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poor pedestrians could attain to during its passage。
But the farmer did not talk much to his friend as he rode along。
The enterprise which had brought him there filled his mind； for in
truth it was important。 Not altogether so important was it；
perhaps； when estimated by its value to society at large； but if the
true measure of a deed be proportionate to the space it occupies in
the heart of him who undertakes it； Farmer Charles Darton's business
to…night could hold its own with the business of kings。
He was a large farmer。 His turnover； as it is called； was probably
thirty thousand pounds a year。 He had a great many draught horses；
a great many milch cows； and of sheep a multitude。 This comfortable
position was； however； none of his own making。 It had been created
by his father； a man of a very different stamp from the present
representative of the line。
Darton； the father； had been a one…idea'd character； with a
buttoned…up pocket and a chink…like eye brimming with commercial
subtlety。 In Darton the son； this trade subtlety had become
transmuted into emotional； and the harshness had disappeared； he
would have been called a sad man but for his constant care not to
divide himself from lively friends by piping notes out of harmony
with theirs。 Contemplative； he allowed his mind to be a quiet
meeting…place for memories and hopes。 So that； naturally enough；
since succeeding to the agricultural calling； and up to his present
age of thirty…two； he had neither advanced nor receded as a
capitalista stationary result which did not agitate one of his
unambitious； unstrategic nature； since he had all that he desired。
The motive of his expedition tonight showed the same absence of
anxious regard for Number One。
The party rode on in the slow； safe trot proper to night…time and
bad roads； Farmer Darton's head jigging rather unromantically up and
down against the sky； and his motions being repeated with bolder
emphasis by his friend Japheth Johns； while those of the latter were
travestied in jerks still less softened by art in the person of the
lad who attended them。 A pair of whitish objects hung one on each
side of the latter； bumping against him at each step； and still
further spoiling the grace of his seat。 On close inspection they
might have been perceived to be open rush basketsone containing a
turkey； and the other some bottles of wine。
'D'ye feel ye can meet your fate like a man； neighbour Darton？'
asked Johns； breaking a silence which had lasted while five…and…
twenty hedgerow trees had glided by。
Mr。 Darton with a half…laugh murmured； 'Aycall it my fate！
Hanging and wiving go by destiny。' And then they were silent again。
The darkness thickened rapidly； at intervals shutting down on the
land in a perceptible flap； like the wave of a wing。 The customary
close of day was accelerated by a simultaneous blurring of the air。
With the fall of night had come a mist just damp enough to
incommode； but not sufficient to saturate them。 Countrymen as they
wereborn； as may be said； with only an open door between them and
the four seasonsthey regarded the mist but as an added
obscuration； and ignored its humid quality。
They were travelling in a direction that was enlivened by no modern
current of traffic； the place of Darton's pilgrimage being an old…
fashioned villageone of the Hintocks （several villages of that
name； with a distinctive prefix or affix； lying thereabout）where
the people make the best cider and cider…wine in all Wessex； and
where the dunghills smell of pomace instead of stable refuse as
elsewhere。 The lane was sometimes so narrow that the brambles of
the hedge； which hung forward like anglers' rods over a stream；
scratched their hats and curry…combed their whiskers as they passed。
Yet this neglected lane had been a highway to Queen Elizabeth's
subjects and the cavalcades of the past。 Its day was over now； and
its history as a national artery done for ever。
'Why I have decided to marry her；' resumed Darton （in a measured
musical voice of confidence which revealed a good deal of his
composition）； as he glanced round to see that the lad was not too
near； 'is not only that I like her； but that I can do no better；
even from a fairly practical point of view。 That I might ha' looked
higher is possibly true； though it is really all nonsense。 I have
had experience enough in looking above me。 〃No more superior women
for me；〃 said Iyou know when。 Sally is a comely； independent；
simple character； with no make…up about her； who'll think me as much
a superior to her as I used to thinkyou know who I meanwas to
me。'
'Ay；' said Johns。 'However； I shouldn't call Sally Hall simple。
Primary； because no Sally is； secondary； because if some could be；
this one wouldn't。 'Tis a wrong denomination to apply to a woman；
Charles； and affects me； as your best man； like cold water。 'Tis
like recommending a stage play by saying there's neither murder；
villainy； nor harm of any sort in it； when that's what you've paid
your half…crown to see。'
'Well； may your opinion do you good。 Mine's a different one。' And
turning the conversation from the philosophical to the practical；
Darton expressed a hope that the said Sally had received what he'd
sent on by the carrier that day。
Johns wanted to know what that was。
'It is a dress；' said Darton。 'Not exactly a wedding…dress； though
she may use it as one if she likes。 It is rather serviceable than
showysuitable for the winter weather。'
'Good；' said Johns。 'Serviceable is a wise word in a bridegroom。 I
commend ye； Charles。'
'For；' said Darton； 'why should a woman dress up like a rope…dancer
because she's going to do the most solemn deed of her life except
dying？'
'Faith； why？ But she will； because she will； I suppose；' said
Dairyman Johns。
'H'm；' said Darton。
The lane they followed had been nearly straight for several miles；
but it now took a turn； and winding uncertainly for some distance
forked into two。 By night country roads are apt to reveal ungainly
qualities which pass without observation during day； and though
Darton had travelled this way before； he had not done so frequently；
Sally having been wooed at the house of a relative near his own。 He
never remembered seeing at this spot a pair of alternative ways
looking so equally probable as these two did now。 Johns rode on a
few steps。
'Don't be out of heart； sonny；' he cried。 'Here's a handpost。
Enochcome and climm this post； and tell us the way。'
The lad dismounted； and jumped into the hedge where the post stood
under a tree。
'Unstrap the baskets； or you'll smash up that wine！' cried Darton；
as the young man began spasmodically to climb the post； baskets and
all。
'Was there ever less head in a brainless world？' said Johns。 'Here；
simple Nocky； I'll do it。' He leapt off； and with much puffing
climbed the post； striking a match when he reached the top； and
moving the light along the arm； the lad standing and gazing at the
spectacle。
'I have faced tantalization these twenty years with a temper as mild
as milk！' said Japheth； 'but such things as this don't come short of
devilry！' And flinging the match away； he slipped down to the
ground。
'What's the matter？' asked Darton。
'Not a letter； sacred or heathennot so much as would tell us the
way to the great fireplaceever I should sin to say it！ Either the
moss and mildew have eat away the words； or we have arrived in a
land where the natyves have lost the art o' writing； and should ha'
brought our compass like Christopher Columbus。'
'Let us take the straightest road；' said Darton placidly； 'I shan't
be sorry to get there'tis a tiresome ride。 I would have driven if
I had known。'
'Nor I neither； sir；' said Enoch。 'These straps plough my shoulder
like a zull。 If 'tis much further to your lady's home； Maister
Darton； I shall ask to be let carry half of these good things in my
innerdshee； hee！'
'Don't you be such a reforming radical； Enoch；' said Johns sternly。
'Here； I'll take the turkey。'
This being done； they went forward by the right…hand lane； which
ascended a hill； the left winding away under a plantation。 The pit…
a…pat of their horses' hoofs lessened up the slope； and the ironical
directing…post stood in solitude as before； holding out its blank
arms to the raw breeze； which brought a snore from the wood as if
Skrymir the Giant were sleeping there。
CHAPTER II
Three miles to the left of the travellers； along the road they had
not followed； rose an old house with mullioned windows of Ham…hill
stone； and chimneys of lavish solidity。 It stood at the top of a
slope beside King's…Hintock village…street； and immediately in front
of it grew a large sycamore…tree； whose bared roots formed a
convenient staircase from the road below to the front door of the
dwelling。 Its situation gave the house what little distinctive name
it possessed； namely； 'The Knap。' Some forty yards off a brook
dribbled past； which； for its size； made a great deal of noise。 At
the back was a dairy barton； accessible for vehicles and live…stock
by a side 'drong。' Thus much only of the character of the home