CHAPTER XXXVII. THE WINDING-UP.

asbeenmasterofFieldheadayearallthedistrictwillfeelhisquietinfluence,andacknowledgehisunassumingsuperiority.Amagistrateiswantedtheywill,intime,investhimwiththeofficevoluntarilyandunreluctantly.Everybodyadmireshisfuturewife,andeverybodywill,intime,likehim.Heisofthepategenerallyapproved,boncommelepain—dailybreadforthemostfastidious,goodfortheinfantandtheaged,nourishingforthepoor,wholesomefortherich.Shirley,inspiteofherwhimsandoddities,herdodgesanddelays,hasaninfatuatedfondnessforhim.Shewillonedayseehimasuniversallybelovedasevenshecouldwish.Hewillalsobeuniversallyesteemed,considered,consulted,dependedon—toomuchso.Hisadvicewillbealwaysjudicious,hishelpalwaysgood-natured.Erelongbothwillbeininconvenientrequest.Hewillhavetoimposerestrictions.Asforme,ifIsucceedasIintendtodo,mysuccesswilladdtohisandShirley'sincome.Icandoublethevalueoftheirmillproperty.IcanlineyonderbarrenHollowwithlinesofcottagesandrowsofcottage-gardens——" "Robert!Androotupthecopse?" "Thecopseshallbefirewooderefiveyearselapse.Thebeautifulwildravineshallbeasmoothdescentthegreennaturalterraceshallbeapavedstreet.Thereshallbecottagesinthedarkravine,andcottagesonthelonelyslopes.Theroughpebbledtrackshallbeaneven,firm,broad,black,sootyroad,beddedwiththecindersfrommymillandmymill,Caroline—mymillshallfillitspresentyard." "Horrible!Youwillchangeourbluehill-countryairintotheStilbro'smokeatmosphere." "IwillpourthewatersofPactolusthroughthevalleyofBriarfield." "Ilikethebeckathousandtimesbetter." "IwillgetanActforenclosingNunnelyCommon,andparcellingitoutintofarms." "Stilbro'Moor,however,defiesyou,thankHeaven!WhatcanyougrowinBilberryMoss?WhatwillflourishonRushedge?" "Caroline,thehouseless,thestarving,theunemployedshallcometoHollow'sMillfromfarandnearandJoeScottshallgivethemwork,andLouisMoore,Esq.,shallletthematenement,andMrs.Gillshallmetethemaportiontillthefirstpay-day." Shesmiledupinhisface. "SuchaSundayschoolasyouwillhave,Cary!suchcollectionsasyouwillget!suchadayschoolasyouandShirleyandMissAinleywillhavetomanagebetweenyou!Themillshallfindsalariesforamasterandmistress,andthesquireortheclothiershallgiveatreatonceaquarter." Shemutelyofferedakiss—anoffertakenunfairadvantageof,totheextortionofaboutahundredkisses. "Extravagantday-dreams,"saidMoore,withasighandsmile,"yetperhapswemayrealizesomeofthem.Meantime,thedewisfalling.Mrs.Moore,Ishalltakeyouin." ItisAugust.Thebellsclashoutagain,notonlythroughYorkshire,butthroughEngland.FromSpainthevoiceofatrumpethassoundedlongitnowwaxeslouderandlouderitproclaimsSalamancawon.ThisnightisBriarfieldtobeilluminated.OnthisdaytheFieldheadtenantrydinetogethertheHollow'sMillworkpeoplewillbeassembledforalikefestalpurposetheschoolshaveagrandtreat.ThismorningthereweretwomarriagessolemnizedinBriarfieldchurch—LouisGérardMoore,Esq.,lateofAntwerp,toShirley,daughterofthelateCharlesCaveKeeldar,Esq.,ofFieldheadRobertGérardMoore,Esq.,ofHollow'sMill,toCaroline,nieceoftheRev.MatthewsonHelstone,M.A.,rectorofBriarfield. Theceremony,inthefirstinstance,wasperformedbyMr.Helstone,HiramYorke,Esq.,ofBriarmains,givingthebrideaway.Inthesecondinstance,Mr.Hall,vicarofNunnely,officiated.Amongstthebridaltrainthetwomostnoticeablepersonagesweretheyouthfulbridesmen,HenrySympsonandMartinYorke. IsupposeRobertMoore'sprophecieswere,partiallyatleast,fulfilled.TheotherdayIpasseduptheHollow,whichtraditionsayswasoncegreen,andlone,andwildandthereIsawthemanufacturer'sday-dreamsembodiedinsubstantialstoneandbrickandashes—thecinder-blackhighway,thecottages,andthecottagegardensthereIsawamightymill,andachimneyambitiousasthetowerofBabel.ItoldmyoldhousekeeperwhenIcamehomewhereIhadbeen. "Ay,"saidshe,"thisworldhasqueerchanges.Icanremembertheoldmillbeingbuilt—theveryfirstitwasinallthedistrictandthenIcanrememberitbeingpulleddown,andgoingwithmylake-lasses[companions]toseethefoundation-stoneofthenewonelaid.ThetwoMr.Mooresmadeagreatstiraboutit.Theywerethere,andadealoffinefolkbesides,andboththeirladiesverybonnyandgrandtheylooked.ButMrs.Louiswasthegrandestshealwaysworesuchhandsomedresses.Mrs.Robertwasquieterlike.Mrs.Louissmiledwhenshetalked.Shehadareal,happy,glad,good-naturedlookbutshehadeenthatpiercedabodythrough.Thereisnosuchladiesnowadays." "WhatwastheHollowlikethen,Martha?" "DifferenttowhatitisnowbutIcantellofitcleandifferentagain,whentherewasneithermill,norcot,norhall,exceptFieldhead,withintwomilesofit.Icantell,onesummerevening,fiftyyearssyne,mymothercomingrunninginjustattheedgeofdark,almostfleyedoutofherwits,sayingshehadseenafairish[fairy]inFieldheadHollowandthatwasthelastfairishthateverwasseenonthiscountryside(thoughthey'vebeenheardwithinthesefortyyears).Alonesomespotitwas,andabonnyspot,fullofoaktreesandnuttrees.Itisalterednow." Thestoryistold.IthinkInowseethejudiciousreaderputtingonhisspectaclestolookforthemoral.Itwouldbeaninsulttohissagacitytoofferdirections.Ionlysay,Godspeedhiminthequest! THEEND.