Meantimeherhusband，lounginglazilyalongthehighroad，hadprecipitatedthecatastrophehewishedtoavoid。Forhisslouchingfigure，silhouettedagainstthehorizononthatmonotonouslevel，hadbeentheonlyonedetectedbythedeputysheriffandtheconstable，hiscompanion，andtheyhadchargeddownwithinfiftyyardsofhimbeforetheydiscoveredtheirmistake。TheywerenotslowinmakingthisanexcuseforabandoningtheirquestasfarasLowville：infact，afterquittingthedistractionofMrs。Beasley’spresencetheyhad，withoutintheleastsuspectingtheactualtruth，becomedoubtfulifthefugitivehadproceededsofar。Hemightatthatmomentbesnuglyensconcedbehindsomelowwire—grassridge，watchingtheirownclearlydefinedfigures，andwaitingonlyforthenighttoevadethem。TheBeasleyhouseseemedaproperplaceofoperationinbeatingupthefield。Ira’scoldreceptionofthesuggestionwasdulydisposedofbythedeputy。\"IhavetheRIGHT，yeknow，\"hesaid，withagrimpleasantry，\"tosummonyeasmypossetoaidandassistmeincarryingoutthelaw；butIain’tthemantoberoughonmyfriends，andIreckonitwilldojestaswellifI’requisition’yourhouse。\"ThedreadfulrecollectionthatthedeputyhadthepowertodetailhimandtheconstabletoscourtheplainwhileheremainedbehindincompanywithSuestoppedIra’sfurtherobjections。Yet，ifhecouldonlygetridofherwhilethedeputywasinthehouse，——butthenhisnearestneighborwasfivemilesaway！Therewasnothingleftforhimtodobuttoreturnwiththemenandwatchhiswifekeenly。Strangetosay，therewasacertainstimulusinthiswhichstirredhismonotonouspulsesandwasnotwithoutavaguepleasure。Thereisarevelationtosomenaturesinnewlyawakenedjealousythatisareincarnationoflove。
Astheycameintothehouseaslightcircumstance，whichanhouragowouldhavescarcelytouchedhissluggishsensibilities，nowappearedtocorroboratehisfear。Hiswifehadchangedhercuffsandcollar，takenoffherroughapron，andevidentlyredressedherhair。This，withtheenhancedbrightnessofhereyes，whichhehadbeforenoticed，convincedhimthatitwasduetothevisitofthedeputy。Therewasnodoubtthattheofficialwasequallyattractedandfascinatedbyherprettiness，andalthoughheracceptanceofhisreturnwascertainlynotacordialone，therewasakindofdemurerestraintandover—consciousnessinhermannerthatmightbecoquetry。Irahadvaguelyobservedthisqualityinotheryoungwomen，buthadneverexperienceditinhisbriefcourtship。Therehadbeennorivalry，nosexualdiplomacynorinsincerityinhiscaptureofthemotherlessgirlwhohadleapedfromthetail—boardofherfather’swagonalmostintohisarms，andnomanhadsincecomebetweenthem。TheideathatSueshouldcareforanyotherthanhimselfhadbeensimplyinconceivabletohisplacid，matter—
of—factnature。Thattheirsacramentwasfinalhehadneverdoubted。Ifhistwocows，boughtwithhisownmoneyorrearedbyhim，shouldsuddenlyhavedevelopedaninclinationtogivemilktoaneighbor，hewouldnothavebeenmoreastonished。ButTHEYcouldhavebeenbroughtbackwitharope，andwithoutaheartthrob。
Passionofthiskind，whichinalesssinceresocietyrestrictsitsexpressiontoinnuendoorforcedpoliteness，lefttherusticIraonlydumbandlethargic。Hemovedslowlyandabstractedlyaroundtheroom，accentinghisslightlamenessmorethanever，ordroppedhelplesslyintoachair，wherehesat，inanelyconsciousofthecontiguityofhiswifeandthedeputy，andstupidlyexpectantof——
heknewnotwhat。Theatmosphereofthelittlehouseseemedtohimchargedwithsomeunwholesomeelectricity。Itkindledhiswife’seyes，stimulatingthedeputyandhisfollowertocoarseplayfulness，enthralledhisownlimbstotheconvulsivetighteningofhisfingersaroundtherungsofhischair。Yethemanagedtoclingtohisideaofkeepinghiswifeoccupied，andofpreventinganyeyeshotbetweenherandherguests，ortheindulgenceofdangerouslyflippantconversation，byorderinghertobringsomerefreshment。\"What’sgoneo’thewhiskeybottle？\"hesaid，afterfumblinginthecupboard。