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her he came from Oxford； admired her good fire； and warmed his hands
over it； before he even asked if the 'something' had arrived which was
to take him home。 It was coming to the door at the moment； and proved
to be Mr。 Markham's tall； high…wheeled gig； drawn by the old white…
faced chestnut； and driven by Markham himselfa short； sturdy； brown…
red； honest…faced old man； with frosted hair and whiskers； an air more
of a yeoman than of a lawyer； and though not precisely gentlemanlike；
yet not ungentlemanlike； as there was no pretension about him。
Guy darted out to meet him； and was warmly shaken by the hand； though
the meeting was gruff。
'So； Sir Guy！ how d'ye do？ I wonder what brings you here on such short
notice？ Good morning； Mrs。 Lavers。 Bad roads this winter。'
'Good morning； Mr。 Markham。 It is a treat； indeed； to have Sir Guy
here once more； so grown； too。'
'Grownhum！' said Markham； surveying him； 'I don't see it。 He'll
never be as tall as his father。 Have you got your things； Sir Guy？
Ay； that's the way；care for nothing but the dog。 Gone on by the
coach； most likely。'
They might have been； for aught Guy knew to the contrary； but Boots had
been more attentive； and they were right。 Mrs。 Lavers begged he would
walk in； and warm himself； but Markham answered；
'What do you say； Sir Guy？ The road is shocking； and it will be as
dark as a pit by the time we get home。'
'Very well； we won't keep old Whiteface standing；' said Guy。 'Good…
bye； Mrs。 Lavers thank you。 I shall see you again before long。'
Before Markham had finished a short private growl on the shocking state
of the Moorworth pavement； and a protest that somebody should be called
over the coals； Guy began；'
'What a horrible place Coombe Prior is！'
'I only know I wish you had more such tenants as Todd；' was Markham's
answer。 'Pays his rent to a day； and improves his land。'
'But what sort of man is he？'
'A capital farmer。 A regular screw； I believe； but that is no concern
of mine。'
'There are all the cottages tumbling down。'
'Ay？ Are they？ I shouldn't wonder； for they are all in his lease； and
he would not lay out an unproductive farthing。 And a precious bad lot
they are there； too！ There were actually three of them poaching in
Cliffstone hanger this autumn； but we have them in jail。 A pretty pass
of impudence to be coming that distance to poach。'
Guy used to be kindled into great wrath by the most distant hint of
poachers； but now he cared for men； not for game； and instead of
asking； as Markham expected； the particulars of their apprehension；
continued
'The clergyman is that Halroyd； is he not？'
'Yes； every one knows what he is。 I declare it went against me to take
his offer for the living； but it could not be helped。 Money must be
had； but there！ least said； soonest mended。'
'We must mend it；' said Guy； so decidedly； that Markham looked at him
with surprise。
'I don't see what's to be done till Halroyd dies； and then you may give
the living to whom you please。 He lives so hard he can't last long；
that is one comfort。'
Guy sighed and pondered； and presently Markham resumed the
conversation。
'And what has brought you home at a moment's notice？ You might as well
have written two or three days before； at least。'
'I was waiting in hopes of going to Hollywell；' said Guy sorrowfully。
'Well； and what is the matter？ You have not been quarrelling with your
guardian； I hope and trust！ Going the old way； after all！' exclaimed
Markham； not in his usual gruff； grumbling note； but with real anxiety；
and almost mournfulness。
'He took up some unjust suspicion of me。 I could not bear it
patiently； and said something that has offended him。'
'Oh； Sir Guy！ hot and fiery as ever。 I always told you that hasty
temper would be the ruin of you。'
'Too true！' said Guy； so dejectedly； that the old man instantly grew
kinder； and was displeased with Mr； Edmonstone。
'What could he have taken into his head to suspect you of？'
'Of gaming at St。 Mildred's。'
'You have not？'
'Never！'
'Then why does not he believe you？'
'He thinks he has proof against me。 I can't guess how he discovered
it； but I was obliged to pay some money to a gambling sort of man； and
he thinks I lost it。'
'Then why don't you show him your accounts？'
'For one reasonbecause I have kept none。'
As if it was an immense relief to his mind； Markham launched out into a
discourse on the extreme folly； imprudence； and all other evils of such
carelessness。 He was so glad to find this was the worst； that his
lecture lasted for two miles and a half； during which Guy； though
attentive at first； had ample space for all the thrills of recognition
at each well…known spot。
There was the long green…wooded valley between the hills where he had
shot his first woodcock； there was the great stone on which he had
broken his best knife in a fit of geological research； there was the
pool where he used to skate； there the sudden break in the lulls that
gave the first view of the sea。 He could not help springing up at the
sightpale； leaden； and misty as it was； and though Markham forthwith
rebuked him for not listening； his heart was still beating as at the
first sight of a dear old friend； when that peep was far behind。 More
black heaths； with stacks of peat and withered ferns。 Guy was
straining his eyes far off in the darkness to look for the smoke of the
old keeper's cottage chimney； and could with difficulty refrain from
interrupting Markham to ask after the old man。
Another long hill； and then began a descent into a rich valley；
beautiful fields of young wheat； reddish soil； full of fatness； large
spreading trees with noble limbs； cottages； and cottage gardens； very
unlike poor Coombe Prior； Markham's housea perfect little snuggery
covered all over with choice climbing plants； the smart plastered
doctor's house； the Morville Arms； looking honest and venerable； the
church； with its disproportionately high tower； the parsonage rather
hidden behind it； and； on the opposite side of the road； the park…wall
and the gate； where old Sarah stood； in an ecstasy of curtsies。
Guy jumped out to meet her； and to spare Whiteface； for there was a
sharp； steep bit of hill； rising from the lodge； trying to horses； in
spite of the road being cut out in long spirals。 On he ran； leaving
the road to Markham； straight up the high； steep； slippery green slope。
He came in sight at the great dark…red sandstone pile of building； but
he passed it； and ran on to where the ground rose on one side of it
still more abruptly； and at the highest point was suddenly broken away
and cut off into a perpendicular crag； descending in some parts sheer
down to the sea； in others a little broken； and giving space for the
growth of stunted brushwood。 He stood at the highest point； where the
precipice was most abrupt。 The sea was dashing far beneath； the
ripple； dash； and roar were in his ears once more； the windsuch wind
as only blows over the seawas breathing on his face； the broad； free
horizon far before him； the field of waves； in gray and brown shade
indeed； but still his own beloved waves； the bay； shut in with rocks；
and with Black Shag Island and its train of rocks projecting far out to
the west； and almost immediately beneath him； to the left； the little
steep street of the fishing part of the village； nestled into the cove；
which was formed by the mouth of a little mountain…stream； and the
dozen boats it could muster rocking on the water。
Guy stood and looked as if he could never cease looking； or enjoying
the sea air and salt breeze。 It was real pleasure at first； for there
were his home； his friends； and though there was a throb and tightness
of heart at thinking how all was changed but such as this； and how all
must change； how he had talked with Amy of this very thing； and had
longed to have her standing beside him there； yet there was more of
soothing than suffering in the sensation。
So many thoughts rushed through his mind； that he fancied he had stood
there a long time； when he turned and hastened down again； but he had
been so rapid as to meet Markham before the servants had had time to
miss him。
The servants were indeed few。 There was； alas！ William of Deloraine；
waiting to hold Whiteface； there was Arnaud； an old Swiss； first
courier and then butler to old Sir Guy； there was Mrs。 Drew； the
housekeeper； also a very old servant； and these were all； but their
welcome was of the heartiest； in feeling； if not in demonstration as
the gig went with an echoing； thundering sound under the deep archway
that led into the paved quadrangle； round which the house was built；
that court whe