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having in the interim retired with her mother…in…law to take off her
bonnet； and otherwise make herself presentable。 Hence it was
evident that no further communication could have passed between her
and Mr。 Darton since their brief interview in the stable。
Mr。 Japheth Johns now opportunely arrived； and broke up the
restraint of the company； after a few orthodox meteorological
commentaries had passed between him and Mrs。 Hall by way of
introduction。 They at once sat down to supper； the present of wine
and turkey not being produced for consumption to…night； lest the
premature display of those gifts should seem to throw doubt on Mrs。
Hall's capacities as a provider。
'Drink hearty； Mr。 Johnsdrink hearty；' said that matron
magnanimously。 'Such as it is there's plenty of。 But perhaps
cider…wine is not to your taste？though there's body in it。'
'Quite the contrairy； ma'amquite the contrairy；' said the
dairyman。 'For though I inherit the malt…liquor principle from my
father； I am a cider…drinker on my mother's side。 She came from
these parts； you know。 And there's this to be said for't'tis a
more peaceful liquor； and don't lie about a man like your hotter
drinks。 With care； one may live on it a twelvemonth without
knocking down a neighbour； or getting a black eye from an old
acquaintance。'
The general conversation thus begun was continued briskly； though it
was in the main restricted to Mrs。 Hall and Japheth； who in truth
required but little help from anybody。 There being slight call upon
Sally's tongue； she had ample leisure to do what her heart most
desired； namely； watch her intended husband and her sister…in…law
with a view of elucidating the strange momentary scene in which her
mother and herself had surprised them in the stable。 If that scene
meant anything； it meant； at least； that they had met before。 That
there had been no time for explanations Sally could see； for their
manner was still one of suppressed amazement at each other's
presence there。 Darton's eyes； too； fell continually on the gown
worn by Helena as if this were an added riddle to his perplexity；
though to Sally it was the one feature in the case which was no
mystery。 He seemed to feel that fate had impishly changed his vis…
a…vis in the lover's jig he was about to foot； that while the gown
had been expected to enclose a Sally； a Helena's face looked out
from the bodice； that some long…lost hand met his own from the
sleeves。
Sally could see that whatever Helena might know of Darton； she knew
nothing of how the dress entered into his embarrassment。 And at
moments the young girl would have persuaded herself that Darton's
looks at her sister…in…law were entirely the fruit of the clothes
query。 But surely at other times a more extensive range of
speculation and sentiment was expressed by her lover's eye than that
which the changed dress would account for。
Sally's independence made her one of the least jealous of women。
But there was something in the relations of these two visitors which
ought to be explained。
Japheth Johns continued to converse in his well…known style；
interspersing his talk with some private reflections on the position
of Darton and Sally； which； though the sparkle in his eye showed
them to be highly entertaining to himself； were apparently not quite
communicable to the company。 At last he withdrew for the night；
going off to the roadside inn half…a…mile back； whither Darton
promised to follow him in a few minutes。
Half…an…hour passed； and then Mr。 Darton also rose to leave； Sally
and her sister…in…law simultaneously wishing him good…night as they
retired upstairs to their rooms。 But on his arriving at the front
door with Mrs。 Hall a sharp shower of rain began to come down； when
the widow suggested that he should return to the fire…side till the
storm ceased。
Darton accepted her proposal； but insisted that； as it was getting
late； and she was obviously tired； she should not sit up on his
account； since he could let himself out of the house； and would
quite enjoy smoking a pipe by the hearth alone。 Mrs。 Hall assented；
and Darton was left by himself。 He spread his knees to the brands；
lit up his tobacco as he had said； and sat gazing into the fire； and
at the notches of the chimney…crook which hung above。
An occasional drop of rain rolled down the chimney with a hiss； and
still he smoked on； but not like a man whose mind was at rest。 In
the long run； however； despite his meditations； early hours afield
and a long ride in the open air produced their natural result。 He
began to doze。
How long he remained in this half…unconscious state he did not know。
He suddenly opened his eyes。 The back…brand had burnt itself in
two； and ceased to flame； the light which he had placed on the
mantelpiece had nearly gone out。 But in spite of these deficiencies
there was a light in the apartment； and it came from elsewhere。
Turning his head he saw Philip Hall's wife standing at the entrance
of the room with a bed…candle in one hand； a small brass tea…kettle
in the other； and HIS gown； as it certainly seemed； still upon her。
'Helena！' said Darton； starting up。
Her countenance expressed dismay； and her first words were an
apology。 'Idid not know you were here； Mr。 Darton；' she said；
while a blush flashed to her cheek。 'I thought every one had
retiredI was coming to make a little water boil； my husband seems
to be worse。 But perhaps the kitchen fire can be lighted up again。'
'Don't go on my account。 By all means put it on here as you
intended；' said Darton。 'Allow me to help you。' He went forward to
take the kettle from her hand； but she did not allow him； and placed
it on the fire herself。
They stood some way apart； one on each side of the fireplace；
waiting till the water should boil； the candle on the mantel between
them； and Helena with her eyes on the kettle。 Darton was the first
to break the silence。 'Shall I call Sally？' he said。
'O no；' she quickly returned。 'We have given trouble enough
already。 We have no right here。 But we are the sport of fate； and
were obliged to come。'
'No right here！' said he in surprise。
'None。 I can't explain it now；' answered Helena。 'This kettle is
very slow。'
There was another pause； the proverbial dilatoriness of watched pots
was never more clearly exemplified。
Helena's face was of that sort which seems to ask for assistance
without the owner's knowledgethe very antipodes of Sally's； which
was self…reliance expressed。 Darton's eyes travelled from the
kettle to Helena's face； then back to the kettle； then to the face
for rather a longer time。 'So I am not to know anything of the
mystery that has distracted me all the evening？' he said。 'How is
it that a woman； who refused me because （as I supposed） my position
was not good enough for her taste； is found to be the wife of a man
who certainly seems to be worse off than I？'
'He had the prior claim；' said she。
'What！ you knew him at that time？'
'Yes； yes！ Please say no more；' she implored。
'Whatever my errors； I have paid for them during the last five
years！'
The heart of Darton was subject to sudden overflowings。 He was kind
to a fault。 'I am sorry from my soul；' he said； involuntarily
approaching her。 Helena withdrew a step or two； at which he became
conscious of his movement； and quickly took his former place。 Here
he stood without speaking； and the little kettle began to sing。
'Well； you might have been my wife if you had chosen；' he said at
last。 'But that's all past and gone。 However； if you are in any
trouble or poverty I shall be glad to be of service； and as your
relation by marriage I shall have a right to be。 Does your uncle
know of your distress？'
'My uncle is dead。 He left me without a farthing。 And now we have
two children to maintain。'
'What； left you nothing？ How could he be so cruel as that？'
'I disgraced myself in his eyes。'
'Now；' said Darton earnestly； 'let me take care of the children； at
least while you are so unsettled。 YOU belong to another； so I
cannot take care of you。'
'Yes you can；' said a voice； and suddenly a third figure stood
beside them。 It was Sally。 'You can； since you seem to wish to？'
she repeated。 'She no longer belongs to another 。 。 。 My poor
brother is dead！'
Her face was red； her eyes sparkled； and all the woman came to the
front。 'I have heard it！' she went on to him passionately。 'You
can protect her now as well as the children！' She turned then to
her agitated sister…in…law。 'I heard something；' said Sally （in a
gentle murmur； differing much from her previous passionate words）；
'and I went into his room。 It must have been the moment you left。
He went off so quickly； and weakly； and it was so unexpected； that I
couldn't leave even to call you。'
Darton was just able to gather from the confused discourse which
followed that； during his sleep by the fire； this brother whom he
had never seen had become worse； and that during Helena's absence
for water the end had unexpectedly come。 The two young women
hastened upstairs； and he was again left alone。
After standing there a short time he went