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understand you left him at Stoniton； and I beg the favour of you to
tell me what’s the state of the poor lad’s mind； and what he means
to do。 For as for that bit o’ pink…and…white they’ve taken the
trouble to put in jail； I don’t value her a rotten nut—not a rotten
nut—only for the harm or good that may come out of her to an
honest man—a lad I’ve set such store by—trusted to； that he’d
make my bit o’ knowledge go a good way in the world 。 。 。 Why； sir；
he’s the only scholar I’ve had in this stupid country that ever had
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the will or the head…piece for mathematics。 If he hadn’t had so
much hard work to do； poor fellow； he might have gone into the
higher branches； and then this might never have happened—
might never have happened。”
Bartle was heated by the exertion of walking fast in an agitated
frame of mind； and was not able to check himself on this first
occasion of venting his feelings。 But he paused now to rub his
moist forehead； and probably his moist eyes also。
“You’ll excuse me； sir；” he said； when this pause had given him
time to reflect； “for running on in this way about my own feelings；
like that foolish dog of mine howling in a storm； when there’s
nobody wants to listen to me。 I came to hear you speak； not to talk
myself—if you’ll take the trouble to tell me what the poor lad’s
doing。”
“Don’t put yourself under any restraint； Bartle；” said Mr。
Irwine。 “The fact is； I’m very much in the same condition as you
just now； I’ve a great deal that’s painful on my mind； and I find it
hard work to be quite silent about my own feelings and only
attend to others。 I share your concern for Adam； though he is not
the only one whose sufferings I care for in this affair。 He intends to
remain at Stoniton till after the trial： it will come on probably a
week to…morrow。 He has taken a room there； and I encouraged
him to do so； because I think it better he should be away from his
own home at present； and； poor fellow； he still believes Hetty is
innocent—he wants to summon up courage to see her if he can； he
is unwilling to leave the spot where she is。”
“Do you think the creatur’s guilty； then？” said Bartle。 “Do you
think they’ll hang her？”
“I’m afraid it will go hard with her。 The evidence is very strong。
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And one bad symptom is that she denies everything—denies that
she has had a child in the face of the most positive evidence。 I saw
her myself； and she was obstinately silent to me； she shrank up
like a frightened animal when she saw me。 I was never so shocked
in my life as at the change in her。 But I trust that； in the worst
case； we may obtain a pardon for the sake of the innocent who are
involved。”
“Stuff and nonsense！” said Bartle； forgetting in his irritation to
whom he was speaking。 “I beg your pardon； sir； I mean it’s stuff
and nonsense for the innocent to care about her being hanged。 For
my own part； I think the sooner such women are put out o’ the
world the better； and the men that help ’em to do mischief had
better go along with ’em for that matter。 What good will you do by
keeping such vermin alive； eating the victual that ’ud feed rational
beings？ But if Adam’s fool enough to care about it； I don’t want
him to suffer more than’s needful 。 。 。 Is he very much cut up； poor
fellow？” Bartle added； taking out his spectacles and putting them
on； as if they would assist his imagination。
“Yes； I’m afraid the grief cuts very deep；” said Mr。 Irwine。 “He
looks terribly shattered； and a certain violence came over him now
and then yesterday； which made me wish I could have remained
near him。 But I shall go to Stoniton again to…morrow； and I have
confidence enough in the strength of Adam’s principle to trust that
he will be able to endure the worst without being driven to
anything rash。”
Mr。 Irwine； who was involuntarily uttering his own thoughts
rather than addressing Bartle Massey in the last sentence； had in
his mind the possibility that the spirit of vengeance to…wards
Arthur； which was the form Adam’s anguish was continually
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taking； might make him seek an encounter that was likely to end
more fatally than the one in the Grove。 This possibility heightened
the anxiety with which he looked forward to Arthur’s arrival。 But
Bartle thought Mr。 Irwine was referring to suicide； and his face
wore a new alarm。
“I’ll tell you what I have in my head； sir；” he said； “and I hope
you’ll approve of it。 I’m going to shut up my school—if the scholars
come； they must go back again； that’s all—and I shall go to
Stoniton and look after Adam till this business is over。 I’ll pretend
I’m come to look on at the assizes； he can’t object to that。 What do
you think about it； sir？”
“Well；” said Mr。 Irwine； rather hesitatingly； “there would be
some real advantages in that 。 。 。 and I honour you for your
friendship towards him； Bartle。 But 。 。 。 you must be careful what
you say to him； you know。 I’m afraid you have too little fellow…
feeling in what you consider his weakness about Hetty。”
“Trust to me； sir—trust to me。 I know what you mean。 I’ve been
a fool myself in my time； but that’s between you and me。 I shan’t
thrust myself on him only keep my eye on him； and see that he
gets some good food； and put in a word here and there。”
“Then；” said Mr。 Irwine； reassured a little as to Bartle’s
discretion； “I think you’ll be doing a good deed； and it will be well
for you to let Adam’s mother and brother know that you’re going。”
“Yes； sir； yes；” said Bartle； rising； and taking off his spectacles；
“I’ll do that； I’ll do that； though the mother’s a whimpering thing—
I don’t like to come within earshot of her； however； she’s a
straight…backed； clean woman； none of your slatterns。 I wish you
good…bye； sir； and thank you for the time you’ve spared me。 You’re
everybody’s friend in this business—everybody’s friend。 It’s a
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heavy weight you’ve got on your shoulders。”
“Good…bye； Bartle； till we meet at Stoniton； as I daresay we
shall。”
Bartle hurried away from the rectory； evading Carroll’s
conversational advances； and saying in an exasperated tone to
Vixen； whose short legs pattered beside him on the gravel； “Now； I
shall be obliged to take you with me； you good…for…nothing woman。
You’d go fretting yourself to death if I left you—you know you
would； and perhaps get snapped up by some tramp。 And you’ll be
running into bad company； I expect； putting your nose in every
hole and corner where you’ve no business！ But if you do anything
disgraceful； I’ll disown you—mind that； madam； mind that！”
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Chapter XLI
The Eve of the Trial
n upper room in a dull Stoniton street； with two beds in
Ait—one laid on the floor。 It is ten o’clock on Thursday
night； and the d