Thenewkeeperhadnodoubtputinfreshpebbles。Sheheardthefainttinkleofwater，asthetinyoverflowtrickledoveranddownhill。Evenabovethehissingboomofthelarchwood，thatspreaditsbristling，leafless，wolfishdarknessonthedown-slope，sheheardthetinkleasoftinywater-bells。
Thisplacewasalittlesinister，cold，damp。Yetthewellmusthavebeenadrinking-placeforhundredsofyears。Nownomore。Itstinyclearedspacewaslushandcoldanddismal。
Sheroseandwentslowlytowardshome。Asshewentsheheardafainttappingawayontheright，andstoodstilltolisten。Wasithammering，orawoodpecker？Itwassurelyhammering。
Shewalkedon，listening。Andthenshenoticedanarrowtrackbetweenyoungfir-trees，atrackthatseemedtoleadnowhere。Butshefeltithadbeenused。Sheturneddownitadventurously，betweenthethickyoungfirs，whichgavewaysoontotheoldoakwood。Shefollowedthetrack，andthehammeringgrewnearer，inthesilenceofthewindywood，fortreesmakeasilenceevenintheirnoiseofwind。
Shesawasecretlittleclearing，andasecretlittlehotmadeofrusticpoles。Andshehadneverbeenherebefore!Sherealizeditwasthequietplacewherethegrowingpheasantswerereared；thekeeperinhisshirt-sleeveswaskneeling，hammering。Thedogtrottedforwardwithashort，sharpbark，andthekeeperliftedhisfacesuddenlyandsawher。Hehadastartledlookinhiseyes。
Hestraightenedhimselfandsaluted，watchingherinsilence，asshecameforwardwithweakeninglimbs。Heresentedtheintrusion；hecherishedhissolitudeashisonlyandlastfreedominlife。
`Iwonderedwhatthehammeringwas，’shesaid，feelingweakandbreathless，andalittleafraidofhim，ashelookedsostraightather。
`Ah’mgettin’th’coopsreadyforth’youngbods，’hesaid，inbroadvernacular。
Shedidnotknowwhattosay，andshefeltweak。`Ishouldliketositdownabit，’shesaid。
`Comeandsit’erei’th’’ut，’hesaid，goinginfrontofhertothehut，pushingasidesometimberandstuff，anddrawingoutarusticchair，madeofhazelsticks。
`AmAht’lightyeralittlefire？’heasked，withthecuriousnaï；veté；
ofthedialect。
`Oh，don’tbother，’shereplied。
Buthelookedatherhands；theywereratherblue。Sohequicklytooksomelarchtwigstothelittlebrickfire-placeinthecorner，andinamomenttheyellowflamewasrunningupthechimney。Hemadeaplacebythebrickhearth。
`Sit’erethenabit，andwarmyer，’hesaid。
Sheobeyedhim。Hehadthatcuriouskindofprotectiveauthoritysheobeyedatonce。Soshesatandwarmedherhandsattheblaze，anddroppedlogsonthefire，whilstoutsidehewashammeringagain。Shedidnotreallywanttosit，pokedinacornerbythefire；shewouldratherhavewatchedfromthedoor，butshewasbeinglookedafter，soshehadtosubmit。
Thehutwasquitecosy，panelledwithunvarnisheddeal，havingalittlerustictableandstoolbesideherchair，andacarpenter’sbench，thenabigbox，tools，newboards，nails；andmanythingshungfrompegs：axe，hatchet，traps，thingsinsacks，hiscoat。Ithadnowindow，thelightcameinthroughtheopendoor。Itwasajumble，butalsoitwasasortoflittlesanctuary。
Shelistenedtothetappingoftheman’shammer；itwasnotsohappy。
Hewasoppressed。Herewasatrespassonhisprivacy，andadangerousone!
Awoman!Hehadreachedthepointwhereallhewantedonearthwastobealone。Andyethewaspowerlesstopreservehisprivacy；hewasahiredman，andthesepeoplewerehismasters。
Especiallyhedidnotwanttocomeintocontactwithawomanagain。
Hefearedit；forhehadabigwoundfromoldcontacts。Hefeltifhecouldnotbealone，andifhecouldnotbeleftalone，hewoulddie。Hisrecoilawayfromtheouterworldwascomplete；hislastrefugewasthiswood；
tohidehimselfthere!
Conniegrewwarmbythefire，whichshehadmadetoobig：thenshegrewhot。Shewentandsatonthestoolinthedoorway，watchingthemanatwork。Heseemednottonoticeher，butheknew。Yetheworkedon，asifabsorbedly，andhisbrowndogsatonhertailnearhim，andsurveyedtheuntrustworthyworld。
Slender，quietandquick，themanfinishedthecoophewasmaking，turneditover，triedtheslidingdoor，thensetitaside。Thenherose，wentforanoldcoop，andtookittothechoppinglogwherehewasworking。
Crouching，hetriedthebars；somebrokeinhishands；hebegantodrawthenails。Thenheturnedthecoopoveranddeliberated，andhegaveabsolutelynosignofawarenessofthewoman’spresence。
SoConniewatchedhimfixedly。Andthesamesolitaryalonenessshehadseeninhimnaked，shenowsawinhimclothed：solitary，andintent，likeananimalthatworksalone，butalsobrooding，likeasoulthatrecoilsaway，awayfromallhumancontact。Silently，patiently，hewasrecoilingawayfromherevennow。Itwasthestillness，andthetimelesssortofpatience，inamanimpatientandpassionate，thattouchedConnie’swomb。
Shesawitinhisbenthead，thequickquiethands，thecrouchingofhisslender，sensitiveloins；somethingpatientandwithdrawn。Shefelthisexperiencehadbeendeeperandwiderthanherown；muchdeeperandwider，andperhapsmoredeadly。Andthisrelievedherofherself；shefeltalmostirresponsible。
Soshesatinthedoorwayofthehutinadream，utterlyunawareoftimeandofparticularcircumstances。Shewassodriftedawaythatheglancedupatherquickly，andsawtheutterlystill，waitinglookonherface。
Tohimitwasalookofwaiting。Andalittlethintongueoffiresuddenlyflickeredinhisloins，attherootofhisback，andhegroanedinspirit。
Hedreadedwitharepulsionalmostofdeath，anyfurtherclosehumancontact。
Hewishedaboveallthingsshewouldgoaway，andleavehimtohisownprivacy。Hedreadedherwill，herfemalewill，andhermodernfemaleinsistency。
Andaboveallhedreadedhercool，upper-classimpudenceofhavingherownway。Forafterallhewasonlyahiredman。Hehatedherpresencethere。
Conniecametoherselfwithsuddenuneasiness。Sherose。Theafternoonwasturningtoevening，yetshecouldnotgoaway。Shewentovertotheman，whostoodupatattention，hiswornfacestiffandblank，hiseyeswatchingher。
`Itissonicehere，sorestful，’shesaid。`Ihaveneverbeenherebefore。’
`No？’
`IthinkIshallcomeandsitheresometimes。
`Yes？’
`Doyoulockthehutwhenyou’renothere？’
`Yes，yourLadyship。’
`DoyouthinkIcouldhaveakeytoo，sothatIcouldsitheresometimes？
Aretheretwokeys？’
`NotasAhknowon，ther’isna。’
Hehadlapsedintothevernacular。Conniehesitated；hewasputtingupanopposition。Wasithishut，afterall？
`Couldn’twegetanotherkey？’sheaskedinhersoftvoice，thatunderneathhadtheringofawomandeterminedtogetherway。
`Another!’hesaid，glancingatherwithaflashofanger，touchedwithderision。
`Yes，aduplicate，’shesaid，flushing。
`’AppenSirClifford’udknow，’hesaid，puttingheroff。
`Yes!’shesaid，`hemighthaveanother。Otherwisewecouldhaveonemadefromtheoneyouhave。Itwouldonlytakeadayorso，Isuppose。
Youcouldspareyourkeyforsolong。’
`Ahcannatellyer，m’Lady!Ahknownob’dyasma’eskeysround’ere。’
Conniesuddenlyflushedwithanger。
`Verywell!’shesaid。`I’llseetoit。’
`Allright，yourLadyship。’
Theireyesmet。Hishadacold，uglylookofdislikeandcontempt，andindifferencetowhatwouldhappen。Herswerehotwithrebuff。
Butherheartsank，shesawhowutterlyhedislikedher，whenshewentagainsthim。Andshesawhiminasortofdesperation。
`Goodafternoon!’
`Afternoon，myLady!’Hesalutedandturnedabruptlyaway。Shehadwakenedthesleepingdogsofoldvoraciousangerinhim，angeragainsttheself-willedfemale。Andhewaspowerless，powerless。Heknewit!
Andshewasangryagainsttheself-willedmale。Aservanttoo!Shewalkedsullenlyhome。
ShefoundMrsBoltonunderthegreatbeech-treeontheknoll，lookingforher。
`Ijustwonderedifyou’dbecoming，myLady，’thewomansaidbrightly。
`AmIlate？’askedConnie。
`OhonlySirCliffordwaswaitingforhistea。’
`Whydidn’tyoumakeitthen？’
`Oh，Idon’tthinkit’shardlymyplace。Idon’tthinkSirCliffordwouldlikeitatall，myLady。’
`Idon’tseewhynot，’saidConnie。
ShewentindoorstoClifford’sstudy，wheretheoldbrasskettlewassimmeringonthetray。
`AmIlate，Clifford？’shesaid，puttingdownthefewflowersandtakingupthetea-caddy，asshestoodbeforethetrayinherhatandscarf。`I’msorry!Whydidn’tyouletMrsBoltonmakethetea？’
`Ididn’tthinkofit，’hesaidironically。`Idon’tquiteseeherpresidingatthetea-table。’
`Oh，there’snothingsacrosanctaboutasilvertea-pot，’saidConnie。
Heglancedupathercuriously。
`Whatdidyoudoallafternoon？’hesaid。
`Walkedandsatinashelteredplace。Doyouknowtherearestillberriesonthebigholly-tree？’
Shetookoffherscarf，butnotherhat，andsatdowntomaketea。Thetoastwouldcertainlybeleathery。Sheputthetea-cosyoverthetea-pot，androsetogetalittleglassforherviolets。Thepoorflowershungover，limpontheirstalks。
`They’llreviveagain!’shesaid，puttingthembeforehimintheirglassforhimtosmell。
`SweeterthanthelidsofJuno’seyes，’hequoted。
`Idon’tseeabitofconnexionwiththeactualviolets，’shesaid。
`TheElizabethansareratherupholstered。’
Shepouredhimhistea。
`DoyouthinkthereisasecondkeytothatlittlehutnotfarfromJohn’sWell，wherethepheasantsarereared？’shesaid。
`Theremaybe。Why？’
`Ihappenedtofindittoday——andI’dneverseenitbefore。Ithinkit’sadarlingplace。Icouldsittheresometimes，couldn’tI？’
`WasMellorsthere？’
`Yes!That’showIfoundit：hishammering。Hedidn’tseemtolikemyintrudingatall。InfacthewasalmostrudewhenIaskedaboutasecondkey。’
`Whatdidhesay？’
`Oh，nothing：justhismanner；andhesaidheknewnothingaboutkeys。’
`TheremaybeoneinFather’sstudy。Bettsknowsthemall，they’reallthere。I’llgethimtolook。’
`Ohdo!’shesaid。
`SoMellorswasalmostrude？’
`Oh，nothing，really!ButIdon’tthinkhewantedmetohavethefreedomofthecastle，quite。’
`Idon’tsupposehedid。’
`Still，Idon’tseewhyheshouldmind。It’snothishome，afterall!
It’snothisprivateabode。Idon’tseewhyIshouldn’tsitthereifI
wantto。’
`Quite!’saidClifford。`Hethinkstoomuchofhimself，thatman。’
`Doyouthinkhedoes？’
`Oh，decidedly!Hethinkshe’ssomethingexceptional。Youknowhehadawifehedidn’tgetonwith，sohejoinedupin1915andwassenttoIndia，Ibelieve。AnyhowhewasblacksmithtothecavalryinEgyptforatime；
alwayswasconnectedwithhorses，acleverfellowthatway。ThensomeIndiancoloneltookafancytohim，andhewasmadealieutenant。Yes，theygavehimacommission。IbelievehewentbacktoIndiawithhiscolonel，anduptothenorth-westfrontier。Hewasill；hewasapension。Hedidn’tcomeoutofthearmytilllastyear，Ibelieve，andthen，naturally，itisn’teasyforamanlikethattogetbacktohisownlevel。He’sboundtoflounder。Buthedoeshisdutyallright，asfarasI’mconcerned。OnlyI’mnothavinganyoftheLieutenantMellorstouch。’
`HowcouldtheymakehimanofficerwhenhespeaksbroadDerbyshire？’
`Hedoesn’t……exceptbyfitsandstarts。Hecanspeakperfectlywell，forhim。Isupposehehasanideaifhe’scomedowntotheranksagain，he’dbetterspeakastheranksspeak。’
`Whydidn’tyoutellmeabouthimbefore？’
`Oh，I’venopatiencewiththeseromances。They’retheruinofallorder。
It’sathousandpitiestheyeverhappened。’
Conniewasinclinedtoagree。Whatwasthegoodofdiscontentedpeoplewhofittedinnowhere？
InthespelloffineweatherClifford，too，decidedtogotothewood。
Thewindwascold，butnotsotiresome，andthesunshinewaslikelifeitself，warmandfull。
`It’samazing，’saidConnie，`howdifferentonefeelswhenthere’sareallyfreshfineday。Usuallyonefeelstheveryairishalfdead。Peoplearekillingtheveryair。’
`Doyouthinkpeoplearedoingit？’heasked。
`Ido。Thesteamofsomuchboredom，anddiscontentandangeroutofallthepeople，justkillsthevitalityintheair。I’msureofit。’
`Perhapssomeconditionoftheatmospherelowersthevitalityofthepeople？’hesaid。
`No，it’smanthatpoisonstheuniverse，’sheasserted。
`Foulshisownnest，’remarkedClifford。
Thechairpuffedon。Inthehazelcopsecatkinswerehangingpalegold，andinsunnyplacesthewood-anemoneswerewideopen，asifexclaimingwiththejoyoflife，justasgoodasinpastdays，whenpeoplecouldexclaimalongwiththem。Theyhadafaintscentofapple-blossom。ConniegatheredafewforClifford。
Hetookthemandlookedatthemcuriously。
`Thoustillunravishedbrideofquietness，’hequoted。`ItseemstofitflowerssomuchbetterthanGreekvases。’
`Ravishedissuchahorridword!’shesaid。`It’sonlypeoplewhoravishthings。’