectiontotheir"walkingout"——tospendallhersparehoursinhiscottage，makinggruelandpoultices，cryinguntilhernoseandeyeswerered，andpouringforthherhopesandfearstoanyneighbourwhocameinoroutorhungoverthedividinggardenhedge。Ifthepatientdied，thedeeperhermourningandthelouderhersobsathisfuneralthemorerespectableanddeservingofsympathyandadmirationwouldJennyButtlehavebeencounted。Herladyship’srichAmericansisterhadno"youngman"；shehadnotatanytimebeenaskedto"walkout。"Eveninthedarkdaysofthefever，eachofwhichhadcarriedthoughtandactionofherstothesceneoftrouble，therehadreignedunbrokensilence，exceptforthevicar’snotesofwarmandappreciativegratitude。
　　"Youareveryobstinate，Fergus，"Mr。Penzancehadsaid。
　　AndMountDunstanhadshakenhisheadfiercelyandanswered：
　　"Don’tspeaktomeaboutit。Onlyobstinacywillsavemefrombehavinglike——otherblackguards。"
　　Mr。Penzance，carefullypolishinghiseyeglassesashewatchedhim，wasnotsparinginhiscomment。
　　"Thatispurefolly，"hesaid，"purebull—necked，stubbornfolly，chargingwithitsheaddown。Beforeithasdonewithyouitwillhavemadeyousufferquiteenough。"
　　"Besureofthat，"MountDunstanhadsaid，settinghisteeth，ashesatinhischairclaspinghishandsbehindhisheadandgloweringintospace。
　　Mr。Penzancequietly，speculatively，lookedhimover，andreflectedaloud——or，soitsounded。
　　"Itisabig—bonedandbig—muscledcharacteristic，buttherearethingswhicharestronger。Someoneminutewillarrive——
　　justoneminute——whichwillbestronger。Oneofthosemomentswhenthemysteriesoftheuniverseareatwork。"
　　"Don’tspeaktomelikethat，Itellyou！"MountDunstanbrokeoutpassionately。Andhesprangupandmarchedoutoftheroomlikeanangryman。
　　MissVanderpoeldidnotgotoMrs。Welden’scottageatonce，butwalkedpastitsdoordownthelane，wheretherewerenomorecottages，butonlyhedgesandfieldsoneithersideofher。"Notwellenoughtomakehisrounds"mightmeanmuchorlittle。Itmightmeanatemporarybreakdownfromoverfatigueorasickeningfordeadlyillness。Shelookedatagroupofcroppingsheepinafieldandataflockofrookswhichhadjustalightednearitwithcawingandflappingofwings。Shekepthereyesonthemmerelytosteadyherself。
　　Thethoughtsshehadbroughtoutwithherhadgrownheavierandwerehorriblydifficulttocontrol。Onemustnotallowone’sselftobelievetheworstwillcome——onemustnotallowit。
　　Shealwaysheldthisrulebeforeherself，andnowshewasnotholdingitsteadily。Therewasnothingtodo。ShecouldwriteamerenoteofinquirytoMr。Penzance，butthatwasall。Shecouldonlywalkupanddownthelanesandthink——whetherhelaydyingornot。Shecoulddonothing，evenifadaycamewhensheknewthatapithadbeendugintheclayandhehadbeenloweredintoitwithcreakingropes，andtheclodsshovelledbackuponhimwherehelaystill——neverhavingtoldherthathewasgladthatherbeinghadturnedtohimandherheartcriedaloudhisname。Sherecalledwithcuriousdistinctnesstheeffectofthesteadytollofthechurchbell——the"passingbell。"
　　Shecouldhearitasshehadhearditthefirsttimeitfelluponherear，andshehadinquiredwhatitmeant。Whydidtheycallitthe"passingbell"？Allhadpassedbeforeitbegantotoll——allhadpassed。IfittolledatDunstanandthepitwasduginthechurchyardbeforeherfathercame，wouldhesee，themomenttheymet，thatsomethinghadbefallenher——thattheBettyhehadknownwaschanged——gone？Yes，hewouldsee。Affectionsuchashisalwayssaw。Thenhewouldsitalonewithherinsomequietroomandtalktoher，andshewouldtellhimthestrangethingthathadhappened。Hewouldunderstand——perhapsbetterthanshe。
　　Shestoppedabruptlyinherwalkandstoodstill。Thehandholdingherpackagewasquitecold。Thiswaswhatonemustnotallowone’sself。Buthowthethoughtshadracedthroughherbrain！SheturnedandhastenedherstepstowardsMrs。
　　Welden’scottage。
　　InMrs。Welden’stinybackyardtherestooda"coallodge"suitedtothesizeofthedomicileandalreadystackedwithafullwinter’ssupplyofcoal。Thereforethewell—polishedandcleanlylittlegrateintheliving—roomwasbrightwithfire。
　　OldDoby，whohadtotteredroundthecornertopayhisfellowgossipavisit，wassittingbyit，andoldMrs。Welden，cleanastocapandapronandsmallpurpleshouldershawl，hadevidentlybeenallayinghisnaturalanxietyastotheconductofforeignsovereignsbyreadinginaloudvoicethe"print"
　　underthepicturesinanillustratedpaper。
　　Thisoccupationhad，however，beeninterruptedafewmomentsbeforeMissVanderpoel’sarrival。Mrs。Bester，theneighbourinthenextcottage，hadsteppedinwithheryoungestonherhipandwastalkingbreathlessly。ShepausedtodrophercurtsyasBettyentered，andoldDobystoodupandmadehissalutewithatremblinghand"She’llknow，"hesaid。"Gentryknowstheinsan’outsofgentryfust。She’llknowtherights。"
　　"Whathashappened？"
　　Mrs。Besterunexpectedlyburstintotears。Therewasanelementinthefemalevillagers’temperamentwhichBettyhadfoundwasfrequentlyunexpectedinitsbreakingforth。
　　"He’sdown，miss，"shesaid。"He’sdownwithitcroolbad。There’llbenosavin’ofhim——none。"
　　Bettylaidherpackageofsewingcottonandknittingwoolquietlyontheblueandwhitecheckedtablecloth。
　　"Who——ishe？"sheasked。
　　"Hislordship——andhimjustsavedallDunstanparishfromdeath——togolikethis！"
　　InStornhamvillageandinallothersoftheneighbourhoodthefeminineattitudetowardsMountDunstanhadbeenoneofstronglyemotionaladmiration。Thethwartedfemalelongingforromance——thedesirefordramaandaherohadbeenfedbyhim。Afine，bigyoungman，onethathadbeen"spokeillof"andregardedasanoutcast，hadsuddenlyturnedthetablesonfortuneandmadehimselfthecentralfigureofthecounty，thetalkofgentryintheirgrandhouses，ofcottagewomenontheirdoorsteps，andlabourersstoppingtospeaktoeachotherbytheroadside。Magicstorieshadbeentoldofhim，befloweredwithdramaticdetail。Noincidentcouldhavebeenrelatedtohiscreditwhichwouldnothavebeenbelievedandimprovedupon。Shutupinhisvillageworkingamonghispeopleandunseenbyoutsiders，hehadbecomeapopularidol。
　　Anyscrapofnewsofhim——anyrumour，trueoruntrue，wasseizeduponandexcitedlyspreadabroad。ThereforeMrs。Besterweptasshetalked，and，ifthetruthmustbetold，enjoyedthesituation。Shewasthefirsttotellthestorytoherladyship’ssisterherself，aswellastoMrs。WeldenandoldDoby。
　　"It’sTomasbroughtitin，"shesaid。"He’smybrother，miss，an’he’soneoftheringers。HehearditfromJemWesgate，an’hehearditatToomy’sfarm。They’vebeenkeepin’ithidattheMountbecausethepeoplethat’sillhangsonhislordshipsothatthedoctorsdaren’tletthemknowthetruth。They’vebeentoldhehadtogotoLondonan’maycomebackanyday。WhatTomwassayin’，miss，wasthatwe’dallknowwhenitwasover，forwe’dhearthechurchbelltollheresameasit’dtollatDunstan，becausetheyringershavetalkeditoveran’they’regoin’totalkitoverto—daywiththeotherparishes——Yangfordan’Melthaman’Dunholman’them。
　　TomsaysStornhamringersmetjustnowatTheClockan’saidthatforamanthat’sstoodbylabouringfolklikehehas，tolltheywill，an’sooughttheotherparishes，sameasifhewasroyalty，forhe’smadehimselfnearer。They’lltolltheminutetheyhearit，miss。Lordhelpus！"withafreshoutburstofcrying。"Itdon’tseemlikeit’sfairasitshouldbe。Whenwehearthebelltoll，miss————"
　　"Don’t！"saidherladyship’shandsomesistersuddenly。
　　"Pleasedon’tsayitagain。"
　　Shesatdownbythetable，andrestingherelbowsontheblueandwhitecheckedcloth，coveredherfacewithherhands。
　　Shedidnotspeakatall。Inthistinyroom，withthesetwooldsoulswholovedher，sheneednotexplain。Shesatquitestill，andMrs。Weldenafterlookingatherforafewsecondswaspromptedbysomesublimelysimpleintuition，andgentlysidledMrs。Besterandheryoungestintothelittlekitchen，wherethecopperwas。
　　"Herhelpin’himlikeshedid，makesitcomenear，"shewhispered。"Dessayitseemsasifhewasa’mostlikearelation。"
　　OldDobysatandlookedathisgoddess。Inhisslowlymovingoldbrainstirredfar—offmemorieslikelong—deadthingsstrivingtocometolife。Hedidnotknowwhattheywere，buttheywakenedhisdimeyestoanewseeingoftheslimyoungshapeleaningalittleforward，thesoftcloudofhair，thefairbeautyofthecheek。Hehadnotseenanythinglikeitinhisyouth，but——itwasYouthitself，andsowasthatwhichtheringersweresosoontotollfor；andforsomeremoteandunformedreason，tohisscoresofyearstheywerepitifulandshouldbecheered。Hebentforwardhimselfandputouthisancient，veinedandknotted，gnarledandtremblinghand，totimorouslytouchthearmofherheworshippedandadored。
　　"Godblessye！"hesaid，hishigh，crackedvoiceevenmoreshrillandthinthanusual。"Godblessye！"Andassheletherhandsslipdown，and，turning，gentlylookedathim，henoddedtoherspeakingly，becauseoutofthedimnessofhisbeing，somepartofNature’sworkinghadstrangelyansweredandunderstood。
　　CHAPTERXLVI
　　LISTENING
　　OnherwaybacktotheCourthereyessawonlythewhiteroadbeforeherfeetasshewalked。Shedidnotliftthemuntilshefoundherselfpassingthelych—gateattheentrancetothechurchyard。Thensuddenlyshelookedupatthesquaregreystonetowerwherethebellshung，andfromwhichtheycalledthevillagetochurch，orchimedforweddings——orgaveslowlyforthtothesilentaironeheavy，regularstrokeafteranother。Shelookedandshuddered，andspokealoudwithacurious，passionateimploring，likeachild’s。
　　"Oh，don’ttoll！Don’ttoll！Youmustnot！Youcannot！"Terrorhadsprunguponher，andherheartwasbeingtornintwoinherbreast。Thatwassurelywhatitseemedlike——thisagonisingacheoffear。Nowfromhourtohourshewouldbewaitingandlisteningtoeachsoundborneontheair。Herthoughtwouldbeapossessionshecouldnotescape。
　　Whenshespokeorwasspokento，shewouldbelistening——
　　whenshewassilenteveryechowouldholdterror，whensheslept——ifsleepshouldcometoher——herhearingwouldbeawake，andshewouldbelistening——listeningeventhen。ItwasnotBettyVanderpoelwhowaswalkingalongthewhiteroad，butanothercreature——agirlwhosebrainwasfullofabnormalthought，andwhosewholebeingmadepassionateoutcryagainstthethingwhichwasbeingslowlyforceduponher。Ifthebelltolled——suddenly，thewholeworldwouldbesweptcleanoflife——emptyandclean。Ifthebelltolled。
　　BeforetheentranceoftheCourtshesaw，assheapproachedit，thevicarageponycarriage，standingasithadstoodonthedayshehadreturnedfromherwalkonthemarshes。Shefeltitquitenaturalthatitshouldbethere。Mrs。Brentalwaysseizeduponanyfragmentofnews，andhavingseizedonsomethingnow，shehadnotbeenabletoresisttheexcitementofbringingittoLadyAnstruthersandhersister。
　　Shewasinthedrawing—roomwithRosalie，andwasfullofhersubjectandtheemotionsuitabletotheoccasion。Shehadevenattainedacertainmodifieddampnessofhandkerchief。
　　Rosalie’shandkerchief，however，wasnotdamp。Shehadnotevenattemptedtouseit，butsatstill，hereyesbrimmingwithtears，which，whenshesawBetty，brimmedoverandslippedhelplesslydownhercheeks。
　　"Betty！"sheexclaimed，andgotupandwenttowardsher，"Ibelieveyouhaveheard。"
　　"Inthevillage，Iheardsomething——yes，"Bettyanswered，andaftergivinggreetingtoMrs。Brent，sheledhersisterbacktoherchair，andsatnearher。
　　This——thethoughtleapeduponher——wasthekindofsituationshemustbepreparedtobeequalto。Inthepresenceofthesewhoknewnothing，shemustbearherselfasiftherewasnothingtobeknown。Noonebutherselfhadtheslightestknowledgeofwhatthepastmonthshadbroughttoher——nooneintheworld。Ifthebelltolled，nooneintheworldbutherfathereverwouldknow。Shehadnoexcuseforemotion。
　　Nonehadbeengiventoher。Thekindofthingitwasproperthatsheshouldsayanddonow，inthepresenceofMrs。Brent，itwouldbeproperanddecentthatsheshouldsayanddoinallothercases。ShemustcomportherselfasBettyVanderpoelwouldifsheweremovedonlybyordinaryhumansympathyandregret。
　　"Wemustrememberthatwehaveonlyexcitedrumourtodependupon，"shesaid。"LordMountDunstanhaskepthisvillageunderalmostmilitarylaw。Hehasputitintoquarantine。Nooneisallowedtoleaveit，sotherecanbenodirectsourceofinformation。Onecannotbesureoftheentiretruthofwhatonehears。Oftenitisexaggeratedcottagetalk。
　　Thewholeneighbourhoodiswroughtuptoafeverheatofexcitedsympathy。Andvillagerslikethedramaofthings。"
　　Mrs。Brentlookedatheradmiringly，itbeingherfixedhabittoadmireMissVanderpoel，andallsuchasProvidencehadsetaboveher。
　　"Oh，howwiseyouare，MissVanderpoel！"sheexclaimed，evendevoutly。"Itissoniceofyoutobecalmandlogicalwheneverybodyelseissoupset。Youarequiterightaboutvillagersenjoyingthedramaticsideoftroubles。Theyalwaysdo。Andperhapsthingsarenotsobadastheysay。Ioughtnottohaveletmyselfbelievetheworst。ButIquitebrokedownundertheringers——Iwassotouched。"
　　"Theringers？"falteredLadyAnstruthers"Theleadercametothevicartotellhimtheywantedpermissiontotoll——iftheyheardtollingatDunstan。Weaver’sfamilyliveswithinhearingofDunstanchurchbells，andoneofhisboysistorunacrossthefieldsandbringthenewstoStornham。Anditwasmosttouching，MissVanderpoel。
　　Theyfeel，intheirrusticway，thatLordMountDunstanhasnotbeentreatedfairlyinthepast。Andnowheseemstothemaheroandamartyr——orlikeagreatsoldierwhohasdiedfighting。"
　　"WhoMAYdiefighting，"brokefromMissVanderpoelsharply。
　　"Who——whomay————"Mrs。Brentcorrectedherself，"thoughHeavengranthewillnot。Butitwastheringerswhomademefeelasifallreallywasover。Thankyou，MissVanderpoel，thankyouforbeingsopracticaland——andcool。"
　　"ItWAStouching，"saidLadyAnstruthers，hereyesbrimmingoveragain。"Andwhatthevillagersfeelistrue。Itgoestoone’sheart，"inalittleoutburst。"Peoplehavebeenunkindtohim！Andhehasbeenlonelyinthatgreatemptyplace——hehasbeenlonely。Andifheisdyingto—day，heislonelyevenashedies——evenashedies。"
　　Bettydrewadeepbreath。Foronemomentthereseemedtorisebeforehervisionofahugeroom，whosestatelysizemadeitsbarenessamoredesolatething。AndMr。Penzancebentlowoverthebed。Shetoreherthoughtawayfromit。
　　"No！No！"shecriedoutinlow，passionateprotest。"Therewillbeloveandyearningallabouthimeverywhere。Thevillagerswhoarewaiting——thepoorthingshehasworkedfor——theveryringersthemselves，areallpouringforththesamethoughts。Hewillfeelevenours——ourstoo！Hissoulcannotbelonely。"
　　Afewminutesearlier，Mrs。Brenthadbeensayingtoherselfinwardly："Shehasnotmuchheartafterall，youknow。"
　　Nowshelookedatherinamazement。
　　Thebluebellswereunderwaterintruth——drenchedanddrowned。Andyetasthegirlstoodupbeforeher，shelookedtaller——morethemagnificentMissVanderpoelthanever——
　　thoughsheexpressedanewmeaning。
　　"Thereisonethingthevillagerscandoforhim，"shesaid。
　　"Onethingwecanalldo。Thebellhasnottolledyet。Thereisaserviceforthosewhoare——inperil。Ifthevicarwillcallthepeopletothechurch，wecanallkneeldownthere——
　　andasktobeheard。ThevicarwilldothatIamsure——andthepeoplewilljoinhimwithalltheirhearts。"
　　Mrs。Brentwasoverwhelmed。
　　"Dear，dear，MissVanderpoel！"sheexclaimed。"THATistouching，indeeditis！Andsorightandsoproper。Iwilldrivebacktothevillageatonce。Thevicar’sdistressisasgreatasmine。Youthinkofeverything。Theserviceforthesickanddying。Howright——howright！"
　　Withasenseofanincreaseofvalueinherself，thevicar，andthevicarage，shehastenedbacktotheponycarriage，butinthehallsheseizedBetty’shandemotionally。
　　"IcannottellyouhowmuchIamtouchedbythis，"shemurmured。
　　"Ididnotknowyouwere——wereareligiousgirl，mydear。"
　　Bettyansweredwithgravepoliteness。
　　"Intimesofgreatpainandterror，"shesaid，"Ithinkalmosteverybodyisreligious——alittle。Ifthatistherightword。"
　　Therewasnoringingoftheordinarycalltoservice。Inlessthananhour’stimepeoplebegantocomeoutoftheircottagesandwendtheirwaytowardsthechurch。NoonehadputonhisorherSundayclothes。Thewomenhadhastilyrolleddowntheirsleeves，thrownofftheiraprons，anddonnedeverydaybonnetsandshawls。Themenwereintheircorduroys，astheyhadcomeinfromthefields，andthechildrenworetheirpinafores。Asifbymagic，thenewshadflownfromhousetohouse，andeachonewhohadheardithadlefthisorherworkwithoutamoment’shesitation。Theysaidbutlittleastheymadetheirwaytothechurch。Betty，walkingwithhersister，wasstruckbythefactthatthereweremoreofthemthanformedtheusualSundaymorningcongregation。
　　Theyweredoingnoperfunctoryduty。Themen’sfaceswereheavilymoved，mostofthewomenwipedtheireyesatintervals，andthechildrenlookedawed。Therewasasuggestionofhurriedmovementinthestepofeach——asifnotimemustbelost——asiftheymustbegintheirappealatonce。BettysawoldDobytotteringalongstiffly，withhisgranddaughterandMrs。Weldenoneithersideofhim。Marlow，onhistwosticks，wastobeseenmovingslowly，butsteadily。
　　Withintheancientstonewalls，stiffoldkneesbentthemselveswithcare，andfaceswerecovereddevoutlybywork—
　　hardenedhands。AsshepassedthroughthechurchyardBettyknewthateyesfollowedheraffectionately，andthatthetouchingofforeheadsanddroppingofcurtsiesexpressedaspecialsympathy。Ineachmindshewasconnectedwiththemantheycametoprayfor——withtheworkhehaddone——withthedangerhewasin。Itwasvaguelyfeltthatifhislifeended，abereavementwouldhavefallenuponher。Thisthegirlknew。
　　Thevicarliftedhisbowedheadandbeganhisservice。
　　Everyman，womanandchildbeforehimrespondedaloudandwithacuriousfervour——notindecorousfearofseemingtothrustthemselvesbeforethethrone，makingtoomuchoftheirpetitions，inthepresenceofthegentry。Hereandtheresobsweretobeheard。LadyAnstruthersfollowedtheservicetimorouslyandwithtears。ButBetty，kneelingatherside，bytheroundtableinthecentreofthegreatsquareStornhampew，whichwaslikearoom，bowedherheaduponherfoldedarms，andprayedherownintense，insistentprayer。