CHAPTER IV

fe,whoalllivedtogetherbutwhenitappearedthattheMr.Martin,whoboreapartinthenarrative,andwasalwaysmentionedwithapprobationforhisgreatgood-natureindoingsomethingorother,wasasinglemanthattherewasnoyoungMrs.Martin,nowifeinthecaseshedidsuspectdangertoherpoorlittlefriendfromallthishospitalityandkindness,andthat,ifshewerenottakencareof,shemightberequiredtosinkherselfforever. Withthisinspiritingnotion,herquestionsincreasedinnumberandmeaningandsheparticularlyledHarriettotalkmoreofMr.Martin,andtherewasevidentlynodisliketoit.Harrietwasveryreadytospeakofthesharehehadhadintheirmoonlightwalksandmerryeveninggamesanddweltagooddealuponhisbeingsoverygood-humouredandobliging.Hehadgonethreemilesroundonedayinordertobringhersomewalnuts,becauseshehadsaidhowfondshewasofthem,andineverythingelsehewassoveryobliging.Hehadhisshepherd’ssonintotheparlouronenightonpurposetosingtoher.Shewasveryfondofsinging.Hecouldsingalittlehimself.Shebelievedhewasveryclever,andunderstoodeverything.Hehadaveryfineflock,and,whileshewaswiththem,hehadbeenbidmoreforhiswoolthananybodyinthecountry.Shebelievedeverybodyspokewellofhim.Hismotherandsisterswereveryfondofhim.Mrs.Martinhadtoldheroneday(andtherewasablushasshesaidit,)thatitwasimpossibleforanybodytobeabetterson,andthereforeshewassure,wheneverhemarried,hewouldmakeagoodhusband.Notthatshewantedhimtomarry.Shewasinnohurryatall. “Welldone,Mrs.Martin!”thoughtEmma.“Youknowwhatyouareabout.” “Andwhenshehadcomeaway,Mrs.MartinwassoverykindastosendMrs.Goddardabeautifulgoose—thefinestgooseMrs.Goddardhadeverseen.Mrs.GoddardhaddresseditonaSunday,andaskedallthethreeteachers,MissNash,andMissPrince,andMissRichardson,tosupwithher.” “Mr.Martin,Isuppose,isnotamanofinformationbeyondthelineofhisownbusiness?Hedoesnotread?” “Ohyes!—thatis,no—Idonotknow—butIbelievehehasreadagooddeal—butnotwhatyouwouldthinkanythingof.HereadstheAgriculturalReports,andsomeotherbooksthatlayinoneofthewindowseats—buthereadsallthemtohimself.Butsometimesofanevening,beforewewenttocards,hewouldreadsomethingaloudoutoftheElegantExtracts,veryentertaining.AndIknowhehasreadtheVicarofWakefield.HeneverreadtheRomanceoftheForest,norTheChildrenoftheAbbey.HehadneverheardofsuchbooksbeforeImentionedthem,butheisdeterminedtogetthemnowassoonaseverhecan.” Thenextquestionwas— “WhatsortoflookingmanisMr.Martin?” “Oh!nothandsome—notatallhandsome.Ithoughthimveryplainatfirst,butIdonotthinkhimsoplainnow.Onedoesnot,youknow,afteratime.Butdidyouneverseehim?HeisinHighburyeverynowandthen,andheissuretoridethrougheveryweekinhiswaytoKingston.Hehaspassedyouveryoften.” “Thatmaybe,andImayhaveseenhimfiftytimes,butwithouthavinganyideaofhisname.Ayoungfarmer,whetheronhorsebackoronfoot,istheverylastsortofpersontoraisemycuriosity.TheyeomanryarepreciselytheorderofpeoplewithwhomIfeelIcanhavenothingtodo.Adegreeortwolower,andacreditableappearancemightinterestmeImighthopetobeusefultotheirfamiliesinsomewayorother.Butafarmercanneednoneofmyhelp,andis,therefore,inonesense,asmuchabovemynoticeasineveryotherheisbelowit.” “Tobesure.Ohyes!Itisnotlikelyyoushouldeverhaveobservedhimbutheknowsyouverywellindeed—Imeanbysight.” “Ihavenodoubtofhisbeingaveryresp