CHAPTER XXXII. THE SCHOOLBOY AND THE WOOD-NYMPH.

trateahedge,hepilotedherbyashortcutwhichledtonogate.Theconsequencewashehadtohelpheroversomeformidableobstacles,andwhileherailedatherforhelplessness,heperfectlylikedtofeelhimselfofuse. "Martin,beforeweseparate,assuremeseriously,andonyourwordofhonour,thatMr.Mooreisbetter." "HowverymuchyouthinkofthatMoore!" "No—but—manyofhisfriendsmayaskme,andIwishtobeabletogiveanauthenticanswer." "Youmaytellthemheiswellenough,onlyidle.Youmaytellthemthathetakesmuttonchopsfordinner,andthebestofarrowrootforsupper.Iinterceptedabasinmyselfonenightonitswayupstairs,andatehalfofit." "Andwhowaitsonhim,Martin?whonurseshim?" "Nurseshim?Thegreatbaby!Why,awomanasroundandbigasourlargestwater-butt—arough,hard-favouredoldgirl.Imakenodoubtsheleadshimarichlife.Nobodyelseisletnearhim.Heischieflyinthedark.Itismybeliefsheknockshimaboutterriblyinthatchamber.IlistenatthewallsometimeswhenIaminbed,andIthinkIhearherthumpinghim.Youshouldseeherfist.Shecouldholdhalfadozenhandslikeyoursinheronepalm.Afterall,notwithstandingthechopsandjellieshegets,Iwouldnotbeinhisshoes.Infact,itismyprivateopinionthatsheeatsmostofwhatgoesuponthetraytoMr.Moore.Iwishshemaynotbestarvinghim." ProfoundsilenceandmeditationonCaroline'spart,andaslywatchfulnessonMartin's. "Youneverseehim,Isuppose,Martin?" "I?No.Idon'tcaretoseehim,formyownpart." Silenceagain. "DidnotyoucometoourhouseoncewithMrs.Pryor,aboutfiveweekssince,toaskafterhim?"againinquiredMartin. "Yes." "Idaresayyouwishedtobeshownupstairs?" "Wedidwishit.Weentreateditbutyourmotherdeclined." "Ay!shedeclined.Ihearditall.Shetreatedyouasitisherpleasuretotreatvisitorsnowandthen.Shebehavedtoyourudelyandharshly." "Shewasnotkindforyouknow,Martin,wearerelations,anditisnaturalweshouldtakeaninterestinMr.Moore.Butherewemustpartweareatyourfather'sgate." "Verywell,whatofthat?Ishallwalkhomewithyou." "Theywillmissyou,andwonderwhereyouare." "Letthem.Icantakecareofmyself,Isuppose." Martinknewthathehadalreadyincurredthepenaltyofalecture,anddrybreadforhistea.Nomattertheeveninghadfurnishedhimwithanadventure.Itwasbetterthanmuffinsandtoast. HewalkedhomewithCaroline.OnthewayhepromisedtoseeMr.Moore,inspiteofthedragonwhoguardedhischamber,andappointedanhouronthenextdaywhenCarolinewastocometoBriarmainsWoodandgettidingsofhim.Hewouldmeetheratacertaintree.Theschemeledtonothingstillhelikedit. Havingreachedhome,thedrybreadandthelectureweredulyadministeredtohim,andhewasdismissedtobedatanearlyhour.Heacceptedhispunishmentwiththetougheststoicism. Ereascendingtohischamberhepaidasecretvisittothedining-room,astill,cold,statelyapartment,seldomused,forthefamilycustomarilydinedinthebackparlour.Hestoodbeforethemantelpiece,andliftedhiscandletotwopictureshungabove—femaleheads:one,atypeofserenebeauty,happyandinnocenttheother,morelovely,butforlornanddesperate. "Shelookedlikethat,"hesaid,gazingonthelattersketch,"whenshesobbed,turnedwhite,andleanedagainstthetree." "Isuppose,"hepursued,whenhewasinhisroom,andseatedontheedgeofhispallet-bed—"Isupposesheiswhattheycall'inlove'—yes,inlovewiththatlongthinginthenextchamber.Whisht!isthatHorsfallclatteringhim?Iwonderhedoesnotyellout.ItreallysoundsasifshehadfallenonhimtoothandnailbutIsupposesheismakingthebed.Isawheratitonce.Shehitintothemattressesasifshewasboxing.Itisqueer,Zillah(theycallherZillah)—ZillahHorsfallisawoman,andCarolineHelstoneisawomantheyaretwoindividualsofthesamespecies—notmuchalikethough.Issheaprettygirl,thatCaroline?Isuspectsheisverynicetolookat—somethingsoclearinherface,sosoftinhereyes.Iapproveofherlookingatmeitdoesmegood.Shehaslongeyelashes.Theirshadowseemstorestwhereshegazes,andtoinstilpeaceandthought.Ifshebehaveswell,andcontinuestosuitmeasshehassuitedmeto-day,Imaydoheragoodturn.IratherrelishthenotionofcircumventingmymotherandthatogressoldHorsfall.NotthatIlikehumouringMoorebutwhateverIdoI'llbepaidfor,andincoinofmyownchoosing.IknowwhatrewardIwillclaim—onedispleasingtoMoore,andagreeabletomyself." Heturnedintobed.