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as they brushed along through the grass。 'But what is the truth of
the story about the property？'
'Now look here； neighbour；' said Clerk Crickett； 'if so be you'll
tell me what your line o' life is； and your purpose in comen here
to…day； I'll tell you the truth about the wedden particulars。'
'Very wellI will when you have done；' said the other man。
''Tis a bargain； and this is the right o' the story。 When Miss
Aldclyffe's will was opened； it was found to have been drawn up on
the very day that Manston （her love…child） married Miss Cytherea
Graye。 And this is what that deep woman did。 Deep？ she was as deep
as the North Star。 She bequeathed all her property； real and
personal； to 〃THE WIFE OF AENEAS MANSTON〃 （with one exception）：
failen her life to her husband： failen his life to the heirs of his
headbody I would say： failen them to her absolutely and her heirs
for ever： failen these to Pa'son Raunham； and so on to the end o'
the human race。 Now do you see the depth of her scheme？ Why；
although upon the surface it appeared her whole property was for
Miss Cytherea； by the word 〃wife〃 being used； and not Cytherea's
name； whoever was the wife o' Manston would come in for't。 Wasn't
that rale depth？ It was done； of course； that her son AEneas； under
any circumstances； should be master o' the property； without folk
knowen it was her son or suspecting anything； as they would if it
had been left to en straightway。'
'A clever arrangement！ And what was the exception？'
'The payment of a legacy to her relative； Pa'son Raunham。'
'And Miss Cytherea was now Manston's widow and only relative； and
inherited all absolutely。'
'True； she did。 〃Well；〃 says she； 〃I shan't have it〃 （she didn't
like the notion o' getten anything through Manston； naturally
enough； pretty dear）。 She waived her right in favour o' Mr。
Raunham。 Now； if there's a man in the world that d'care nothen
about landI don't say there is； but IF there is'tis our pa'son。
He's like a snail。 He's a…growed so to the shape o' that there
rectory that 'a wouldn' think o' leaven it even in name。 〃'Tis
yours； Miss Graye；〃 says he。 〃No； 'tis yours；〃 says she。 〃'Tis'n'
mine；〃 says he。 The Crown had cast his eyes upon the case； thinken
o' forfeiture by felonybut 'twas no such thing； and 'a gied it up；
too。 Did you ever hear such a tale？three people； a man and a
woman； and a Crownneither o' em in a madhouseflingen an estate
backwards and forwards like an apple or nut？ Well； it ended in this
way。 Mr。 Raunham took it： young Springrove was had as agent and
steward； and put to live in Knapwater House； close here at hand
just as if 'twas his own。 He does just what he'd likeMr。 Raunham
never interferenand hither to…day he's brought his new wife；
Cytherea。 And a settlement ha' been drawn up this very day； whereby
their children； heirs； and cetrer； be to inherit after Mr。 Raunham's
death。 Good fortune came at last。 Her brother； too； is doen well。
He came in first man in some architectural competition； and is about
to move to London。 Here's the house； look。 Stap out from these
bushes； and you'll get a clear sight o't。'
They emerged from the shrubbery； breaking off towards the lake； and
down the south slope。 When they arrived exactly opposite the centre
of the mansion； they halted。
It was a magnificent picture of the English country…house。 The
whole of the severe regular front； with its columns and cornices；
was built of a white smoothly…faced freestone； which appeared in the
rays of the moon as pure as Pentelic marble。 The sole objects in
the scene rivalling the fairness of the facade were a dozen swans
floating upon the lake。
At this moment the central door at the top of the steps was opened；
and two figures advanced into the light。 Two contrasting figures
were they。 A young lithe woman in an airy fairy dressCytherea
Springrove： a young man in black stereotype raimentEdward； her
husband。
They stood at the top of the steps together； looking at the moon；
the water； and the general loveliness of the prospect。
'That's the married man and wifethere； I've illustrated my story
by rale liven specimens；' the clerk whispered。
'To be sure； how close together they do stand！ You couldn' slip a
penny…piece between 'emthat you couldn'！ Beautiful to see it；
isn't itbeautiful！。 。 。 But this is a private path； and we won't
let 'em see us； as all the ringers be goen there to a supper and
dance to…morrow night。'
The speaker and his companion softly moved on； passed through the
wicket； and into the coach…road。 Arrived at the clerk's house at
the further boundary of the park； they paused to part。
'Now for your half o' the bargain；' said Clerk Crickett。 'What's
your line o' life； and what d'ye come here for？'
'I'm the reporter to the Casterbridge Chronicle； and I come to pick
up the news。 Good…night。'
Meanwhile Edward and Cytherea； after lingering on the steps for
several minutes； slowly descended the slope to the lake。 The skiff
was lying alongside。
'O； Edward；' said Cytherea； 'you must do something that has just
come into my head！'
'Well； dearestI know。'
'Yesgive me one half…minute's row on the lake here now； just as
you did on Budmouth Bay three years ago。'
He handed her into the boat； and almost noiselessly pulled off from
shore。 When they were half…way between the two margins of the lake；
he paused and looked at her。
'Ah； darling； I remember exactly how I kissed you that first time；'
said Springrove。 'You were there as you are now。 I unshipped the
sculls in this way。 Then I turned round and sat beside youin this
way。 Then I put my hand on the other side of your little neck'
'I think it was just on my cheek； in this way。'
'Ah； so it was。 Then you moved that soft red mouth round to mine'
'But； dearestyou pressed it round if you remember； and of course I
couldn't then help letting it come to your mouth without being
unkind to you； and I wouldn't be that。'
'And then I put my cheek against that cheek； and turned my two lips
round upon those two lips； and kissed themso。'
End