第4章

Slowly，outoftheawfulshadows，theGhostsofMemoryroseaboutme。Thedeadpopulationofavanishedworldcamebacktoliferoundme，alivingman。Menandwomenwhoseearthlypilgrimagehadendedlongsince，returneduponmefromtheunknownspheres，andfond，familiarvoicesbursttheirwaybacktomyearsthroughtheheavysilenceofthegrave。Movingbymeinthenamelessinnerlight，whichnoeyesawbutmine，thedeadprocessionofimmaterialscenesandbeingsunrolleditssilentlength。Isawoncemorethepleadingfaceofafriendofearlydays，withthehauntingvisionthathadtorturedhimthroughlifebyhissideagain——withthelong—forgottendespairinhiseyeswhichhadoncetouchedmyheart，andboundmetohim，tillIhadtrackedhisdestinythroughitsdarkestwindingstotheend。Isawthefigureofaninnocentwomanpassingtoandfroinanancientcountryhouse，withtheshadowofastrangesuspicionstealingafterherwherevershewent。Isawamanwornbyhardshipandoldage，stretcheddreamingonthestrawofastable，andmutteringinhisdreamtheterriblesecretofhislife。

Otherscenesandpersonsfollowedthese，lessvividintheirrevival，butstillalwaysrecognizableanddistinct；ayounggirlalonebynight，andinperilofherlife，inacottageonadrearymoor——anupperchamberofaninn，withtwobedsinit；thecurtainsofonebedclosed，andamanstandingbythem，waiting，yetdreadingtodrawthemback——ahusbandsecretlyfollowingthefirsttracesofamysterywhichhiswife’sanxiouslovehadfatallyhiddenfromhimsincethedaywhentheyfirstmet；these，andothervisionslikethem，shadowyreflectionsofthelivingbeingsandtherealeventsthathadbeenonce，peopledthesolitudeandtheemptinessaroundme。TheyhauntedmestillwhenItriedtobreakthechainofthoughtwhichmyowneffortshadwoundaboutmymind；theyfollowedmetoandfrointheroom；andtheycameoutwithmewhenIleftit。IhadliftedtheveilfromthePastformyself，andIwasnowtorestnomoretillIhadlifteditforothers。

Iwentatoncetomyeldestbrotherandshowedhimmyson’sletter，andtoldhimallthatIhavewrittenhere。Hiskindheartwastouchedasminehadbeen。Hefeltformysuspense；hesharedmyanxiety；helaidasidehisownoccupationonthespot。

"Onlytellme，"hesaid，"howIcanhelp，andIwillgiveeveryhourinthedaytoyouandtoGeorge。"

Ihadcometohimwithmymindalmostasfullofhispastlifeasofmyown；IrecalledtohismemoryeventsinhisexperienceasaworkingclergymaninLondon；Isethimlookingamongpaperswhichhehadpreservedforhalfhislifetime，andtheveryexistenceofwhichhehadforgottenlongsince；Irecalledtohimthenamesofpersonstowhosenecessitieshehadministeredinhissacredoffice，andwhosestorieshehadheardfromtheirownlipsorreceivedundertheirownhandwriting。Whenwepartedhewascertainofwhathewaswantedtodo，andwasresoluteonthatverydaytobeginthework。

IwenttoMorgannext，andappealedtohimasIhadalreadyappealedtoOwen。Itwasonlypartofhisoddcharactertostartallsortsofeccentricobjectionsinreply；toaffectacynicalindifference，whichhewasfarfromreallyandtrulyfeeling；andtoindulgeinplentyofquaintsarcasmonthesubjectofJessieandhisnephewGeorge。Iwaitedtilltheselittlesurface—ebullitionshadallexpendedthemselves，andthenpressedmypointagainwiththeearnestnessandanxietythatIreallyfelt。

Evidentlytouchedbythemannerofmyappealtohimevenmorethanbythelanguageinwhichitwasexpressed，Morgantookrefugeinhiscustomaryabruptness，spreadouthispaperviolentlyonthetable，seizedhispenandink，andtoldmequitefiercelytogivehimhisworkandlethimtackleitatonce。

Isetmyselftorecalltohismemorysomeveryremarkableexperiencesofhisowninhisprofessionaldays，buthestoppedmebeforeIhadhalfdone。

"Iunderstand，"hesaid，takingasavagedipattheink，"I’mtomakeherfleshcreep，andtofrightenheroutofherwits。I’lldoitwithavengeance！"

ReservingtomyselfprivatelyaneditorialrightofsupervisionoverMorgan’scontributions，Ireturnedtomyownroomtobeginmyshare——byfarthelargestone——ofthetaskbeforeus。Thestimulusappliedtomymindbymyson’slettermusthavebeenastrongoneindeed，forIhadhardlybeenmorethananhouratmydeskbeforeIfoundtheoldliteraryfacilityofmyyouthfuldays，whenIwasawriterforthemagazines，returningtomeasifbymagic。Iworkedonunremittinglytilldinner—time，andthenresumedthepenafterwehadallseparatedforthenight。Attwoo’clockthenextmorningIfoundmyself——Godhelpme！——masquerading，asitwere，inmyownlong—lostcharacterofahard—writingyoungman，withtheoldfamiliarcupofstrongteabymyside，andtheoldfamiliarwettoweltiedroundmyhead。

MyreviewoftheprogressIhadmade，whenIlookedbackatmypagesofmanuscript，yieldedalltheencouragementIwantedtodrivemeon。Itisonlyjust，however，toaddtotherecordofthisfirstday’sattempt，thattheliterarylaborwhichitinvolvedwasbynomeansofthemosttryingkind。Thegreatstrainontheintellect——thestrainofinvention——wassparedmebymyhavingrealcharactersandeventsreadytomyhand。IfI

hadbeencalledontocreate，Ishould，inallprobability，havesufferedseverelybycontrastwiththeveryworstofthoseunfortunatenovelistswhomJessiehadsorashlyandsothoughtlesslycondemned。Itisnotwonderfulthatthepublicshouldrarelyknowhowtoestimatethevastservicewhichisdonetothembytheproductionofagoodbook，seeingthattheyare，forthemostpart，utterlyignorantoftheimmensedifficultyofwritingevenabadone。

Thenextdaywasfine，tomygreatrelief；andourvisitor，whilewewereatwork，enjoyedhercustomaryscamperonthepony，andhercustomaryramblesafterwardintheneighborhoodofthehouse。

AlthoughIhadinterruptionstocontendwithonthepartofOwenandMorgan，neitherofwhompossessedmyexperienceintheproductionofwhatheavypeoplecall"lightliterature，"andbothofwhomconsequentlywantedassistance，stillImadegreatprogress，andearnedmyhoursofreposeontheeveningofthesecondday。

OnthateveningIriskedtheworst，andopenedmynegotiationsforthefuturewith"TheQueenofHearts。"

Aboutanhouraftertheteahadbeenremoved，andwhenIhappenedtobeleftaloneintheroomwithher，Inoticedthatsherosesuddenlyandwenttothewriting—table。Mysuspicionswerearouseddirectly，andIenteredonthedangeroussubjectbyinquiringifsheintendedtowritetoheraunt。

"Yes，"shesaid。"Ipromisedtowritewhenthelastweekcame。Ifyouhadpaidmethecomplimentofaskingmetostayalittlelonger，IshouldhavereturneditbytellingyouIwassorrytogo。Asitis，Imeantobesulkyandsaynothing。"

Withthosewordsshetookupherpentobegintheletter。

"Waitaminute，"Iremonstrated。"IwasjustonthepointofbeggingyoutostaywhenIspoke。"

"Wereyou，indeed？"shereturned。"Ineverbelievedincoincidencesofthatsortbefore，butnow，ofcourse，Iputthemostunlimitedfaithinthem！"

"Willyoubelieveinplainproofs？"Iasked，adoptingherhumor。

"HowdoyouthinkIandmybrothershavebeenemployingourselvesalldayto—dayandalldayyesterday？Guesswhatwehavebeenabout。"

"Congratulatingyourselvesinsecretonmyapproachingdeparture，"sheanswered，tappingherchinsaucilywiththefeather—endofherpen。

Iseizedtheopportunityofastonishingher，andforthwithtoldherthetruth。Shestartedupfromthetable，andapproachedmewiththeeagernessofachild，hereyessparkling，andhercheeksflushed。

"Doyoureallymeanit？"shesaid。

IassuredherthatIwasinearnest。Shethereuponnotonlyexpressedaninterestinourundertaking，whichwasevidentlysincere，but，withcharacteristicimpatience，wantedtobeginthefirstevening’sreadingonthatverynight。Idisappointedhersadlybyexplainingthatwerequiredtimetoprepareourselves，andbyassuringherthatweshouldnotbereadyforthenextfivedays。Onthesixthday，Iadded，weshouldbeabletobegin，andtogoon，withoutmissinganevening，forprobablytendaysmore。

"Thenextfivedays？"shereplied。"Why，thatwilljustbringustotheendofmysixweeks’visit。Isupposeyouarenotsettingatraptocatchme？Thisisnotatrickofyouthreecunningoldgentlementomakemestayon，isit？"

Iquailedinwardlyasthatdangerouslycloseguessatthetruthpassedherlips。

"Youforget，"Isaid，"thattheideaonlyoccurredtomeafterwhatyousaidyesterday。Ifithadstruckmeearlier，weshouldhavebeenreadyearlier，andthenwherewouldyoursuspicionshavebeen？"

"Iamashamedofhavingfeltthem，"shesaid，inherfrank，heartyway。"Iretracttheword’trap，’andIbegpardonforcallingyou’threecunningoldgentlemen。’ButwhatamItosaytomyaunt？"

Shemovedbacktothewriting—tableasshespoke。

"Saynothing，"Ireplied，"tillyouhaveheardthefirststory。

Shutupthepaper—casetillthattime，andthendecidewhenyouwillopenitagaintowritetoyouraunt。"

Shehesitatedandsmiled。Thatterriblycloseguessofherswasnotoutofhermindyet。

"Iratherfancy，"shesaid，slyly，"thatthestorywillturnouttobethebestofthewholeseries。"

"Wrongagain，"Iretorted。"Ihaveaplanforlettingchancedecidewhichofthestoriesthefirstoneshallbe。Theyshallbeallnumberedastheyaredone；correspondingnumbersshallbewritteninsidefoldedpiecesofcardandwellmixedtogether；youshallpickoutanyonecardyoulike；youshalldeclarethenumberwrittenwithin；and，goodorbad，thestorythatanswerstothatnumbershallbethestorythatisread。Isthatfair？"

"Fair！"sheexclaimed；"it’sbetterthanfair；itmakes_me_ofsomeimportance；andImustbemoreorlessthanwomannottoappreciatethat。"

"Thenyouconsenttowaitpatientlyforthenextfivedays？"

"AspatientlyasIcan。"

"Andyouengagetodecidenothingaboutwritingtoyourauntuntilyouhaveheardthefirststory？"

"Ido，"shesaid，returningtothewriting—table。"Beholdtheproofofit。"Sheraisedherhandwiththeatricalsolemnity，andclosedthepaper—casewithanimpressivebang。

Ileanedbackinmychairwithmymindateaseforthefirsttimesincethereceiptofmyson’sletter。

"OnlyletGeorgereturnbythefirstofNovember，"Ithoughttomyself，"andalltheauntsinChristendomshallnotpreventJessieYelvertonfrombeingheretomeethim。"

THETENDAYS。

THEFIRSTDAY。

SHOWERYandunsettled。Inspiteoftheweather，JessieputonmyMackintoshcloakandrodeoffoverthehillstooneofOwen’soutlyingfarms。Shewasalreadytooimpatienttowaitquietlyfortheevening’sreadinginthehouse，ortoenjoyanyamusementlessexhilaratingthanagallopintheopenair。

Iwas，onmyside，asanxiousandasuneasyasourguest。Nowthatthesixweeksofherstayhadexpired——nowthatthedayhadreallyarrived，ontheeveningofwhichthefirststorywastoberead，Ibegantocalculatethechancesoffailureaswellasthechancesofsuccess。Whatifmyownestimateoftheinterestofthestoriesturnedouttobeafalseone？Whatifsomeunforeseenaccidentoccurredtodelaymyson’sreturnbeyondtendays？

Thearrivalofthenewspaperhadalreadybecomeaneventofthedeepestimportancetome。UnreasonableasitwastoexpectanytidingsofGeorgeatsoearlyadate，Ibegan，nevertheless，onthisfirstofourdaysofsuspense，tolookforthenameofhisshipinthecolumnsoftelegraphicnews。Themeremechanicalactoflookingwassomerelieftomyoverstrainedfeelings，althoughImighthaveknown，anddidknow，thatthesearch，forthepresent，couldleadtonosatisfactoryresult。

TowardnoonIshutmyselfupwithmycollectionofmanuscriptstorevisethemforthelasttime。Ourexertionshadthusfarproducedbutsixofthenecessarytenstories。Astheywereonly，however，toberead，onebyone，onsixsuccessiveevenings，andaswecouldthereforecountonplentyofleisureinthedaytime，Iwasinnofearofourfailingtofinishthelittleseries。

OfthesixcompletedstoriesIhadwrittentwo，andhadfoundathirdintheformofacollectionoflettersamongmypapers。

Morganhadonlywrittenone，andthissolitarycontributionofhishadgivenmemoretroublethanbothmyownputtogether，inconsequenceoftheperpetualintrusionofmybrother’seccentricitiesineverypartofhisnarrative。TheprocessofremovingthesequaintturnsandfrisksofMorgan’shumor——which，howeveramusingtheymighthavebeeninanessay，wereutterlyoutofplaceinastoryappealingtosuspendedinterestforitseffect——certainlytriedmypatienceandmycriticalfaculty（suchasitis）moreseverelythananyotherpartofourliteraryenterprisewhichhadfallenmyshare。

Owen’sinvestigationsamonghispapershadsupplieduswiththetworemainingnarratives。Onewascontainedinaletter，andtheotherintheformofadiary，andbothhadbeenreceivedbyhimdirectlyfromthewriters。Besidesthesecontributions，hehadundertakentohelpusbysomeworkofhisown，andhadbeenengagedforthelastfourdaysinmoldingcertaineventswhichhadhappenedwithinhispersonalknowledgeintotheformofastory。Hisextremefastidiousnessasawriterinterfered，however，soseriouslywithhisprogressthathewasstillsadlybehindhand，andwaslikely，thoughlessheavilyburdenedthanMorganormyself，tobethelasttocompletehisallottedtask。

Suchwasourposition，andsuchtheresourcesatourcommand，whenthefirstoftheTenDaysdawneduponus。ShortlyafterfourintheafternoonIcompletedmyworkofrevision，numberedthemanuscriptsfromonetosixexactlyastheyhappenedtolieundermyhand，andinclosedthemallinaportfolio，coveredwithpurplemorocco，whichbecameknownfromthattimebytheimposingtitleofThePurpleVolume。

MissJessiereturnedfromherexpeditionjustasIwastyingthestringsoftheportfolio，and，womanlike，instantlyaskedleavetopeepinside，whichfavorI，manlike，positivelydeclinedtogrant。

Assoonasdinnerwasoverourguestretiredtoarrayherselfinmagnificenteveningcostume。Ithadbeenarrangedthatthereadingsweretotakeplaceinherownsitting—room；andshewassoenthusiasticallydesiroustodohonortotheoccasion，thatsheregrettednothavingbroughtwithherfromLondonthedressinwhichshehadbeenpresentedatcourttheyearbefore，andnothavingborrowedcertainmaterialsforadditionalsplendorwhichshebrieflydescribedas"aunt’sdiamonds。"

Towardeighto’clockweassembledinthesitting—room，andastrangelyassortedcompanywewere。Attheheadofthetable，radiantinsilkandjewelry，flowersandfurbelows，satTheQueenofHearts，lookingsohandsomeandsohappythatIsecretlycongratulatedmyabsentsonontheexcellenttastehehadshowninfallinginlovewithher。Roundthisbrightyoungcreature（Owen，atthefootofthetable，andMorganandIoneitherside）

satherthreewrinkled，gray—headed，dingily—attiredhosts，andjustbehindher，instillmoreinappropriatecompanionship，toweredthespectralfigureofthemaninarmor，whichhadsounaccountablyattractedheronherarrival。Thisstrangescenewaslightedupbycandlesinhighandheavybrasssconces。BeforeJessiestoodamightychinapunch—bowloftheoldentime，containingthefoldedpiecesofcard，insidewhichwerewrittenthenumberstobedrawn，andbeforeOwenreposedthePurpleVolumefromwhichoneofuswastoread。Thewallsoftheroomwerehungallroundwithfadedtapestry；theclumsyfurniturewasblackwithage；and，inspiteofthelightfromthesconces，theloftyceilingwasalmostlostingloom。IfRembrandtcouldhavepaintedourbackground，Reynoldsourguest，andHogarthourselves，thepictureofthescenewouldhavebeencomplete。

Whentheoldclockoverthetowergatewayhadchimedeight，I

rosetoinauguratetheproceedingsbyrequestingJessietotakeoneofthepiecesofcardoutofthepunch—bowl，andtodeclarethenumber。

Shelaughed；thensuddenlybecamefrightenedandserious；thenlookedatme，andsaid，"Itwasdreadfullylikebusiness；"andthenentreatedMorgannottostareather，or，inthepresentstateofhernerves，sheshouldupsetthepunch—bowl。Atlastshesummonedresolutionenoughtotakeoutoneofthepiecesofcardandtounfoldit。

"Declarethenumber，mydear，"saidOwen。

"NumberFour，"answeredJessie，makingamagnificentcourtesy，andbeginningtolooklikeherselfagain。

OwenopenedthePurpleVolume，searchedthroughthemanuscripts，andsuddenlychangedcolor。Thecauseofhisdiscomposurewassoonexplained。Maliciousfatehadassignedtothemostdiffidentindividualinthecompanythetryingresponsibilityofleadingtheway。NumberFourwasoneofthetwonarrativeswhichOwenhadfoundamonghisownpapers。

"Iamalmostsorry，"beganmyeldestbrother，confusedly，"thatithasfallentomyturntoreadfirst。IhardlyknowwhichI

distrustmost，myselformystory。"

"Tryandfancyyouareinthepulpitagain，"saidMorgan，sarcastically。"Gentlemenofyourcloth，Owen，seldomseemtodistrustthemselvesortheirmanuscriptswhentheygetintothatposition。"

"Thefactis，"continuedOwen，mildlyimpenetrabletohisbrother’scynicalremark，"thatthelittlethingIamgoingtotryandreadishardlyastoryatall。Iamafraiditisonlyananecdote。Ibecamepossessedoftheletterwhichcontainsmynarrativeunderthesecircumstances。AtthetimewhenIwasaclergymaninLondon，mychurchwasattendedforsomemonthsbyaladywhowasthewifeofalargefarmerinthecountry。Shehadbeenobligedtocometotown，andtoremainthereforthesakeofoneofherchildren，alittleboy，whorequiredthebestmedicaladvice。"

Atthewords"medicaladvice"Morganshookhisheadandgrowledtohimselfcontemptuously。Owenwenton：

"Whileshewasattendinginthiswaytoonechild，hisshareinherlovewasunexpectedlydisputedbyanother，whocameintotheworldratherbeforehistime。Ibaptizedthebaby，andwasaskedtothelittlechristeningpartyafterward。Thiswasmyfirstintroductiontothelady，andIwasveryfavorablyimpressedbyher；notsomuchonaccountofherpersonalappearance，forshewasbutalittlewomanandhadnopretensionstobeauty，asonaccountofacertainsimplicity，andhearty，downrightkindnessinhermanner，aswellasofanexcellentfranknessandgoodsenseinherconversation。Oneoftheguestspresent，whosawhowshehadinterestedme，andwhospokeofherinthehighestterms，surprisedmebyinquiringifIshouldeverhavesupposedthatquiet，good—humoredlittlewomantobecapableofperforminganactofcouragewhichwouldhavetriedthenervesoftheboldestmaninEngland？Inaturallyenoughbeggedforanexplanation；butmyneighboratthetableonlysmiledandsaid，’Ifyoucanfindanopportunity，askherwhathappenedatTheBlackCottage，andyouwillhearsomethingthatwillastonishyou。’IactedonthehintassoonasIhadanopportunityofspeakingtoherprivately。Theladyansweredthatitwastoolongastorytotellthen，andexplained，onmysuggestingthatsheshouldrelateitonsomefutureday，thatshewasabouttostartforhercountryhomethenextmorning。’But，’shewasgoodenoughtoadd，’asI

havebeenundergreatobligationstoyouformanySundayspast，andasyouseeminterestedinthismatter，Iwillemploymyfirstleisuretimeaftermyreturnintellingyoubywriting，insteadofbywordofmouth，whatreallyhappenedtomeononememorablenightofmylifeinTheBlackCottage。’

"Shefaithfullyperformedherpromise。InafortnightafterwardI

receivedfromherthenarrativewhichIamnowabouttoread。"

BROTHEROWEN’SSTORY

OF

THESIEGEOFTHEBLACKCOTTAGE。

Tobeginatthebeginning，Imusttakeyoubacktothetimeaftermymother’sdeath，whenmyonlybrotherhadgonetosea，whenmysisterwasoutatservice，andwhenIlivedalonewithmyfatherinthemidstofamoorinthewestofEngland。

Themoorwascoveredwithgreatlimestonerocks，andintersectedhereandtherebystreamlets。Thenearesthabitationtoourswassituatedaboutamileandahalfoff，whereastripofthefertilelandstretchedoutintothewastelikeatongue。HeretheoutbuildingsofthegreatMoorFarm，theninthepossessionofmyhusband’sfather，began。Thefarm—landsstretcheddowngentlyintoabeautifulrichvalley，lyingnicelyshelteredbythehighplatformofthemoor。Whenthegroundbegantoriseagain，milesandmilesaway，itleduptoacountryhousecalledHolmeManor，belongingtoagentlemannamedKnifton。Mr。Kniftonhadlatelymarriedayoungladywhommymotherhadnursed，andwhosekindnessandfriendshipforme，herfoster—sister，Ishallremembergratefullytothelastdayofmylife。TheseandotherslightparticularsitisnecessarytomystorythatIshouldtellyou，anditisalsonecessarythatyoushouldbeespeciallycarefultobearthemwellinmind。

Myfatherwasbytradeastone—mason。Hiscottagestoodamileandahalffromthenearesthabitation。Inallotherdirectionswewerefourorfivetimesthatdistancefromneighbors。Beingverypoorpeople，thislonelysituationhadonegreatattractionforus——welivedrentfreeonit。Inadditiontothatadvantage，thestones，byshapingwhichmyfathergainedhislivelihood，layallabouthimathisverydoor，sothathethoughthisposition，solitaryasitwas，quiteanenviableone。IcanhardlysaythatIagreedwithhim，thoughInevercomplained。Iwasveryfondofmyfather，andmanagedtomakethebestofmylonelinesswiththethoughtofbeingusefultohim。Mrs。Kniftonwishedtotakemeintoherservicewhenshemarried，butIdeclined，unwillinglyenough，formyfather’ssake。IfIhadgoneaway，hewouldhavehadnobodytolivewithhim；andmymothermademepromiseonherdeath—bedthatheshouldneverbelefttopineawayaloneinthemidstofthebleakmoor。

Ourcottage，smallasitwas，wasstoutlyandsnuglybuilt，withstonefromthemoorasamatterofcourse。Thewallswerelinedinsideandfencedoutsidewithwood，thegiftofMr。Knifton’sfathertomyfather。Thisdoublecoveringofcracksandcrevices，whichwouldhavebeensuperfluousinashelteredposition，wasabsolutelynecessary，inourexposedsituation，tokeepoutthecoldwindswhich，exceptingjustthesummermonths，sweptoveruscontinuallyalltheyearround。Theoutsideboards，coveringourroughly—builtstonewalls，myfatherprotectedagainstthewetwithpitchandtar。Thisgavetoourlittleabodeacuriouslydark，dingylook，especiallywhenitwasseenfromadistance；

andsoithadcometobecalledintheneighborhood，evenbeforeIwasborn，TheBlackCottage。

Ihavenowrelatedthepreliminaryparticularswhichitisdesirablethatyoushouldknow，andmayproceedatoncetothepleasantertaskoftellingyoumystory。

Onecloudyautumnday，whenIwasrathermorethaneighteenyearsold，aherdsmanwalkedoverfromMoorFarmwithaletterwhichhadbeenleftthereformyfather。Itcamefromabuilderlivingatourcountytown，halfaday’sjourneyoff，anditinvitedmyfathertocometohimandgivehisjudgmentaboutanestimateforsomestoneworkonaverylargescale。Myfather’sexpensesforlossoftimeweretobepaid，andhewastohavehisshareofemploymentafterwardsinpreparingthestone。Hewasonlytooglad，therefore，toobeythedirectionswhichthelettercontained，andtoprepareatonceforhislongwalktothecountytown。

Consideringthetimeatwhichhereceivedtheletter，andthenecessityofrestingbeforeheattemptedtoreturn，itwasimpossibleforhimtoavoidbeingawayfromhomeforonenight，atleast。Heproposedtome，incaseIdislikedbeingleftaloneintheBlackCottage，tolockthedoorandtotakemetoMoorFarmtosleepwithanyoneofthemilkmaidswhowouldgivemeashareofherbed。IbynomeanslikedthenotionofsleepingwithagirlwhomIdidnotknow，andIsawnoreasontofeelafraidofbeingleftaloneforonlyonenight；soIdeclined。Nothieveshadevercomenearus；ourpovertywassufficientprotectionagainstthem；andofotherdangerstherewerenonethateventhemosttimidpersoncouldapprehend。Accordingly，Igotmyfather’sdinner，laughingatthenotionofmytakingrefugeundertheprotectionofamilkmaidatMoorFarm。Hestartedforhiswalkassoonashehaddone，sayingheshouldtryandbebackbydinner—timethenextday，andleavingmeandmycatPollytotakecareofthehouse。

Ihadclearedthetableandbrightenedupthefire，andhadsatdowntomyworkwiththecatdozingatmyfeet，whenIheardthetramplingofhorses，and，runningtothedoor，sawMr。andMrs。