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However£»¡¡he¡¡consoled¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡what¡¡was¡¡in¡¡truth¡¡a¡¡rare
consolation¡¡for¡¡a¡¡budding¡¡lover£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the¡¡same¡¡roof
with¡¡Lizzy£»¡¡her¡¡guest£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡poetical¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡term
lodger£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡certainly¡¡see¡¡her¡¡on¡¡the¡¡morrow¡£

The¡¡morrow¡¡came£»¡¡and¡¡Stockdale¡¡rose¡¡early£»¡¡his¡¡cold¡¡quite¡¡gone¡£¡¡¡¡He
had¡¡never¡¡in¡¡his¡¡life¡¡so¡¡longed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡breakfast¡¡hour¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did
that¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡punctually¡¡at¡¡eight¡¡o'clock£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡short¡¡walk£»¡¡to
reconnoitre¡¡the¡¡premises£»¡¡he¡¡re¡­entered¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡his¡¡dwelling¡£
Breakfast¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡Martha¡¡Sarah¡¡attended£»¡¡but¡¡nobody¡¡came
voluntarily¡¡as¡¡on¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before¡¡to¡¡inquire¡¡if¡¡there¡¡were¡¡other
wants¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡mentioned£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡she¡¡would¡¡attempt¡¡to
gratify¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡disappointed£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡out£»¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡at
dinner¡£¡¡¡¡Dinner¡¡time¡¡came£»¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡meal£»¡¡finished¡¡it£»
lingered¡¡on¡¡for¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡hour£»¡¡although¡¡two¡¡new¡¡teachers¡¡were¡¡at¡¡that
moment¡¡waiting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡chapel¡­door¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡him¡¡by¡¡appointment¡£
It¡¡was¡¡useless¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡slowly¡¡went¡¡his¡¡way¡¡down¡¡the
lane£»¡¡cheered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡see¡¡her¡¡in
the¡¡evening£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡engage¡¡again¡¡in¡¡the¡¡delightful¡¡tub¡­
broaching¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbouring¡¡church¡¡tower£»¡¡which¡¡proceeding¡¡he
resolved¡¡to¡¡render¡¡more¡¡moral¡¡by¡¡steadfastly¡¡insisting¡¡that¡¡no¡¡water
should¡¡be¡¡introduced¡¡to¡¡fill¡¡up£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡tub¡¡should¡¡cluck¡¡like
all¡¡the¡¡hens¡¡in¡¡Christendom¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡nothing¡¡could¡¡disguise¡¡the¡¡fact
that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡business£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡countenance¡¡fell¡¡when¡¡he
thought¡¡how¡¡much¡¡more¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡that¡¡matter¡¡than¡¡in
his¡¡serious¡¡duties¡£

However£»¡¡compunction¡¡vanished¡¡with¡¡the¡¡decline¡¡of¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Night¡¡came£»
and¡¡his¡¡tea¡¡and¡¡supper£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡Lizzy¡¡Newberry£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡sweet
temptations¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡the¡¡minister¡¡could¡¡bear¡¡it¡¡no¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡said
to¡¡his¡¡quaint¡¡little¡¡attendant£»¡¡'Where¡¡is¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Newberry¡¡to¡­day£¿'
judiciously¡¡handing¡¡a¡¡penny¡¡as¡¡he¡¡spoke¡£

'She's¡¡busy£»'¡¡said¡¡Martha¡£

'Anything¡¡serious¡¡happened£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡handing¡¡another¡¡penny£»¡¡and
revealing¡¡yet¡¡additional¡¡pennies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡background¡£

'O¡¡nonothing¡¡at¡¡all£¡'¡¡said¡¡she£»¡¡with¡¡breathless¡¡confidence¡£
'Nothing¡¡ever¡¡happens¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She's¡¡only¡¡biding¡¡upstairs¡¡in¡¡bed
because¡¡'tis¡¡her¡¡way¡¡sometimes¡£'

Being¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡of¡¡some¡¡honour£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡question¡¡further£»¡¡and
assuming¡¡that¡¡Lizzy¡¡must¡¡have¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡headache£»¡¡or¡¡other¡¡slight
ailment£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡what¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡had¡¡said£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed
dissatisfied£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡setting¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡old¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Simpkins¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡said
last¡¡night¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡see¡¡her¡¡to¡­morrow£»'¡¡he¡¡reflected£»¡¡'but¡¡that
was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be£¡'

Next¡¡day¡¡he¡¡had¡¡better¡¡fortune£»¡¡or¡¡worse£»¡¡meeting¡¡her¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of
the¡¡stairs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡favoured¡¡by¡¡a¡¡visit¡¡or¡¡two¡¡from
her¡¡during¡¡the¡¡dayonce¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡making¡¡kindly¡¡inquiries
about¡¡his¡¡comfort£»¡¡as¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡evening£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡another¡¡time¡¡to
place¡¡a¡¡bunch¡¡of¡¡winter¡­violets¡¡on¡¡his¡¡table£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡promise¡¡to
renew¡¡them¡¡when¡¡they¡¡drooped¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡these¡¡occasions¡¡there¡¡was
something¡¡in¡¡her¡¡smile¡¡which¡¡showed¡¡how¡¡conscious¡¡she¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the
effect¡¡she¡¡produced£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡said¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡rather¡¡a
humorous¡¡than¡¡a¡¡designing¡¡consciousness£»¡¡and¡¡savoured¡¡more¡¡of¡¡pride
than¡¡of¡¡vanity¡£

As¡¡for¡¡Stockdale£»¡¡he¡¡clearly¡¡perceived¡¡that¡¡he¡¡possessed¡¡unlimited
capacity¡¡for¡¡backsliding£»¡¡and¡¡wished¡¡that¡¡tutelary¡¡saints¡¡were¡¡not
denied¡¡to¡¡Dissenters¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡set¡¡a¡¡watch¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡tongue¡¡and¡¡eyes¡¡for
the¡¡space¡¡of¡¡one¡¡hour¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡he¡¡found¡¡it¡¡was
useless¡¡to¡¡struggle¡¡further£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡situation¡£
'The¡¡other¡¡minister¡¡will¡¡be¡¡here¡¡in¡¡a¡¡month£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself
when¡¡sitting¡¡over¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡will
distract¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡no¡¡more£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡And¡¡then£»¡¡shall¡¡I¡¡go¡¡on¡¡living¡¡by
myself¡¡for¡¡ever£¿¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡when¡¡my¡¡two¡¡years¡¡of¡¡probation¡¡are¡¡finished£»¡¡I
shall¡¡have¡¡a¡¡furnished¡¡house¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡varnished¡¡door¡¡and¡¡a
brass¡¡knocker£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡march¡¡straight¡¡back¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡ask¡¡her
flat£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡last¡¡plate¡¡is¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dresser£¡

Thus¡¡a¡¡titillating¡¡fortnight¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡by¡¡young¡¡Stockdale£»¡¡during
which¡¡time¡¡things¡¡proceeded¡¡much¡¡as¡¡such¡¡matters¡¡have¡¡done¡¡ever
since¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡history¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡attachment
several¡¡times¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡see¡¡her¡¡at¡¡all¡¡the¡¡next£»¡¡met¡¡her¡¡when
he¡¡least¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡missed¡¡her¡¡when¡¡hints¡¡and¡¡signs¡¡as¡¡to
where¡¡she¡¡should¡¡be¡¡at¡¡a¡¡given¡¡hour¡¡almost¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡an
appointment¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡mild¡¡coquetry¡¡was¡¡perhaps¡¡fair¡¡enough¡¡under¡¡the
circumstances¡¡of¡¡their¡¡being¡¡so¡¡closely¡¡lodged£»¡¡and¡¡Stockdale¡¡put¡¡up
with¡¡it¡¡as¡¡philosophically¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able¡£¡¡¡¡Being¡¡in¡¡her¡¡own¡¡house£»
she¡¡could£»¡¡after¡¡vexing¡¡him¡¡or¡¡disappointing¡¡him¡¡of¡¡her¡¡presence£»
easily¡¡win¡¡him¡¡back¡¡by¡¡suddenly¡¡surrounding¡¡him¡¡with¡¡those¡¡little
attentions¡¡which¡¡her¡¡position¡¡as¡¡his¡¡landlady¡¡put¡¡it¡¡in¡¡her¡¡power¡¡to
bestow¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡waited¡¡indoors¡¡half¡¡the¡¡day¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡on
finding¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡seen£»¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡off¡¡in¡¡a¡¡huff¡¡to¡¡the
dreariest¡¡and¡¡dampest¡¡walk¡¡he¡¡could¡¡discover£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡restore
equilibrium¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡with¡¡'Mr¡£¡¡Stockdale£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡fancied¡¡you
must¡¡feel¡¡draught¡¡o'¡¡nights¡¡from¡¡your¡¡bedroom¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡I¡¡have
been¡¡putting¡¡up¡¡thicker¡¡curtains¡¡this¡¡afternoon¡¡while¡¡you¡¡were¡¡out£»'
or£»¡¡'I¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡you¡¡sneezed¡¡twice¡¡again¡¡this¡¡morning£»¡¡Mr¡£
Stockdale¡£¡¡¡¡Depend¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡that¡¡cold¡¡is¡¡hanging¡¡about¡¡you¡¡yet£»¡¡I¡¡am
sure¡¡it¡¡isI¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it¡¡continually£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡must¡¡let¡¡me
make¡¡a¡¡posset¡¡for¡¡you¡£'

Sometimes¡¡in¡¡coming¡¡home¡¡he¡¡found¡¡his¡¡sitting¡­room¡¡rearranged£»
chairs¡¡placed¡¡where¡¡the¡¡table¡¡had¡¡stood£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡table¡¡ornamented
with¡¡the¡¡few¡¡fresh¡¡flowers¡¡and¡¡leaves¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡obtained¡¡at¡¡this
season£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡add¡¡a¡¡novelty¡¡to¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡times¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be
standing¡¡on¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡nail¡¡up¡¡a¡¡branch¡¡of
the¡¡monthly¡¡rose¡¡which¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡wind¡¡had¡¡blown¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡course
he¡¡stepped¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡her£»¡¡when¡¡their¡¡hands¡¡got¡¡mixed¡¡in
passing¡¡the¡¡shreds¡¡and¡¡nails¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡they¡¡became¡¡friends¡¡again¡¡after
a¡¡disagreement¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡utter¡¡on¡¡these¡¡occasions¡¡some¡¡pretty¡¡and
deprecatory¡¡remark¡¡on¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡her¡¡troubling¡¡him¡¡anew£»¡¡and
he¡¡would¡¡straightway¡¡say¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡do¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡times¡¡as¡¡much
for¡¡her¡¡if¡¡she¡¡should¡¡so¡¡require¡£



CHAPTER¡¡IIHOW¡¡HE¡¡SAW¡¡TWO¡¡OTHER¡¡MEN



Matters¡¡being¡¡in¡¡this¡¡advancing¡¡state£»¡¡Stockdale¡¡was¡¡rather
surprised¡¡one¡¡cloudy¡¡evening£»¡¡while¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡his¡¡room£»¡¡at¡¡hearing
her¡¡speak¡¡in¡¡low¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡expostulation¡¡to¡¡some¡¡one¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡It
was¡¡nearly¡¡dark£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡shutters¡¡were¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡closed£»¡¡nor¡¡the
candles¡¡lighted£»¡¡and¡¡Stockdale¡¡was¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡stretch¡¡his¡¡head
towards¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡door¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡in¡¡clothes
of¡¡a¡¡whitish¡¡colour£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡reflection¡¡judged¡¡their¡¡wearer¡¡to¡¡be
the¡¡well¡­built¡¡and¡¡rather¡¡handsome¡¡miller¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡below¡£¡¡¡¡The
miller's¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡alternately¡¡low¡¡and¡¡firm£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡it
reached¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡positive¡¡entreaty£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡the¡¡words¡¡were
Stockdale¡¡could¡¡in¡¡no¡¡way¡¡hear¡£

Before¡¡the¡¡colloquy¡¡had¡¡ended£»¡¡the¡¡minister's¡¡attention¡¡was
attracted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡second¡¡incident¡£¡¡¡¡Opposite¡¡Lizzy's¡¡home¡¡grew¡¡a¡¡clump
of¡¡laurels£»¡¡forming¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡permanent¡¡shade¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡laurel
boughs¡¡now¡¡quivered¡¡against¡¡the¡¡light¡¡background¡¡of¡¡sky£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a
moment¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡peered¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡remained¡¡still¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡seemed
to¡¡be¡¡also¡¡much¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conversation¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡was
plainly¡¡lingering¡¡there¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡and¡¡listen¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡Stockdale¡¡stood¡¡in
any¡¡other¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡Lizzy¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lover£»¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡gone
out¡¡and¡¡investigated¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡this£º¡¡¡¡but¡¡being¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡but¡¡an
unprivileged¡¡ally£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡stand¡¡up¡¡and¡¡show
himself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡firelight£»¡¡whereupon¡¡the¡¡listener¡¡disappeared£»
and¡¡Lizzy¡¡and¡¡the¡¡miller¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡lower¡¡tones¡£

Stockdale¡¡was¡¡made¡¡so¡¡uneasy¡¡by¡¡the¡¡circumstance£»¡¡that¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as
the¡¡miller¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'Mrs¡£¡¡Newberry£»¡¡are¡¡you¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡you
were¡¡watched¡¡just¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡your¡¡conversation¡¡heard£¿'

'When£¿'¡¡she¡¡said¡£

'When¡¡you¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡that¡¡miller¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡man¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡from¡¡the
laurel¡­tree¡¡as¡¡jealously¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡eaten¡¡you¡£'

She¡¡showed¡¡more¡¡concern¡¡than¡¡the¡¡trifling¡¡event¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡demand£»
and¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡'Perhaps¡¡you¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡of¡¡things¡¡you¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish
to¡¡be¡¡overheard£¿'

'I¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡only¡¡on¡¡business£»'¡¡she

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