fast。\"Withsuchdifferencesofopinionasoccasionallyarosebetweenthevicarandhischurchwardenshewasimmediatelyfamiliar。ThehistoryofthefeveramongthehoppickersatDunstanvillagehehadbeenabletorelateindetailfromthemomentofitsoutbreak。ItwashewhohadfirstdramaticallyrevealedthetruthoftheactionMissVanderpoelhadtakeninthematter，whichrevelationhadarousedsuchenthusiasmashadfilledTheClockInntooverflowingandgivenanimpetustothesaleofbeer。Tread，itwassaid，hadevenmadeaspeechwhichhehadendedwithvaguebutexcellentintentionsbyproposingthejointhealthsofherladyship’ssisterandthe\"PresidentofAmerica。\"Mr。TewsonwasalwaysgladtoseeMissVanderpoelcrosshisthreshold。ThiswasnotalonebecausesherepresentedthecustomoftheCourt，whichsinceherarrivalhadmeantlargeregularordersandlargebillspromptlypaid，butthatshebroughtwithheranexoticatmosphereofinterestandexcitement。
Hehadmentionedtofriendsthatsomehowatalkwithhermadehimfeel\"setupfortheday。\"Bettywasnotatallsurethathedidnotprepareandhoardupchoiceremarksorbitsofinformationasopeningstoconversation。
Thismorninghehadthrillingnewsforherandbeganwithitatonce。
\"Dr。FenwickatStornhamisverylow，miss，\"hesaid。
\"He’sverylow，you’llbesorrytohear。Theworryaboutthefeverupsethimterribleandhisbronchitistookhimbad。
He’sanoldman，youknow。\"
MissVanderpoelwasverysorrytohearit。ItwasquiteinthenaturalorderofthingsthatsheshouldaskotherquestionsaboutDunstanvillageandtheMount，andsheaskedseveral。
Thefeverwasdyingoutandpaleconvalescentsweresometimesseeninthevillageorstrollingaboutthepark。Hislordshipwastakingcareofthepeopleanddoinghisbestforthemuntiltheyshouldbestrongenoughtoreturntotheirhomes。
\"Buthe’sverystrictaboutmakingitplainthatit’syou，miss，theyhavetothankforwhathedoes。\"
\"Thatisnotquitejust，\"saidMissVanderpoel。\"HeandMr。Penzancefoughtonthefield。Ionlysuppliedsomeoftheammunition。\"
\"Thecountydoesn’tthinkofhimasitdidevenayearago，miss，\"saidTewsonrathersmugly。\"Hewasveryillthoughtofthenamongthegentry。It’swonderfulthechangethat’scomeabout。Ifheshouldfallillthere’llbeadealofsympathy。\"
\"Ihopethereisnoquestionofhisfallingill，\"saidMissVanderpoel。
Mr。Tewsonloweredhisvoiceconfidentially。Thiswasreallyhismostvaluableitemofnews。
\"Well，miss，\"headmitted，\"Ihaveheardthathe’sbeenlookingverybadforagoodbit，anditwastoldmequiteprivate，becausethedoctorsandthevicardon’twantthepeopletobeupsetbyhearingit——thatforaweekhe’snotbeenwellenoughtomakehisrounds。\"
\"Oh！\"Theexclamationwasafaintone，butitwasanexclamation。\"Ihopethatmeansnothingreallyserious，\"
MissVanderpoeladded。\"Everyonewillhopeso。\"
\"Yes，miss，\"saidMr。Tewson，deftlytwistingthestringroundthepackagehewastyingupforher。\"Asadrewarditwouldbeifhelosthislifeafterdoingallhehasdone。A
sadreward！Butthere’dbeagooddealofsympathy。\"
ThesmallpackagecontainedtriflesofsewingandknittingmaterialsshewasgoingtotaketoMrs。Welden，andsheheldoutherhandforit。Sheknewshedidnotsmilequitenaturallyasshesaidhergood—morningtoTewson。Shewentoutintothepaleambersunshineandstoodafewmoments，gladtofindherselfbathedinitagain。Shesuddenlyneededairandlight。\"Asadreward！\"Sometimespeoplewerenotrewarded。Bravemenwereshotdeadonthebattlefieldwhentheyweredoingbravethings；bravephysiciansandnursesdiedoftheplaguestheyfaithfullywrestledwith。Hereweredreadandpainconfrontingher——BettyVanderpoel——andwhilealmosteveryoneelseseemedtohavefacedthem，shewaswhollyunusedtotheirappallingclutch。Whatalifehershadbeen——
thatinlookingbackoveritsheshouldrealisethatshehadneverbeentouchedbyanythinglikethisbefore！TherecamebacktoherthelookofalmostawedwonderinG。Selden’shonesteyeswhenhesaid：\"Whatitmustbetobeyou——justYOU！\"Hehadbeenthinkingonlyofthemillionsandofthefreedomfromalleverydayanxietiesthemillionsgave。Shesmiledfaintlyasthethoughtcrossedherbrain。Themillions！
Therollingupofthemyearbyyear，becausemillionswerebreeders！Thenewspaperstoriesofthem——thewonderatandbeliefintheirpower！Itwasallgoingonjustasbefore，andyetherestoodaVanderpoelinanEnglishvillagestreet，ofnomoreworthasfaraspowertoaidherselfwentthanJoeButtle’sgirlwiththethickwaistandroundredcheeks。JennyButtlewouldhavebelievedthatherladyship’srichAmericansistercoulddoanythingshechose，openanydoor，commandanypresence，sweepasideanyobstaclewithawaveofherhand。
Butofthetwo，JennyButtle’spathwouldhavelaidstraighterbeforeher。Ifshehadhad\"ayoungman\"whohadfallenillshewouldhavebeenfreeifhismotherhadcherishednoobjectiontotheir\"walkingout\"——tospendallhersparehoursinhiscottage，makinggruelandpoultices，cryinguntilhernoseandeyeswerered，andpouringforthherhopesandfearstoanyneighbourwhocameinoroutorhungoverthedividinggardenhedge。Ifthepatientdied，thedeeperhermourningandthelouderhersobsathisfuneralthemorerespectableanddeservingofsympathyandadmirationwouldJennyButtlehavebeencounted。Herladyship’srichAmericansisterhadno\"youngman\"；shehadnotatanytimebeenaskedto\"walkout。\"Eveninthedarkdaysofthefever，eachofwhichhadcarriedthoughtandactionofherstothesceneoftrouble，therehadreignedunbrokensilence，exceptforthevicar’snotesofwarmandappreciativegratitude。
\"Youareveryobstinate，Fergus，\"Mr。Penzancehadsaid。
AndMountDunstanhadshakenhisheadfiercelyandanswered：
\"Don’tspeaktomeaboutit。Onlyobstinacywillsavemefrombehavinglike——otherblackguards。\"
Mr。Penzance，carefullypolishinghiseyeglassesashewatchedhim，wasnotsparinginhiscomment。
\"Thatispurefolly，\"hesaid，\"purebull—necked，stubbornfolly，chargingwithitsheaddown。Beforeithasdonewithyouitwillhavemadeyousufferquiteenough。\"
\"Besureofthat，\"MountDunstanhadsaid，settinghisteeth，ashesatinhischairclaspinghishandsbehindhisheadandgloweringintospace。
Mr。Penzancequietly，speculatively，lookedhimover，andreflectedaloud——or，soitsounded。
\"Itisabig—bonedandbig—muscledcharacteristic，buttherearethingswhicharestronger。Someoneminutewillarrive——
justoneminute——whichwillbestronger。Oneofthosemomentswhenthemysteriesoftheuniverseareatwork。\"
\"Don’tspeaktomelikethat，Itellyou！\"MountDunstanbrokeoutpassionately。Andhesprangupandmarchedoutoftheroomlikeanangryman。
MissVanderpoeldidnotgotoMrs。Welden’scottageatonce，butwalkedpastitsdoordownthelane，wheretherewerenomorecottages，butonlyhedgesandfieldsoneithersideofher。\"Notwellenoughtomakehisrounds\"mightmeanmuchorlittle。Itmightmeanatemporarybreakdownfromoverfatigueorasickeningfordeadlyillness。Shelookedatagroupofcroppingsheepinafieldandataflockofrookswhichhadjustalightednearitwithcawingandflappingofwings。Shekepthereyesonthemmerelytosteadyherself。
Thethoughtsshehadbroughtoutwithherhadgrownheavierandwerehorriblydifficulttocontrol。Onemustnotallowone’sselftobelievetheworstwillcome——onemustnotallowit。
Shealwaysheldthisrulebeforeherself，andnowshewasnotholdingitsteadily。Therewasnothingtodo。ShecouldwriteamerenoteofinquirytoMr。Penzance，butthatwasall。Shecouldonlywalkupanddownthelanesandthink——whetherhelaydyingornot。Shecoulddonothing，evenifadaycamewhensheknewthatapithadbeendugintheclayandhehadbeenloweredintoitwithcreakingropes，andtheclodsshovelledbackuponhimwherehelaystill——neverhavingtoldherthathewasgladthatherbeinghadturnedtohimandherheartcriedaloudhisname。Sherecalledwithcuriousdistinctnesstheeffectofthesteadytollofthechurchbell——the\"passingbell。\"
Shecouldhearitasshehadhearditthefirsttimeitfelluponherear，andshehadinquiredwhatitmeant。Whydidtheycallitthe\"passingbell\"？Allhadpassedbeforeitbegantotoll——allhadpassed。IfittolledatDunstanandthepitwasduginthechurchyardbeforeherfathercame，wouldhesee，themomenttheymet，thatsomethinghadbefallenher——thattheBettyhehadknownwaschanged——gone？Yes，hewouldsee。Affectionsuchashisalwayssaw。Thenhewouldsitalonewithherinsomequietroomandtalktoher，andshewouldtellhimthestrangethingthathadhappened。Hewouldunderstand——perhapsbetterthanshe。
Shestoppedabruptlyinherwalkandstoodstill。Thehandholdingherpackagewasquitecold。Thiswaswhatonemustnotallowone’sself。Buthowthethoughtshadracedthroughherbrain！SheturnedandhastenedherstepstowardsMrs。
Welden’scottage。
InMrs。Welden’stinybackyardtherestooda\"coallodge\"suitedtothesizeofthedomicileandalreadystackedwithafullwinter’ssupplyofcoal。Thereforethewell—polishedandcleanlylittlegrateintheliving—roomwasbrightwithfire。
OldDoby，whohadtotteredroundthecornertopayhisfellowgossipavisit，wassittingbyit，andoldMrs。Welden，cleanastocapandapronandsmallpurpleshouldershawl，hadevidentlybeenallayinghisnaturalanxietyastotheconductofforeignsovereignsbyreadinginaloudvoicethe\"print\"
underthepicturesinanillustratedpaper。
Thisoccupationhad，however，beeninterruptedafewmomentsbeforeMissVanderpoel’sarrival。Mrs。Bester，theneighbourinthenextcottage，hadsteppedinwithheryoungestonherhipandwastalkingbreathlessly。ShepausedtodrophercurtsyasBettyentered，andoldDobystoodupandmadehissalutewithatremblinghand\"She’llknow，\"hesaid。\"Gentryknowstheinsan’outsofgentryfust。She’llknowtherights。\"
\"Whathashappened？\"
Mrs。Besterunexpectedlyburstintotears。Therewasanelementinthefemalevillagers’temperamentwhichBettyhadfoundwasfrequentlyunexpectedinitsbreakingforth。
\"He’sdown，miss，\"shesaid。\"He’sdownwithitcroolbad。There’llbenosavin’ofhim——none。\"
Bettylaidherpackageofsewingcottonandknittingwoolquietlyontheblueandwhitecheckedtablecloth。
\"Who——ishe？\"sheasked。
\"Hislordship——andhimjustsavedallDunstanparishfromdeath——togolikethis！\"
InStornhamvillageandinallothersoftheneighbourhoodthefeminineattitudetowardsMountDunstanhadbeenoneofstronglyemotionaladmiration。Thethwartedfemalelongingforromance——thedesirefordramaandaherohadbeenfedbyhim。Afine，bigyoungman，onethathadbeen\"spokeillof\"andregardedasanoutcast，hadsuddenlyturnedthetablesonfortuneandmadehimselfthecentralfigureofthecounty，thetalkofgentryintheirgrandhouses，ofcottagewomenontheirdoorsteps，andlabourersstoppingtospeaktoeachotherbytheroadside。Magicstorieshadbeentoldofhim，befloweredwithdramaticdetail。Noincidentcouldhavebeenrelatedtohiscreditwhichwouldnothavebeenbelievedandimprovedupon。Shutupinhisvillageworkingamonghispeopleandunseenbyoutsiders，hehadbecomeapopularidol。
Anyscrapofnewsofhim——anyrumour，trueoruntrue，wasseizeduponandexcitedlyspreadabroad。ThereforeMrs。Besterweptasshetalked，and，ifthetruthmustbetold，enjoyedthesituation。Shewasthefirsttotellthestorytoherladyship’ssisterherself，aswellastoMrs。WeldenandoldDoby。
\"It’sTomasbroughtitin，\"shesaid。\"He’smybrother，miss，an’he’soneoftheringers。HehearditfromJemWesgate，an’hehearditatToomy’sfarm。They’vebeenkeepin’ithidattheMountbecausethepeoplethat’sillhangsonhislordshipsothatthedoctorsdaren’tletthemknowthetruth。They’vebeentoldhehadtogotoLondonan’maycomebackanyday。WhatTomwassayin’，miss，wasthatwe’dallknowwhenitwasover，forwe’dhearthechurchbelltollheresameasit’dtollatDunstan，becausetheyringershavetalkeditoveran’they’regoin’totalkitoverto—daywiththeotherparishes——Yangfordan’Melthaman’Dunholman’them。
TomsaysStornhamringersmetjustnowatTheClockan’saidthatforamanthat’sstoodbylabouringfolklikehehas，tolltheywill，an’sooughttheotherparishes，sameasifhewasroyalty，forhe’smadehimselfnearer。They’lltolltheminutetheyhearit，miss。Lordhelpus！\"withafreshoutburstofcrying。\"Itdon’tseemlikeit’sfairasitshouldbe。Whenwehearthebelltoll，miss————\"
\"Don’t！\"saidherladyship’shandsomesistersuddenly。
\"Pleasedon’tsayitagain。\"
Shesatdownbythetable，andrestingherelbowsontheblueandwhitecheckedcloth，coveredherfacewithherhands。
Shedidnotspeakatall。Inthistinyroom，withthesetwooldsoulswholovedher，sheneednotexplain。Shesatquitestill，andMrs。Weldenafterlookingatherforafewsecondswaspromptedbysomesublimelysimpleintuition，andgentlysidledMrs。Besterandheryoungestintothelittlekitchen，wherethecopperwas。
\"Herhelpin’himlikeshedid，makesitcomenear，\"shewhispered。\"Dessayitseemsasifhewasa’mostlikearelation。\"
OldDobysatandlookedathisgoddess。Inhisslowlymovingoldbrainstirredfar—offmemorieslikelong—deadthingsstrivingtocometolife。Hedidnotknowwhattheywere，buttheywakenedhisdimeyestoanewseeingoftheslimyoungshapeleaningalittleforward，thesoftcloudofhair，thefairbeautyofthecheek。Hehadnotseenanythinglikeitinhisyouth，but——itwasYouthitself，andsowasthatwhichtheringersweresosoontotollfor；andforsomeremoteandunformedreason，tohisscoresofyearstheywerepitifulandshouldbecheered。Hebentforwardhimselfandputouthisancient，veinedandknotted，gnarledandtremblinghand，totimorouslytouchthearmofherheworshippedandadored。
\"Godblessye！\"hesaid，hishigh，crackedvoiceevenmoreshrillandthinthanusual。\"Godblessye！\"Andassheletherhandsslipdown，and，turning，gentlylookedathim，henoddedtoherspeakingly，becauseoutofthedimnessofhisbeing，somepartofNature’sworkinghadstrangelyansweredandunderstood。
CHAPTERXLVI
LISTENING
OnherwaybacktotheCourthereyessawonlythewhiteroadbeforeherfeetasshewalked。Shedidnotliftthemuntilshefoundherselfpassingthelych—gateattheentrancetothechurchyard。Thensuddenlyshelookedupatthesquaregreystonetowerwherethebellshung，andfromwhichtheycalledthevillagetochurch，orchimedforweddings——orgaveslowlyforthtothesilentaironeheavy，regularstrokeafteranother。Shelookedandshuddered，andspokealoudwithacurious，passionateimploring，likeachild’s。
\"Oh，don’ttoll！Don’ttoll！Youmustnot！Youcannot！\"Terrorhadsprunguponher，andherheartwasbeingtornintwoinherbreast。Thatwassurelywhatitseemedlike——thisagonisingacheoffear。Nowfromhourtohourshewouldbewaitingandlisteningtoeachsoundborneontheair。Herthoughtwouldbeapossessionshecouldnotescape。
Whenshespokeorwasspokento，shewouldbelistening——
whenshewassilenteveryechowouldholdterror，whensheslept——ifsleepshouldcometoher——herhearingwouldbeawake，andshewouldbelistening——listeningeventhen。ItwasnotBettyVanderpoelwhowaswalkingalongthewhiteroad，butanothercreature——agirlwhosebrainwasfullofabnormalthought，andwhosewholebeingmadepassionateoutcryagainstthethingwhichwasbeingslowlyforceduponher。Ifthebelltolled——suddenly，thewholeworldwouldbesweptcleanoflife——emptyandclean。Ifthebelltolled。
BeforetheentranceoftheCourtshesaw，assheapproachedit，thevicarageponycarriage，standingasithadstoodonthedayshehadreturnedfromherwalkonthemarshes。Shefeltitquitenaturalthatitshouldbethere。Mrs。Brentalwaysseizeduponanyfragmentofnews，andhavingseizedonsomethingnow，shehadnotbeenabletoresisttheexcitementofbringingittoLadyAnstruthersandhersister。
Shewasinthedrawing—roomwithRosalie，andwasfullofhersubjectandtheemotionsuitabletotheoccasion。Shehadevenattainedacertainmodifieddampnessofhandkerchief。
Rosalie’shandkerchief，however，wasnotdamp。Shehadnotevenattemptedtouseit，butsatstill，hereyesbrimmingwithtears，which，whenshesawBetty，brimmedoverandslippedhelplesslydownhercheeks。
\"Betty！\"sheexclaimed，andgotupandwenttowardsher，\"Ibelieveyouhaveheard。\"
\"Inthevillage，Iheardsomething——yes，\"Bettyanswered，andaftergivinggreetingtoMrs。Brent，sheledhersisterbacktoherchair，andsatnearher。
This——thethoughtleapeduponher——wasthekindofsituationshemustbepreparedtobeequalto。Inthepresenceofthesewhoknewnothing，shemustbearherselfasiftherewasnothingtobeknown。Noonebutherselfhadtheslightestknowledgeofwhatthepastmonthshadbroughttoher——nooneintheworld。Ifthebelltolled，nooneintheworldbutherfathereverwouldknow。Shehadnoexcuseforemotion。
Nonehadbeengiventoher。Thekindofthingitwasproperthatsheshouldsayanddonow，inthepresenceofMrs。Brent，itwouldbeproperanddecentthatsheshouldsayanddoinallothercases。ShemustcomportherselfasBettyVanderpoelwouldifsheweremovedonlybyordinaryhumansympathyandregret。
\"Wemustrememberthatwehaveonlyexcitedrumourtodependupon，\"shesaid。\"LordMountDunstanhaskepthisvillageunderalmostmilitarylaw。Hehasputitintoquarantine。Nooneisallowedtoleaveit，sotherecanbenodirectsourceofinformation。Onecannotbesureoftheentiretruthofwhatonehears。Oftenitisexaggeratedcottagetalk。
Thewholeneighbourhoodiswroughtuptoafeverheatofexcitedsympathy。Andvillagerslikethedramaofthings。\"
Mrs。Brentlookedatheradmiringly，itbeingherfixedhabittoadmireMissVanderpoel，andallsuchasProvidencehadsetaboveher。
\"Oh，howwiseyouare，MissVanderpoel！\"sheexclaimed，evendevoutly。\"Itissoniceofyoutobecalmandlogicalwheneverybodyelseissoupset。Youarequiterightaboutvillagersenjoyingthedramaticsideoftroubles。Theyalwaysdo。Andperhapsthingsarenotsobadastheysay。Ioughtnottohaveletmyselfbelievetheworst。ButIquitebrokedownundertheringers——Iwassotouched。\"
\"Theringers？\"falteredLadyAnstruthers\"Theleadercametothevicartotellhimtheywantedpermissiontotoll——iftheyheardtollingatDunstan。Weaver’sfamilyliveswithinhearingofDunstanchurchbells，andoneofhisboysistorunacrossthefieldsandbringthenewstoStornham。Anditwasmosttouching，MissVanderpoel。
Theyfeel，intheirrusticway，thatLordMountDunstanhasnotbeentreatedfairlyinthepast。Andnowheseemstothemaheroandamartyr——orlikeagreatsoldierwhohasdiedfighting。\"
\"WhoMAYdiefighting，\"brokefromMissVanderpoelsharply。
\"Who——whomay————\"Mrs。Brentcorrectedherself，\"thoughHeavengranthewillnot。Butitwastheringerswhomademefeelasifallreallywasover。Thankyou，MissVanderpoel，thankyouforbeingsopracticaland——andcool。\"
\"ItWAStouching，\"saidLadyAnstruthers，hereyesbrimmingoveragain。\"Andwhatthevillagersfeelistrue。Itgoestoone’sheart，\"inalittleoutburst。\"Peoplehavebeenunkindtohim！Andhehasbeenlonelyinthatgreatemptyplace——hehasbeenlonely。Andifheisdyingto—day，heislonelyevenashedies——evenashedies。\"
Bettydrewadeepbreath。Foronemomentthereseemedtorisebeforehervisionofahugeroom，whosestatelysizemadeitsbarenessamoredesolatething。AndMr。Penzancebentlowoverthebed。Shetoreherthoughtawayfromit。
\"No！No！\"shecriedoutinlow，passionateprotest。\"Therewillbeloveandyearningallabouthimeverywhere。Thevillagerswhoarewaiting——thepoorthingshehasworkedfor——theveryringersthemselves，areallpouringforththesamethoughts。Hewillfeelevenours——ourstoo！Hissoulcannotbelonely。\"
Afewminutesearlier，Mrs。Brenthadbeensayingtoherselfinwardly：\"Shehasnotmuchheartafterall，youknow。\"
Nowshelookedatherinamazement。
Thebluebellswereunderwaterintruth——drenchedanddrowned。Andyetasthegirlstoodupbeforeher，shelookedtaller——morethemagnificentMissVanderpoelthanever——
thoughsheexpressedanewmeaning。
\"Thereisonethingthevillagerscandoforhim，\"shesaid。
\"Onethingwecanalldo。Thebellhasnottolledyet。Thereisaserviceforthosewhoare——inperil。Ifthevicarwillcallthepeopletothechurch，wecanallkneeldownthere——
andasktobeheard。ThevicarwilldothatIamsure——andthepeoplewilljoinhimwithalltheirhearts。\"
Mrs。Brentwasoverwhelmed。
\"Dear，dear，MissVanderpoel！\"sheexclaimed。\"THATistouching，indeeditis！Andsorightandsoproper。Iwilldrivebacktothevillageatonce。Thevicar’sdistressisasgreatasmine。Youthinkofeverything。Theserviceforthesickanddying。Howright——howright！\"
Withasenseofanincreaseofvalueinherself，thevicar，andthevicarage，shehastenedbacktotheponycarriage，butinthehallsheseizedBetty’shandemotionally。
\"IcannottellyouhowmuchIamtouchedbythis，\"shemurmured。
\"Ididnotknowyouwere——wereareligiousgirl，mydear。\"
Bettyansweredwithgravepoliteness。
\"Intimesofgreatpainandterror，\"shesaid，\"Ithinkalmosteverybodyisreligious——alittle。Ifthatistherightword。\"
Therewasnoringingoftheordinarycalltoservice。Inlessthananhour’stimepeoplebegantocomeoutoftheircottagesandwendtheirwaytowardsthechurch。NoonehadputonhisorherSundayclothes。Thewomenhadhastilyrolleddowntheirsleeves，thrownofftheiraprons，anddonnedeverydaybonnetsandshawls。Themenwereintheircorduroys，astheyhadcomeinfromthefields，andthechildrenworetheirpinafores。Asifbymagic，thenewshadflownfromhousetohouse，andeachonewhohadheardithadlefthisorherworkwithoutamoment’shesitation。Theysaidbutlittleastheymadetheirwaytothechurch。Betty，walkingwithhersister，wasstruckbythefactthatthereweremoreofthemthanformedtheusualSundaymorningcongregation。
Theyweredoingnoperfunctoryduty。Themen’sfaceswereheavilymoved，mostofthewomenwipedtheireyesatintervals，andthechildrenlookedawed。Therewasasuggestionofhurriedmovementinthestepofeach——asifnotimemustbelost——asiftheymustbegintheirappealatonce。BettysawoldDobytotteringalongstiffly，withhisgranddaughterandMrs。Weldenoneithersideofhim。Marlow，onhistwosticks，wastobeseenmovingslowly，butsteadily。
Withintheancientstonewalls，stiffoldkneesbentthemselveswithcare，andfaceswerecovereddevoutlybywork—
hardenedhands。AsshepassedthroughthechurchyardBettyknewthateyesfollowedheraffectionately，andthatthetouchingofforeheadsanddroppingofcurtsiesexpressedaspecialsympathy。Ineachmindshewasconnectedwiththemantheycametoprayfor——withtheworkhehaddone——withthedangerhewasin。Itwasvaguelyfeltthatifhislifeended，abereavementwouldhavefallenuponher。Thisthegirlknew。
Thevicarliftedhisbowedheadandbeganhisservice。
Everyman，womanandchildbeforehimrespondedaloudandwithacuriousfervour——notindecorousfearofseemingtothrustthemselvesbeforethethrone，makingtoomuchoftheirpetitions，inthepresenceofthegentry。Hereandtheresobsweretobeheard。LadyAnstruthersfollowedtheservicetimorouslyandwithtears。ButBetty，kneelingatherside，bytheroundtableinthecentreofthegreatsquareStornhampew，whichwaslikearoom，bowedherheaduponherfoldedarms，andprayedherownintense，insistentprayer。