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by a side 'drong。' Thus much only of the character of the homestead
could be divined out of doors at this shady evening…time。
But within there was plenty of light to see by； as plenty was
construed at Hintock。 Beside a Tudor fireplace； whose moulded four…
centred arch was nearly hidden by a figured blue…cloth blower； were
seated two womenmother and daughterMrs。 Hall； and Sarah； or
Sally； for this was a part of the world where the latter
modification had not as yet been effaced as a vulgarity by the march
of intellect。 The owner of the name was the young woman by whose
means Mr。 Darton proposed to put an end to his bachelor condition on
the approaching day。
The mother's bereavement had been so long ago as not to leave much
mark of its occurrence upon her now； either in face or clothes。 She
had resumed the mob…cap of her early married life； enlivening its
whiteness by a few rose…du…Barry ribbons。 Sally required no such
aids to pinkness。 Roseate good…nature lit up her gaze； her features
showed curves of decision and judgment； and she might have been
regarded without much mistake as a warm…hearted； quick…spirited；
handsome girl。
She did most of the talking； her mother listening with a half…absent
air； as she picked up fragments of red…hot wood ember with the
tongs； and piled them upon the brands。 But the number of speeches
that passed was very small in proportion to the meanings exchanged。
Long experience together often enabled them to see the course of
thought in each other's minds without a word being spoken。 Behind
them； in the centre of the room； the table was spread for supper；
certain whiffs of air laden with fat vapours； which ever and anon
entered from the kitchen； denoting its preparation there。
'The new gown he was going to send you stays about on the way like
himself；' Sally's mother was saying。
'Yes； not finished； I daresay；' cried Sally independently。 'Lord； I
shouldn't be amazed if it didn't come at all！ Young men make such
kind promises when they are near you； and forget 'em when they go
away。 But he doesn't intend it as a wedding…gownhe gives it to me
merely as a gown to wear when I likea travelling…dress is what it
would be called by some。 Come rathe or come late it don't much
matter； as I have a dress of my own to fall back upon。 But what
time is it？'
She went to the family clock and opened the glass； for the hour was
not otherwise discernible by night； and indeed at all times was
rather a thing to be investigated than beheld； so much more wall
than window was there in the apartment。 'It is nearly eight；' said
she。
'Eight o'clock； and neither dress nor man；' said Mrs。 Hall。
'Mother； if you think to tantalize me by talking like that； you are
much mistaken！ Let him be as late as he willor stay away
altogetherI don't care；' said Sally。 But a tender； minute quaver
in the negation showed that there was something forced in that
statement。
Mrs。 Hall perceived it； and drily observed that she was not so sure
about Sally not caring。 'But perhaps you don't care so much as I
do； after all；' she said。 'For I see what you don't； that it is a
good and flourishing match for you； a very honourable offer in Mr。
Darton。 And I think I see a kind husband in him。 So pray God
'twill go smooth； and wind up well。'
Sally would not listen to misgivings。 Of course it would go
smoothly； she asserted。 'How you are up and down； mother！' she went
on。 'At this moment； whatever hinders him； we are not so anxious to
see him as he is to be here； and his thought runs on before him； and
settles down upon us like the star in the east。 Hark！' she
exclaimed； with a breath of relief； her eyes sparkling。 'I heard
something。 Yeshere they are！'
The next moment her mother's slower ear also distinguished the
familiar reverberation occasioned by footsteps clambering up the
roots of the sycamore。
'Yes it sounds like them at last；' she said。 'Well； it is not so
very late after all； considering the distance。'
The footfall ceased； and they arose； expecting a knock。 They began
to think it might have been； after all； some neighbouring villager
under Bacchic influence； giving the centre of the road a wide berth；
when their doubts were dispelled by the new…comer's entry into the
passage。 The door of the room was gently opened； and there
appeared； not the pair of travellers with whom we have already made
acquaintance； but a pale…faced man in the garb of extreme poverty
almost in rags。
'O； it's a trampgracious me！' said Sally； starting back。
His cheeks and eye…orbits were deep concavesrather； it might be；
from natural weakness of constitution than irregular living； though
there were indications that he had led no careful life。 He gazed at
the two women fixedly for a moment： then with an abashed；
humiliated demeanour； dropped his glance to the floor； and sank into
a chair without uttering a word。
Sally was in advance of her mother； who had remained standing by the
fire。 She now tried to discern the visitor across the candles。
'Whymother；' said Sally faintly； turning back to Mrs。 Hall。 'It
is Phil； from Australia！'
Mrs。 Hall started； and grew pale； and a fit of coughing seized the
man with the ragged clothes。 'To come home like this！' she said。
'O； Philipare you ill？'
'No； no； mother；' replied he impatiently； as soon as he could speak。
'But for God's sake how do you come hereand just now too？'
'Well； I am here；' said the man。 'How it is I hardly know。 I've
come home； mother； because I was driven to it。 Things were against
me out there； and went from bad to worse。'
'Then why didn't you let us know？you've not writ a line for the
last two or three years。'
The son admitted sadly that he had not。 He said that he had hoped
and thought he might fetch up again； and be able to send good news。
Then he had been obliged to abandon that hope； and had finally come
home from sheer necessitypreviously to making a new start。 'Yes；
things are very bad with me；' he repeated； perceiving their
commiserating glances at his clothes。
They brought him nearer the fire； took his hat from his thin hand；
which was so small and smooth as to show that his attempts to fetch
up again had not been in a manual direction。 His mother resumed her
inquiries； and dubiously asked if he had chosen to come that
particular night for any special reason。
For no reason； he told her。 His arrival had been quite at random。
Then Philip Hall looked round the room； and saw for the first time
that the table was laid somewhat luxuriously； and for a larger
number than themselves； and that an air of festivity pervaded their
dress。 He asked quickly what was going on。
'Sally is going to be married in a day or two；' replied the mother；
and she explained how Mr。 Darton； Sally's intended husband； was
coming there that night with the groomsman； Mr。 Johns； and other
details。 'We thought it must be their step when we heard you；' said
Mrs。 Hall。
The needy wanderer looked again on the floor。 'I seeI see；' he
murmured。 'Why； indeed； should I have come to…night？ Such folk as
I are not wanted here at these times； naturally。 And I have no
business herespoiling other people's happiness。'
'Phil；' said his mother； with a tear in her eye； but with a thinness
of lip and severity of manner which were presumably not more than
past events justified； 'since you speak like that to me； I'll speak
honestly to you。 For these three years you have taken no thought
for us。 You left home with a good supply of money； and strength and
education； and you ought to have made good use of it all。 But you
come back like a beggar； and that you come in a very awkward time
for us cannot be denied。 Your return to…night may do us much harm。
But mindyou are welcome to this home as long as it is mine。 I
don't wish to turn you adrift。 We will make the best of a bad job；
and I hope you are not seriously ill？'
'O no。 I have only this infernal cough。'
She looked at him anxiously。 'I think you had better go to bed at
once；' she said。
'WellI shall be out of the way there；' said the son wearily。
'Having ruined myself； don't let me ruin you by being seen in these
togs； for Heaven's sake。 Who do you say Sally is going to be
married toa Farmer Darton？'
'Yesa gentleman…farmerquite a wealthy man。 Far better in
station than she could have expected。 It is a good thing；
altogether。'
'Well done； little Sal！' said her brother； brightening and looking
up at her with a smile。 'I ought to have written； but perhaps I
have thought of you all the more。 But let me get out of sight。 I
would rather go and jump into the river than be seen here。 But have
you anything I can drink？ I am confoundedly thirsty with my long
tramp。'
'Yes； yes； we will bring something upstairs to you；' said Sally；
with grief in her face。
'Ay； that will do nicely。 But； Sally and mother' He stopped； and
they waited。 'Mother； I have not told you all；' he resumed slowly；
still looking on the floor between his knees。 'Sad as what you see
of me is； there's worse behind。'
His mother gazed upon him in grieved suspense； and Sally went and
leant upon the bur