XXI

AndnowIhavecometoapartofmystorythatIwouldmuchrathernotwrite.Alwaysmyinclinationifleftaloneistositinthesunandsingofthingslikecrocuses,ofnothinglessfreshandcleanthancrocuses.Theengagingsprightlinessofcrocusestheirdearlittlesmell,nottobesmelledexceptbytheprivilegedfewtheirluminoustransparency—IamthinkingofthewhiteandthepurpletheirkindwayofnotkeepingheartssickforSpringwaitinglongerthantheycanjustbearhowpleasanttositwithafriendinthesun,afriendwholikemyselflikestobabbleofgreenfields,andtalktogetheraboutallthingsflowery.ButPriscilla'sstoryhastakensuchaholdonme,itseemedwhenfirstIheardittobesofulloflessons,thatIfeelboundtosetitdownfrombeginningtoendfortheuseandwarningofallpersons,princessesandothers,whothinkthatbysearching,bygoingfarafield,theywillfindhappiness,anddonotseethatitislyingallthewhileattheirfeet.Theydonotseeitbecauseitissoclose.Itissoclosethatthereisadangerofitsbeingtroddenonorkickedaway.Anditisshy,andwaitstobepickedup.Priscilla,weknow,wentveryfarafieldinsearchofhers,andhavingundertakentotellofwhatbefellherImustnotnow,onlybecauseIwouldrather,suppressanyportionofthestory.Besides,itisaportionvitaltothecatastrophe. InMinehead,then,therelivedatthistimeamurderer.Hehadnotbeenfoundoutyetandhewasnotamurdererbyprofession,forhewasabricklayerbutinhishearthewas,andthatisjustasbad.HehadhadavariedcareerintothedetailsofwhichIdonotproposetogo,hadcomethreeorfouryearsbeforetoliveintheWestofEnglandbecauseitwassofarfromalltheotherplaceshehadlivedin,hadgotworkinMinehead,settledthererespectably,married,andwasafriendofthatcarrierwhobroughtthebreadandotherparcelseverydaytotheSymfordstore.Atthistimehewasinmoneydifficultiesandhiswife,ofwhomhewasfond,wasinanexpensivestateofhealth.TheaccountsofPriscilla'sgenerosityandwealthhadreachedMineheadasIsaidsometimeago,andhadgotevenintothelocalpapers.Thecarrierwasthechieftransmitterofnews,forhesawMrs.VickertoneverydayandshewasawomanwholovedtotalkbutthoseoftheShuttleworthservantswhowereofteninMineheadondiverserrandsratifiedandaddedtoallhesaid,andembellishedthetalebesideswithwhatwastothemthemostinterestingpart,theunmistakablesignstheirAugustusshowedofintendingtomarrytheyoungwoman.Thisdidnotinterestthemurderer.SirAugustusandtheladyhemeanttomarrywereoutsidehisspherealtogethertoowellprotected,toopowerful.WhathelikedtohearaboutwasthemoneyPriscillahadscatteredamongthecottagers,howmucheachwomanhadgot,whetherithadbeenspentornot,whethershehadahusband,orgrown-upchildrenandbestofallhelikedtohearaboutthemoneyMrs.Joneshadgot.Allthevillage,andthereforeMrs.Vickertonandthecarrier,knewofit,kneweventheexactspotbeneaththebolsterwhereitwaskept,knewitwaskeptthereforsafetyfromthedepredationsofthevicar'swife,knewthevicar'swifehadtakenawayPriscilla'sfirstpresent.ThecarrierknewtooofMrs.Jones'sage,herweakness,hernearnesstodeath.Heremarkedthatsuchasumwasn'tofmuchusetoanoldwomancertaintodieinafewdays,andthatitmightjustaswellnotbehersatallforallthespendingitgot.Themurderer,whosereputationinMineheadwassoimmaculatethatnotasingleflyhadeverdaredblowonit,saidkindlythatnodoubtjusttohaveitinherpossessionwascheeringandthatoneshouldnotgrudgetheoldtheirlittlebitsofcomfortan