IX

ThecheerfulgoddesswhohadbroughtFritzingandhisPrincesssafelyoverfromKunitzwascertainlystandingbythemwell.SheitwaswhohaddrivenPriscillaupontotheheathandintotheacquaintanceofAugustusShuttleworth,withoutwhomacottageinSymfordwouldhavebeenforeverunattainable.SheitwaswhohadsenttheMorrisons,fatherandson,todrivePriscillafromthechurchyardbeforeFritzinghadjoinedher,withoutwhichdrivingshewouldneverhavemetAugustus.Sheitwaswhohadusedthetriflingcircumstanceofamislaidsermon-booktotakethevicarandRobinintothechurchatanunaccustomedtime,withoutwhichsermon-booktheywouldneverhavemetPriscillainthechurchyardanddrivenheroutofit.ThusareallourdoingsruledbyChanceanditisapleasantpastimeforanidlehourtotracebackbigeventstotheiroriginalandsometimesabsurdbeginnings.FormyselfIknowthatthelargerlinesofmylifewerelaiddownonceforallby—butwhathasthistodowithPriscilla?Thus,Isay,areallourdoingsruledbyChance,wholovestousesmallmeansfortheworkingofgreatwonders.Andasforthegaygoddess'suglysister,theladyoftheshiftyeyeandloweringbrowcalledvariouslyMisfortuneandIllLuck,sheusesthesametoolsexactlyinherhammeringoutoflives,meanlytakinglittlefolliesandlittleweaknesses,solittleandsoamiableatfirstashardlytobedistinguishedfromlittlevirtues,andwiththembuildingupamightymassthatshallatlastcomedownandcrushoursouls.Ofthecrushingofsouls,however,mystorydoesnotyettreat,andIwillnotlingerroundsubjectssoawful.WewhoarenestlingforthemomentlikePriscillabeneaththewarmwingofGoodFortunecandaretomakewhatthechildrencallafaceathergreysisterasshelimpsscowlingpast.Shallwenottooonedayinourturnfeelherclaws?Letuswhenwedoatleastnotwinceandhewhofeelingthemcanstillmakeafaceandlaugh,shallbeastheprinceofthefairytales,transformingthesourhagbyhiscourageintoabrightreward,strikinghisverygriefsintoashiningshowerofblessing. Fromthisbriefexcursionintotherealmofbarrenmusings,whitherIloveaboveallthingstowanderandwhenceIhavecontinuallytofetchmyselfbackagainbyforce,Iwillreturntothestory. AtTussie'ssuggestionwhenthebusinesspartoftheirtalkwasover—andittookexactlyfiveminutesforTussietosellandFritzingtobuythecottages,fiveminutesofthefrothiestbusinesstalkevertalked,soprofoundwastheignoranceofbothpartiesastowhatmostpeopledemandofcottages—FritzingdrovetoMineheadinthepostmistress'sson'stwo-wheeledcartinordertopurchasesuitablefurnitureandbringbackpersonswhowouldpaperandpaint.MineheadliesabouttwentymilestothenorthofSymford,soFritzingcouldnotbebackbeforeevening.Bythetimehewasback,promisedTussie,theshoemakerandMrs.Shawshouldbeclearedoutandputintoaplacesomuchbetteraccordingtotheirviewsthattheywouldprobablymakeitvocalwiththeirpraises. FritzingquitelovedTussie.Herewasayoungmanfullofthenoblestspiritofhelpfulness,andwhohadbesidestheinvaluablegiftofseeingnodifficultiesanywhere.EvenFritzing,airyoptimist,sawmorethanTussie,andwheneverheexpressedadoubtitwasatoncebrushedasidebythecheerfullest"Oh,that'llbeallright."Hewasthemostpractical,businesslike,unaffected,energeticyoungman,thoughtFritzing,thathehadevenseen.Tussiewassurprisedhimselfathisownbriskness,andputtingthewonderfulgirlontheheathasmuchaspossibleoutofhisthoughts,toldhimselfthatitwasthepatentfoodbeginningatlasttokeepitspromises. HetookFritzingtothepost-officeandorderedthetrapforhim,cautionedthepostmistress'sson,whowasgoingtodrive,againstgoingtoofastdownthemanyhills,forthebareideaofthepricelessunclebeingbroughtbackinbitsorinanystatebutabsolutelywholeandhappyturnedhimcold,toldFritzingwhichshopstogotoandwheretolunch,beggedhimtobecarefulwhatheate,sincehotelluncheonsweregoodforneitherbodynorsoul,orderedrugsandamackintoshcoveringtobeputin,andbehavedgenerallywiththeforethoughtofamother."I'dgowithyoumyself,"hesaid,—andthepostmistress,listeningwithbothherears,recognizedthattheBaker'sFarmlodgerswerenolongerpersonstobecriticised—"butIcanbeofmoreusetoyouhere.ImustseeDawsonaboutclearingoutthecottages.Ofcourseitisveryimportantyoushouldn'tstayamomentlongerthancanbehelpedinuncomfortablelodgings." Herewasayoungman!Sensible,practical,overflowingwithkindness.Fritzinghadnotmetanyoneheesteemedsomuchforyears.Theywentdownthevillagestreettogether,forTussiewasboundforMr.Dawsonwhowastobesettoworkatonce,andFritzingforthefarmwhitherthetrapwastofollowhimassoonasready,andallSymford,curtseyingtoTussie,recognized,asthepostmistresshadrecognized,thatFritzingwasnowraisedfarabovetheirquestionings,seatedfirmlyontheShuttleworthrock. TheypartedatMr.Dawson'sgate,Mrs.Dawsonmildlywatchingtheirwarmthoverawireblind."Whenwearesettled,youngman,"saidFritzing,aftereloquentwordsofthanksandappreciation,"youmustcomeintheevenings,andtogetherwewillroamacrossthesplendidfieldsofEnglishliterature." "Ohthanks"exclaimedTussie,flushingwithpleasure.Helongedtoaskifthedivineniecewouldroamtoo,butevenifshedidnot,toroamatallwouldbeadelight,andhewouldbesidesbedoingitundertheveryroofthatshelteredthatbrightandbeautifulhead."Ohthanks,"criedTussie,then,flushing. HisextremejoysurprisedFritzing."Areyousogreatafriendofliterature?"heinquired. "Ibelieve,"said