\"Youmighthaveaskedhimtocomein，Ithink，Tamsie。
Hehasbeenverykindtoyoufirstandlast。\"
\"Iwillnow，\"shesaid；and，actingontheimpulse，wentthroughthewickettowhereVennstoodundertheMaypole。
\"ItisMr。Venn，Ithink？\"sheinquired。
Vennstartedasifhehadnotseenher——artfulmanthathewas——andsaid，\"Yes。\"
\"Willyoucomein？\"
\"IamafraidthatI——\"
\"Ihaveseenyoudancingthisevening，andyouhadtheverybestofthegirlsforyourpartners。Isitthatyouwon’tcomeinbecauseyouwishtostandhere，andthinkoverthepasthoursofenjoyment？\"
\"Well，that’spartlyit，\"saidMr。Venn，withostentatioussentiment。\"ButthemainreasonwhyIambidingherelikethisisthatIwanttowaittillthemoonrises。\"
\"ToseehowprettytheMaypolelooksinthemoonlight？\"
\"No。Tolookforaglovethatwasdroppedbyoneofthemaidens。\"
Thomasinwasspeechlesswithsurprise。Thatamanwhohadtowalksomefourorfivemilestohishomeshouldwaithereforsuchareasonpointedtoonlyoneconclusion——themanmustbeamazinglyinterestedinthatglove’sowner。
\"Wereyoudancingwithher，Diggory？\"sheasked，inavoicewhichrevealedthathehadmadehimselfconsiderablymoreinterestingtoherbythisdisclosure。
\"No，\"hesighed。
\"Andyouwillnotcomein，then？\"
\"Nottonight，thankyou，ma’am。\"
\"ShallIlendyoualanterntolookfortheyoungperson’sglove，Mr。Venn？\"
\"Ono；itisnotnecessary，Mrs。Wildeve，thankyou。
Themoonwillriseinafewminutes。\"
Thomasinwentbacktotheporch。\"Ishecomingin？\"
saidClym，whohadbeenwaitingwhereshehadlefthim。
\"Hewouldrathernottonight，\"shesaid，andthenpassedbyhimintothehouse；whereuponClymtooretiredtohisownrooms。
WhenClymwasgoneThomasincreptupstairsinthedark，and，justlisteningbythecot，toassureherselfthatthechildwasasleep，shewenttothewindow，gentlyliftedthecornerofthewhitecurtain，andlookedout。Vennwasstillthere。
Shewatchedthegrowthofthefaintradianceappearingintheskybytheeasternhill，tillpresentlytheedgeofthemoonburstupwardsandfloodedthevalleywithlight。
Diggory’sformwasnowdistinctonthegreen；hewasmovingaboutinabowedattitude，evidentlyscanningthegrassforthepreciousmissingarticle，walkinginzigzagsrightandlefttillheshouldhavepassedovereveryfootoftheground。
\"Howveryridiculous！\"Thomasinmurmuredtoherself，inatonewhichwasintendedtobesatirical。\"Tothinkthatamanshouldbesosillyastogomooningaboutlikethatforagirl’sglove！Arespectabledairyman，too，andamanofmoneyasheisnow。Whatapity！\"
AtlastVennappearedtofindit；whereuponhestoodupandraisedittohislips。Thenplacingitinhisbreastpocket——thenearestreceptacletoaman’sheartpermittedbymodernraiment——heascendedthevalleyinamathematicallydirectlinetowardshisdistanthomeinthemeadows。
2—ThomasinWalksinaGreenPlacebytheRomanRoadClymsawlittleofThomasinforseveraldaysafterthis；
andwhentheymetshewasmoresilentthanusual。Atlengthheaskedherwhatshewasthinkingofsointently。
\"Iamthoroughlyperplexed，\"shesaidcandidly。
\"IcannotformylifethinkwhoitisthatDiggoryVennissomuchinlovewith。NoneofthegirlsattheMaypoleweregoodenoughforhim，andyetshemusthavebeenthere。\"
ClymtriedtoimagineVenn’schoiceforamoment；
butceasingtobeinterestedinthequestionhewentonagainwithhisgardening。
Noclearingupofthemysterywasgrantedherforsometime。
ButoneafternoonThomasinwasupstairsgettingreadyforawalk，whenshehadoccasiontocometothelandingandcall\"Rachel。\"Rachelwasagirlaboutthirteen，whocarriedthebabyoutforairings；andshecameupstairsatthecall。
\"Haveyouseenoneofmylastnewglovesaboutthehouse，Rachel？\"inquiredThomasin。\"Itisthefellowtothisone。\"
Racheldidnotreply。
\"Whydon’tyouanswer？\"saidhermistress。
\"Ithinkitislost，ma’am。\"
\"Lost？Wholostit？Ihaveneverwornthembutonce。\"
Rachelappearedasonedreadfullytroubled，andatlastbegantocry。\"Please，ma’am，onthedayoftheMaypoleIhadnonetowear，andIseedyoursonthetable，andIthoughtIwouldborrow’em。Ididnotmeantohurt’ematall，butoneofthemgotlost。
Somebodygavemesomemoneytobuyanotherpairforyou，butIhavenotbeenabletogoanywheretoget’em。\"
\"Who’ssomebody？\"
\"Mr。Venn。\"
\"Didheknowitwasmyglove？\"
\"Yes。Itoldhim。\"
Thomasinwassosurprisedbytheexplanationthatshequiteforgottolecturethegirl，whoglidedsilentlyaway。
Thomasindidnotmovefurtherthantoturnhereyesuponthegrass—platwheretheMaypolehadstood。
Sheremainedthinking，thensaidtoherselfthatshewouldnotgooutthatafternoon，butwouldworkhardatthebaby’sunfinishedlovelyplaidfrock，cutonthecrossinthenewestfashion。Howshemanagedtoworkhard，andyetdonomorethanshehaddoneattheendoftwohours，wouldhavebeenamysterytoanyonenotawarethattherecentincidentwasofakindlikelytodivertherindustryfromamanualtoamentalchannel。
Nextdayshewentherwaysasusual，andcontinuedhercustomofwalkingintheheathwithnoothercompanionthanlittleEustacia，nowoftheagewhenitisamatterofdoubtwithsuchcharacterswhethertheyareintendedtowalkthroughtheworldontheirhandsorontheirfeet；
sothattheygetintopainfulcomplicationsbytryingboth。
ItwasverypleasanttoThomasin，whenshehadcarriedthechildtosomelonelyplace，togiveheralittleprivatepracticeonthegreenturfandshepherd’s—thyme，whichformedasoftmattofallheadlonguponthemwhenequilibriumwaslost。
Once，whenengagedinthissystemoftraining，andstoopingtoremovebitsofstick，fern—stalks，andothersuchfragmentsfromthechild’spath，thatthejourneymightnotbebroughttoanuntimelyendbysomeinsuperablebarrieraquarterofaninchhigh，shewasalarmedbydiscoveringthatamanonhorsebackwasalmostclosebesideher，thesoftnaturalcarpethavingmuffledthehorse’stread。
Therider，whowasVenn，wavedhishatintheairandbowedgallantly。
\"Diggory，givememyglove，\"saidThomasin，whosemanneritwasunderanycircumstancestoplungeintothemidstofasubjectwhichengrossedher。
Vennimmediatelydismounted，puthishandinhisbreastpocket，andhandedtheglove。
\"Thankyou。Itwasverygoodofyoutotakecareofit。\"
\"Itisverygoodofyoutosayso。\"
\"Ono。Iwasquitegladtofindyouhadit。EverybodygetssoindifferentthatIwassurprisedtoknowyouthoughtofme。\"
\"IfyouhadrememberedwhatIwasonceyouwouldn’thavebeensurprised。\"
\"Ah，no，\"shesaidquickly。\"Butmenofyourcharacteraremostlysoindependent。\"
\"Whatismycharacter？\"heasked。
\"Idon’texactlyknow，\"saidThomasinsimply，\"exceptitistocoverupyourfeelingsunderapracticalmanner，andonlytoshowthemwhenyouarealone。\"
\"Ah，howdoyouknowthat？\"saidVennstrategically。
\"Because，\"saidshe，stoppingtoputthelittlegirl，whohadmanagedtogetherselfupsidedown，rightendupagain，\"becauseIdo。\"
\"Youmustn’tjudgebyfolksingeneral，\"saidVenn。
\"StillIdon’tknowmuchwhatfeelingsarenowadays。
Ihavegotsomixedupwithbusinessofonesortandt’otherthatmysoftsentimentsaregoneoffinvapourlike。
Yes，Iamgivenupbodyandsoultothemakingofmoney。
Moneyisallmydream。\"
\"ODiggory，howwicked！\"saidThomasinreproachfully，andlookingathiminexactbalancebetweentakinghiswordsseriouslyandjudgingthemassaidtoteaseher。
\"Yes，’tisratherarumcourse，\"saidVenn，intheblandtoneofonecomfortablyresignedtosinshecouldnolongerovercome。
\"You，whousedtobesonice！\"
\"Well，that’sanargumentIratherlike，becausewhatamanhasoncebeenhemaybeagain。\"Thomasinblushed。
\"Exceptthatitisratherhardernow，\"Venncontinued。
\"Why？\"sheasked。
\"Becauseyoubericherthanyouwereatthattime。\"
\"Ono——notmuch。Ihavemadeitnearlyallovertothebaby，asitwasmydutytodo，exceptjustenoughtoliveon。\"
\"Iamrathergladofthat，\"saidVennsoftly，andregardingherfromthecornerofhiseye，\"foritmakesiteasierforustobefriendly。\"
Thomasinblushedagain，and，whenafewmorewordshadbeensaidofanotunpleasingkind，Vennmountedhishorseandrodeon。
ThisconversationhadpassedinahollowoftheheathneartheoldRomanroad，aplacemuchfrequentedbyThomasin。
AnditmighthavebeenobservedthatshedidnotinfuturewalkthatwaylessoftenfromhavingmetVenntherenow。
WhetherornotVennabstainedfromridingthitherbecausehehadmetThomasininthesameplacemighteasilyhavebeenguessedfromherproceedingsabouttwomonthslaterinthesameyear。
3—TheSeriousDiscourseofClymwithHisCousinThroughoutthisperiodYeobrighthadmoreorlessponderedonhisdutytohiscousinThomasin。Hecouldnothelpfeelingthatitwouldbeapitifulwasteofsweetmaterialifthetender—naturedthingshouldbedoomedfromthisearlystageofherlifeonwardstodribbleawayherwinsomequalitiesonlonelygorseandfern。
Buthefeltthisasaneconomistmerely，andnotasalover。
HispassionforEustaciahadbeenasortofconserveofhiswholelife，andhehadnothingmoreofthatsupremequalitylefttobestow。SofartheobviousthingwasnottoentertainanyideaofmarriagewithThomasin，eventoobligeher。
Butthiswasnotall。Yearsagotherehadbeeninhismother’smindagreatfancyaboutThomasinandhimself。
Ithadnotpositivelyamountedtoadesire，butithadalwaysbeenafavouritedream。Thattheyshouldbemanandwifeingoodtime，ifthehappinessofneitherwereendangeredthereby，wasthefancyinquestion。
Sothatwhatcoursesaveonewastherenowleftforanysonwhoreverencedhismother’smemoryasYeobrightdid？Itisanunfortunatefactthatanyparticularwhimofparents，whichmighthavebeendispersedbyhalfanhour’sconversationduringtheirlives，becomessublimatedbytheirdeathsintoafiatthemostabsolute，withsuchresultstoconscientiouschildrenasthoseparents，hadtheylived，wouldhavebeenthefirsttodecry。
HadonlyYeobright’sownfuturebeeninvolvedhewouldhaveproposedtoThomasinwithareadyheart。Hehadnothingtolosebycarryingoutadeadmother’shope。
ButhedreadedtocontemplateThomasinweddedtothemerecorpseofaloverthathenowfelthimselftobe。
Hehadbutthreeactivitiesaliveinhim。Onewashisalmostdailywalktothelittlegraveyardwhereinhismotherlay，another，hisjustasfrequentvisitsbynighttothemoredistantenclosurewhichnumberedhisEustaciaamongitsdead；thethirdwasself—preparationforavocationwhichaloneseemedlikelytosatisfyhiscravings——thatofanitinerantpreacheroftheeleventhcommandment。
ItwasdifficulttobelievethatThomasinwouldbecheeredbyahusbandwithsuchtendenciesasthese。
Yetheresolvedtoaskher，andletherdecideforherself。
Itwasevenwithapleasantsenseofdoinghisdutythathewentdownstairstoheroneeveningforthispurpose，whenthesunwasprintingonthevalleythesamelongshadowofthehousetopthathehadseenlyingtheretimesoutofnumberwhilehismotherlived。
Thomasinwasnotinherroom，andhefoundherinthefrontgarden。\"Ihavelongbeenwanting，Thomasin，\"
hebegan，\"tosaysomethingaboutamatterthatconcernsbothourfutures。\"
\"Andyouaregoingtosayitnow？\"sheremarkedquickly，colouringasshemethisgaze。\"Dostopaminute，Clym，andletmespeakfirst，foroddlyenough，Ihavebeenwantingtosaysomethingtoyou。\"
\"Byallmeanssayon，Tamsie。\"
\"Isupposenobodycanoverhearus？\"shewenton，castinghereyesaroundandloweringhervoice。\"Well，firstyouwillpromisemethis——thatyouwon’tbeangryandcallmeanythingharshifyoudisagreewithwhatIpropose？\"
Yeobrightpromised，andshecontinued：\"WhatIwantisyouradvice，foryouaremyrelation——Imean，asortofguardiantome——aren’tyou，Clym？\"
\"Well，yes，IsupposeIam；asortofguardian。Infact，Iam，ofcourse，\"hesaid，altogetherperplexedastoherdrift。
\"Iamthinkingofmarrying，\"shethenobservedblandly。
\"ButIshallnotmarryunlessyouassuremethatyouapproveofsuchastep。Whydon’tyouspeak？\"
\"Iwastakenratherbysurprise。But，nevertheless，Iamverygladtohearsuchnews。Ishallapprove，ofcourse，dearTamsie。Whocanitbe？Iamquiteatalosstoguess。
NoIamnot——’tistheolddoctor！——notthatImeantocallhimold，forheisnotveryoldafterall。Ah——Inoticedwhenheattendedyoulasttime！\"
\"No，no，\"shesaidhastily。\"’TisMr。Venn。\"
Clym’sfacesuddenlybecamegrave。
\"There，now，youdon’tlikehim，andIwishIhadn’tmentionedhim！\"sheexclaimedalmostpetulantly。
\"AndIshouldn’thavedoneit，either，onlyhekeepsonbotheringmesotillIdon’tknowwhattodo！\"
Clymlookedattheheath。\"IlikeVennwellenough，\"
heansweredatlast。\"Heisaveryhonestandatthesametimeastuteman。Heisclevertoo，asisprovedbyhishavinggotyoutofavourhim。Butreally，Thomasin，heisnotquite——\"
\"Gentlemanenoughforme？ThatisjustwhatIfeel。
IamsorrynowthatIaskedyou，andIwon’tthinkanymoreofhim。AtthesametimeImustmarryhimifImarryanybody——thatIWILLsay！\"
\"Idon’tseethat，\"saidClym，carefullyconcealingeverycluetohisowninterruptedintention，whichsheplainlyhadnotguessed。\"Youmightmarryaprofessionalman，orsomebodyofthatsort，bygoingintothetowntoliveandformingacquaintancesthere。\"
\"Iamnotfitfortownlife——soveryruralandsillyasIalwayshavebeen。Donotyouyourselfnoticemycountrifiedways？\"
\"Well，whenIcamehomefromParisIdid，alittle；
butIdon’tnow。\"
\"That’sbecauseyouhavegotcountrifiedtoo。O，Icouldn’tliveinastreetfortheworld！Egdonisaridiculousoldplace；butIhavegotusedtoit，andIcouldn’tbehappyanywhereelseatall。\"
\"NeithercouldI，\"saidClym。
\"ThenhowcouldyousaythatIshouldmarrysometownman？
Iamsure，saywhatyouwill，thatImustmarryDiggory，ifImarryatall。Hehasbeenkindertomethananybodyelse，andhashelpedmeinmanywaysthatIdon’tknowof！\"
Thomasinalmostpoutednow。
\"Yes，hehas，\"saidClyminaneutraltone。\"Well，I
wishwithallmyheartthatIcouldsay，marryhim。
ButIcannotforgetwhatmymotherthoughtonthatmatter，anditgoesratheragainstmenottorespectheropinion。
Thereistoomuchreasonwhyweshoulddothelittlewecantorespectitnow。\"
\"Verywell，then，\"sighedThomasin。\"Iwillsaynomore。\"
\"Butyouarenotboundtoobeymywishes。ImerelysaywhatIthink。\"
\"Ono——Idon’twanttoberebelliousinthatway，\"
shesaidsadly。\"Ihadnobusinesstothinkofhim——I
oughttohavethoughtofmyfamily。Whatdreadfullybadimpulsesthereareinme！\"Herlipstrembled，andsheturnedawaytohideatear。
Clym，thoughvexedatwhatseemedherunaccountabletaste，wasinameasurerelievedtofindthatatanyratethemarriagequestioninrelationtohimselfwasshelved。
Throughseveralsucceedingdayshesawheratdifferenttimesfromthewindowofhisroommopingdisconsolatelyaboutthegarden。HewashalfangrywithherforchoosingVenn；thenhewasgrievedathavingputhimselfinthewayofVenn’shappiness，whowas，afterall，ashonestandperseveringayoungfellowasanyonEgdon，sincehehadturnedoveranewleaf。Inshort，Clymdidnotknowwhattodo。
Whennexttheymetshesaidabruptly，\"Heismuchmorerespectablenowthanhewasthen！\"
\"Who？Oyes——DiggoryVenn。\"
\"Auntonlyobjectedbecausehewasareddleman。\"
\"Well，Thomasin，perhapsIdon’tknowalltheparticularsofmymother’swish。Soyouhadbetteruseyourowndiscretion。\"
\"YouwillalwaysfeelthatIslightedyourmother’smemory。\"
\"No，Iwillnot。Ishallthinkyouareconvincedthat，hadsheseenDiggoryinhispresentposition，shewouldhaveconsideredhimafittinghusbandforyou。
Now，that’smyrealfeeling。Don’tconsultmeanymore，butdoasyoulike，Thomasin。Ishallbecontent。\"
ItistobesupposedthatThomasinwasconvinced；
forafewdaysafterthis，whenClymstrayedintoapartoftheheaththathehadnotlatelyvisited，Humphrey，whowasatworkthere，saidtohim，\"IamgladtoseethatMrs。WildeveandVennhavemadeitupagain，seemingly。\"
\"Havethey？\"saidClymabstractedly。
\"Yes；andhedocontrivetostumbleuponherwhenevershewalksoutonfinedayswiththechiel。But，Mr。Yeobright，Ican’thelpfeelingthatyourcousinoughttohavemarriedyou。’Tisapitytomaketwochimleycornerswherethereneedbeonlyone。Youcouldgetherawayfromhimnow，’tismybelief，ifyouwereonlytosetaboutit。\"
\"HowcanIhavetheconsciencetomarryafterhavingdriventwowomentotheirdeaths？Don’tthinksuchathing，Humphrey。AftermyexperienceIshouldconsiderittoomuchofaburlesquetogotochurchandtakeawife。
InthewordsofJob，’Ihavemadeacovenantwithmineeyes；
whenthenshouldIthinkuponamaid？’\"
\"No，Mr。Clym，don’tfancythataboutdrivingtwowomentotheirdeaths。Youshouldn’tsayit。\"
\"Well，we’llleavethatout，\"saidYeobright。\"ButanyhowGodhassetamarkuponmewhichwouldn’tlookwellinalove—makingscene。Ihavetwoideasinmyhead，andnoothers。Iamgoingtokeepanight—school；
andIamgoingtoturnpreacher。Whathaveyougottosaytothat，Humphrey？\"
\"I’llcomeandhear’eewithallmyheart。\"
\"Thanks。’TisallIwish。\"
AsClymdescendedintothevalleyThomasincamedownbytheotherpath，andmethimatthegate。
\"WhatdoyouthinkIhavetotellyou，Clym？\"shesaid，lookingarchlyoverhershoulderathim。
\"Icanguess，\"hereplied。
Shescrutinizedhisface。\"Yes，youguessright。
Itisgoingtobeafterall。HethinksImayaswellmakeupmymind，andIhavegottothinksotoo。
Itistobeonthetwenty—fifthofnextmonth，ifyoudon’tobject。\"
\"Dowhatyouthinkright，dear。Iamonlytoogladthatyouseeyourwaycleartohappinessagain。Mysexowesyoueveryamendsforthetreatmentyoureceivedindaysgoneby。\"*
*ThewritermaystateherethattheoriginalconceptionofthestorydidnotdesignamarriagebetweenThomasinandVenn。Hewastohaveretainedhisisolatedandweirdcharactertothelast，andtohavedisappearedmysteriouslyfromtheheath，nobodyknowingwhither——Thomasinremainingawidow。Butcertaincircumstancesofserialpublicationledtoachangeofintent。
Readerscanthereforechoosebetweentheendings，andthosewithanaustereartisticcodecanassumethemoreconsistentconclusiontobethetrueone。
4—CheerfulnessAgainAssertsItselfatBlooms—End，andClymFindsHisVocationAnybodywhohadpassedthroughBlooms—Endabouteleveno’clockonthemorningfixedfortheweddingwouldhavefoundthat，whileYeobright’shousewascomparativelyquiet，soundsdenotinggreatactivitycamefromthedwellingofhisnearestneighbour，TimothyFairway。Itwaschieflyanoiseoffeet，brisklycrunchinghitherandthitheroverthesandedfloorwithin。Onemanonlywasvisibleoutside，andheseemedtobelateratanappointmentthanhehadintendedtobe，forhehasteneduptothedoor，liftedthelatch，andwalkedinwithoutceremony。
Thescenewithinwasnotquitethecustomaryone。
StandingabouttheroomwasthelittleknotofmenwhoformedthechiefpartoftheEgdoncoterie，therebeingpresentFairwayhimself，GrandferCantle，Humphrey，Christian，andoneortwoturf—cutters。Itwasawarmday，andthemenwereasamatterofcourseintheirshirtsleeves，exceptChristian，whohadalwaysanervousfearofpartingwithascrapofhisclothingwheninanybody’shousebuthisown。
Acrossthestoutoaktableinthemiddleoftheroomwasthrownamassofstripedlinen，whichGrandferCantlehelddownononeside，andHumphreyontheother，whileFairwayrubbeditssurfacewithayellowlump，hisfacebeingdampandcreasedwiththeeffortofthelabour。
\"Waxingabed—tick，souls？\"saidthenewcomer。
\"Yes，Sam，\"saidGrandferCantle，asamantoobusytowastewords。\"ShallIstretchthiscornerashadetighter，Timothy？\"
Fairwayreplied，andthewaxingwentonwithunabatedvigour。
\"’Tisgoingtobeagoodbed，bythelooko’t，\"continuedSam，afteranintervalofsilence。\"Whomayitbefor？\"
\"’Tisapresentforthenewfolksthat’sgoingtosetuphousekeeping，\"saidChristian，whostoodhelplessandovercomebythemajestyoftheproceedings。
\"Ah，tobesure；andavaluableone，’ab’lieve。\"
\"Bedsbedeartofokesthatdon’tkeepgeese，bain’tthey，MisterFairway？\"saidChristian，astoanomniscientbeing。
\"Yes，\"saidthefurze—dealer，standingup，givinghisforeheadathoroughmopping，andhandingthebeeswaxtoHumphrey，whosucceededattherubbingforthwith。
\"Notthatthiscouplebeinwantofone，but’twaswelltoshow’emabitoffriendlinessatthisgreatracketingvagaryoftheirlives。Isetupbothmyowndaughtersinonewhentheywasmarried，andtherehavebeenfeathersenoughforanotherinthehousethelasttwelvemonths。
Nowthen，neighbours，Ithinkwehavelaidonenoughwax。
GrandferCantle，youturntheticktherightwayoutwards，andthenI’llbegintoshakeinthefeathers。\"
WhenthebedwasinpropertrimFairwayandChristianbroughtforwardvastpaperbags，stuffedtothefull，butlightasballoons，andbegantoturnthecontentsofeachintothereceptaclejustprepared。Asbagafterbagwasemptied，airytuftsofdownandfeathersfloatedabouttheroominincreasingquantitytill，throughamishapofChristian’s，whoshookthecontentsofonebagoutsidethetick，theatmosphereoftheroombecamedensewithgiganticflakes，whichdescendedupontheworkerslikeawindlesssnowstorm。
\"Ineversawsuchaclumsychapasyou，Christian，\"
saidGrandferCantleseverely。\"Youmighthavebeenthesonofamanthat’sneverbeenoutsideBlooms—Endinhislifeforallthewityouhave。Reallyallthesoldieringandsmartnessintheworldinthefatherseemstocountfornothinginformingthenateroftheson。
AsfarasthatchiefChristianisconcernedImightaswellhavestayedathomeandseednothing，likealltherestofyehere。Though，asfarasmyselfisconcerned，adashingspirithascountedforsommat，tobesure！\"
\"Don’tyeletmedownso，Father；Ifeelnobiggerthananinepinafterit。I’vemadebutabrucklehit，I’mafeard。\"
\"Come，come。Neverpitchyerselfinsuchalowkeyasthat，Christian；youshouldtrymore，\"saidFairway。