CHAPTER VII

atleastofthecouragethathadseemedsoeasyjustattheendinSwitzerlandwithHerrDremmeltolaughatherdoubts.Herheadwoulddroop,andherhandsandfeetwerelikestones. Itwastheplace,theplace,shethought,thehypnoticeffectofit,ofheroldenvironment.ThewholeofRedchesterwasheavywithrecollectionsofpastobediences.NotoncehadsheeverinRedchesterevendreamtofrebellion.Shehadquestionedlatterly,intheremoterandlessfilialcornersofherheart,butshehadneversomuchasthoughtofrebellion.Andthemomentshegotawayoutofsightandhearingofhome,thingssheknewherewerewickedhadappearedtobequitegoodandextremelynatural.Howstrangethatwas.Andhowstrangethatnowshewasbackeverythingwasbeginningtoseemwickedagain.Whatwasapoorwretchtodo,sheaskedherselfwithsuddenpassion,confrontedbytheseshufflingstandardsthatbehavedasiftheyweredancingaquadrille?ThiswastheplaceinwhichforyearsherconsciencehadbeencockeredtosizeanddelicacyandthoughithadbecometemporarilytoughinHerrDremmel'scompanyshefeltitrelapsingwitheveryturnofthewheelsmoreandmoreintoitsancientsoftness. Yetsheundoubtedly,conscience-strickenandfrightenedornot,hadtotellherfatherwhatshehaddone.Shehadgottobebrave,andifneedsbeshehadgottodefy.ShewasboundtoHerrDremmel.Hehadonlygonehometosethishouseinorder,andthen,heannounced,shemeanwhilehavingpreparedtheBishop,hewascomingtoRedchestertomarryher.PreparedtheBishop!Sheshivered.HerrDremmelhadtriedtomarryherinLucernebuttheSwiss,itseemed,wouldnotbehurried,sothathereshewas,andwithinthenextfewhoursshewasgoingtohavetopreparetheBishop. SheshuthereyesandthoughtofHerrDremmelofRobert,asshewaswaslearningtocallhim.Withallherheartshelikedhim.Andhehadbeensokindwhenhefoundshereallydislikedbeingengulfedinembraces,andhadrestrictedhisexhibitionsofaffectiontothekissingofherhand,tellingherhecouldverywellwaittilllateron,surethatshewouldaftermarriagewarm,ashehadexplainedtoherontheRigiallwomendid,toajustappreciationofthevalueofthecaressesofanhonestman.HehadalsoproducedanumberofGermanlove-namesfromsomehithertofallowcornerofhismind,andgarnishedhisconversationwiththeminawaythatmadeherwho,nourishedasshehadbeenonthenoblelanguageoftheBibleandthePrayer-book,wasinstantlyresponsivetothecharmofwords,laughandglowwithpleasure.ShewashisLittleHeart,hisLittleTinyTreasure,hisLittleSugarLamb—adozenlittlesweetdiminishedGermanthingstranslatedstraightawayjustastheywereintoEnglish.Thefreshnessofit!Thefreshnessofbeingadmiredandpettedaftertheeconomiesinthesedirectionspractisedinherhome.Andhisringatthatverymomentdangledbeneathherdressonthesamechainasherfather'scross.Yes,shewasboundtohim.Duty,sheperceived,couldbeaveryblessedthingsometimesifitprotectedonefromsomeotherduty.ItwasHerrDremmelnowwhohadbecomeherDuty. Sheputupherhandtogetcouragebyfeelingthering,forherspiritwasfaintingwithinher—shehadjustcaughtsightofthecathedral.TheringhadbeenslungonthechainalongsidetheconfirmationcrossbecauseitwasimpossibletowearitonherthumbandoutthereinSwitzerland,whereonewassimple,ithadseemedamostnaturalandobviousplacetoputit.Yetnow,astheflyrattledoverthecobblesoftheCloseandthefamiliarcathedralrosebeforeherlikeamenace,shehungherheadandgreatlydoubtedbutwhatthejuxtapositionwaswicked. Nobodywasonthedoorstepwhenshearrivedbeneaththegreatcedarthatspreaditsshade,anintensifiedbitofdrippinggloomwhereallwasgloomanddripping,acrossfromthelawntothePalace'sentrance,exceptthebutler,whoseblackclothesstruckherinstantlyasveryneatandsmooth,andhisunderling,ayouthkeptcarefullyalittleonthesideofasuitableepiscopalshabbiness.ShehadtelegraphedhertrainfromPaddington,butthat,ofcourse,wasnoreasonwhyanyoneshouldbeonthedoorstep.Itwasshewhosebusinesslaywithdoorstepswhenpeoplearrivedorleft,shewastheonewhowelcomedandwhosped,and,sinceshecouldnotwelcomeherself,therewasnobodytheretodoit. She