CHAPTER XXXV. WHEREIN MATTERS MAKE SOME PROGRESS, BUT NOT MUCH.

Martinhadplannedwell.Hehadlaidoutadexterouslyconcertedschemeforhisprivateamusement.Butolderandwiserschemersthanheareoftendoomedtoseetheirfinest-spunprojectsswepttoannihilationbythesuddenbroomofFate,thatfellhousewifewhoseredarmnonecancontrol.InthepresentinstancethisbroomwasmanufacturedoutofthetoughfibresofMoore'sownstubbornpurpose,boundtightwithhiswill.Hewasnowresuminghisstrength,andmakingstrangeheadagainstMrs.Horsfall.Eachmorningheamazedthatmatronwithafreshastonishment.Firsthedischargedherfromhervaletdutieshewoulddresshimself.Thenherefusedthecoffeeshebroughthimhewouldbreakfastwiththefamily.Lastly,heforbadeherhischamber.Onthesameday,amidsttheoutcriesofallthewomenintheplace,heputhisheadoutofdoors.Themorningafter,hefollowedMr.Yorketohiscounting-house,andrequestedanenvoytofetchachaisefromtheRedHouseInn.Hewasresolved,hesaid,toreturnhometotheHollowthatveryafternoon.Mr.Yorke,insteadofopposing,aidedandabettedhim.Thechaisewassentfor,thoughMrs.Yorkedeclaredthestepwouldbehisdeath.Itcame.Moore,littledisposedtospeak,madehispursedodutyforhistongue.HeexpressedhisgratitudetotheservantsandtoMrs.Horsfallbythechinkofhiscoin.Thelatterpersonageapprovedandunderstoodthislanguageperfectlyitmadeamendsforallpreviouscontumacy.Sheandherpatientpartedthebestfriendsintheworld. Thekitchenvisitedandsoothed,Moorebetookhimselftotheparlour.HehadMrs.Yorketoappeasenotquitesoeasyataskasthepacificationofherhousemaids.Thereshesatplungedinsullendudgeon,thegloomiestspeculationsonthedepthsofman'singratitudeabsorbingherthoughts.Hedrewnearandbentoverhershewasobligedtolookup,ifitwereonlytobidhim"avaunt."Therewasbeautystillinhispale,wastedfeaturestherewasearnestnessandasortofsweetness—forhewassmiling—inhisholloweyes. "Good-bye!"hesaid,andashespokethesmileglitteredandmelted.Hehadnoironmasteryofhissensationsnowatriflingemotionmadeitselfapparentinhispresentweakstate. "Andwhatareyougoingtoleaveusfor?"sheasked."Wewillkeepyou,anddoanythingintheworldforyou,ifyouwillonlystaytillyouarestronger." "Good-bye!"heagainsaidandadded,"Youhavebeenamothertomegiveyourwilfulsononeembrace." Likeaforeigner,ashewas,heofferedherfirstonecheek,thentheother.Shekissedhim. "Whatatrouble—whataburdenIhavebeentoyou!"hemuttered. "Youaretheworsttroublenow,headstrongyouth!"wastheanswer."IwonderwhoistonurseyouatHollow'sCottage?YoursisterHortenseknowsnomoreaboutsuchmattersthanachild." "ThankGod!forIhavehadnursingenoughtolastmemylife." Herethelittlegirlscamein—Jessiecrying,Rosequietbutgrave.Mooretookthemoutintothehalltosoothe,pet,andkissthem.Heknewitwasnotintheirmother'snaturetobeartoseeanylivingthingcaressedbutherself.Shewouldhavefeltannoyedhadhefondledakitteninherpresence. TheboyswerestandingaboutthechaiseasMooreentereditbutforthemhehadnofarewell.ToMr.Yorkeheonlysaid,"Youhaveagoodriddanceofme.Thatwasanunluckyshotforyou,YorkeitturnedBriarmainsintoanhospital.Comeandseemeatthecottagesoon." Hedrewuptheglassthechaiserolledaway.Inhalfanhourhealightedathisowngardenwicket.Havingpaidthedriveranddismissedthevehicle,heleanedonthatwicketaninstant,atoncetorestandtomuse. "SixmonthsagoIpassedoutatthisgate,"saidhe,"aproud,angry,disappointedman.Icomebacksadderandwiserweaklyenough,butnotworried.Acold,gray,yetquietworldliesround—aworldwhere,ifIhopelittle,Ifearnothing.Allslavishterrorsofembarrassmenthaveleftme.Lettheworstcome,Icanwork,asJoeScottdoes,foranhonourablelivinginsuchdoomIyetseesomehardshipbutnodegradation.Formerly,pecuniaryruinwasequivalentinmyeyestopersonaldishonour.ItisnotsonowIknowthedifference.Ruinisanevil,butoneforwhichIampreparedthedayofwhosecomingIknow,forIhavecalculated.Icanyetputitoffsixmonths—notanhourlonger.Ifthingsbythattimealter,whichisnotprobableiffetters,whichnowseemindissoluble,shouldbeloosenedfromourtrade(ofallthingsthemostunlikelytohappen),Imightconquerinthislongstruggleyet—Imight—goodGod!whatmightInotdo?Butthethoughtisabriefmadnessletmeseethingswithsaneeyes.Ruinwillcome,layheraxetomyfortune'sroots,andhewthemdown.Ishallsnatchasapling,Ishallcrossthesea,andplantitinAmericanwoods.Louiswillgowithme.WillnonebutLouisgo?Icannottell—Ihavenorighttoask." Heenteredthehouse. Itwasafternoon,twilightyetoutofdoors—starlessandmoo