CHAPTER XXXVII. THE WINDING-UP.

ingoffhermarriagedaybyday,weekbyweek,monthbymonth,atfirstcoaxinghimwithsoftpretencesofprocrastination,andintheendrousinghiswholedeliberatebutdeterminednaturetorevoltagainsthertyranny,atoncesosweetandsointolerable. Ithadneededasortoftempest-shocktobringhertothepointbutthereshewasatlast,fetteredtoafixedday.Thereshelay,conqueredbylove,andboundwithavow. Thusvanquishedandrestricted,shepined,likeanyotherchaineddenizenofdeserts.Hercaptoralonecouldcheerherhissocietyonlycouldmakeamendsforthelostprivilegeofliberty.Inhisabsenceshesatorwanderedalone,spokelittle,andateless. ShefurtherednopreparationsforhernuptialsLouiswashimselfobligedtodirectallarrangements.HewasvirtuallymasterofFieldheadweeksbeforehebecamesonominally—theleastpresumptuous,thekindestmasterthateverwas,butwithhisladyabsolute.Sheabdicatedwithoutawordorastruggle."GotoMr.Moore,askMr.Moore,"washeranswerwhenappliedtofororders.Neverwaswooerofwealthybridesothoroughlyabsolvedfromthesubalternpart,soinevitablycompelledtoassumeaparamountcharacter. InallthisMissKeeldarpartlyyieldedtoherdispositionbutaremarkshemadeayearafterwardsprovedthatshepartlyalsoactedonsystem."Louis,"shesaid,"wouldneverhavelearnedtoruleifshehadnotceasedtogovern.Theincapacityofthesovereignhaddevelopedthepowersofthepremier." IthadbeenintendedthatMissHelstoneshouldactasbridesmaidattheapproachingnuptials,butFortunehaddestinedheranotherpart. Shecamehomeintimetowaterherplants.Shehadperformedthislittletask.Thelastflowerattendedtowasarose-tree,whichbloomedinaquietgreennookatthebackofthehouse.Thisplanthadreceivedtherefreshingshowershewasnowrestingaminute.Nearthewallstoodafragmentofsculpturedstone—amonkishrelic—once,perhaps,thebaseofacross.Shemountedit,thatshemightbettercommandtheview.Shehadstillthewateringpotinonehandwiththeotherherprettydresswasheldlightlyaside,toavoidtricklingdrops.Shegazedoverthewall,alongsomelonelyfieldsbeyondthreedusktrees,risingsidebysideagainsttheskybeyondasolitarythornattheheadofasolitarylanefaroff.Shesurveyedtheduskmoors,wherebonfireswerekindling.Thesummereveningwaswarmthebell-musicwasjoyousthebluesmokeofthefireslookedsoft,theirredflamebright.Abovethem,intheskywhencethesunhadvanished,twinkledasilverpoint—thestaroflove. Carolinewasnotunhappythatevening—farotherwisebutasshegazedshesighed,andasshesighedahandcircledher,andrestedquietlyonherwaist.Carolinethoughtsheknewwhohaddrawnnearshereceivedthetouchunstartled. "IamlookingatVenus,mamma.See,sheisbeautiful.Howwhiteherlustreis,comparedwiththedeepredofthebonfires!" TheanswerwasaclosercaressandCarolineturned,andlooked,notintoMrs.Pryor'smatronface,butupatadarkmanlyvisage.Shedroppedherwatering-potandsteppeddownfromthepedestal. "Ihavebeensittingwith'mamma'anhour,"saidtheintruder."Ihavehadalongconversationwithher.Where,meantime,haveyoubeen?" "ToFieldhead.Shirleyisasnaughtyasever,Robert.ShewillneithersayYesnorNotoanyquestionput.Shesitsalone.Icannottellwhethersheismelancholyornonchalant.Ifyourouseherorscoldher,shegivesyoualook,halfwistful,halfreckless,whichsendsyouawayasqueerandcrazedasherself.WhatLouiswillmakeofher,Icannottell.Formypart,ifIwereagentleman,IthinkIwouldnotdareundertakeher." "Nevermindthem.Theywerecutoutforeachother.Louis,strangetosay,likesherallthebetterforthesefreaks.Hewillmanageher,ifanyonecan.Shetrieshim,however.Hehashadastormycourtshipforsuchacalmcharacterbutyouseeitallendsinvictoryforhim.Caroline,Ihavesoughtyoutoaskanaudience.Whyarethosebellsringing?" "Fortherepealofyourterriblelaw—theOrdersyouhatesomuch.Youarepleased,areyounot?" "YesterdayeveningatthistimeIwaspackingsomebooksforasea-voyage.Theyweretheonlypossessions,exceptsomeclothes,seeds,roots,andtools,whichIfeltfreetotakewithmetoCanada.Iwasgoingtoleaveyou." "Toleaveme?Toleaveme?" Herlittlefingersfastenedonhisarmshespokeandlookedaffrighted. "Notnow—notnow.Examinemyface—yes,lookatmewell.Isthedespairofpartinglegiblethereon?" Shelookedintoanilluminatedcountenance,whosecharacterswereallbeaming,thoughthepageitselfwasdusk.Thisface,potentinthemajestyofitstraits,sheddownonherhope,fondness,delight. "Willtherepealdoyougood—muchgood,immediategood?"sheinquired. "TherepealoftheOrdersinCouncilsavesme.NowIshallnotturnbankruptnowIshallnotgiveupbusinessnowIshallnotleaveEnglandnowIshallbenolongerpoornowIcanpaymydebtsnowalltheclothIhaveinmywarehouseswillbetakenoffmyhands,andcommissionsgivenmeformuchmore.Thisdaylaysformyfortunesabroad,firmfoundation,onwhich,forthefirsttimeinmylife,Icansecurelybuild." Carolinedevouredhiswordssheheldhishandinhersshedrewalongbreath. "Youaresaved?Yourheavydifficultiesarelifted?" "Theyarelifted.Ibreathe.Icanact." "Atlast!Oh,Providenceiskind!ThankHim,Robert." "IdothankProvidence." "AndIalso,foryoursake!"Shelookedupdevoutly. "NowIcantakemoreworkmen,givebetterwages,laywiserandmoreliberalplans,dosomegood,belessselfish.Now,Caroline,Icanhaveahouse—ahomewhichIcan