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'The house I have already is good enough for me； as you supposed。
It is my own freehold； it was built by my grandfather； and is stout
enough for a castle。 My father was born there； lived there； and
died there。 I was born there； and have always lived there； yet I
must needs build a new one。'
'Why do you？' said Downe。
'Why do I？ To preserve peace in the household。 I do anything for
that； but I don't succeed。 I was firm in resisting 〃Chateau
Ringdale；〃 however； not that I would not have put up with the
absurdity of the name； but it was too much to have your house
christened after Lord Ringdale； because your wife once had a fancy
for him。 If you only knew everything； you would think all attempt
at reconciliation hopeless。 In your happy home you have had no such
experiences； and God forbid that you ever should。 See； here they
are all ready to receive you！'
'Of course！ And so will your wife be waiting to receive you；' said
Downe。 'Take my word for it she will！ And with a dinner prepared
for you far better than mine。'
'I hope so；' Barnet replied dubiously。
He moved on to Downe's door； which the solicitor's family had
already opened。 Downe descended； but being encumbered with his bag
and umbrella； his foot slipped； and he fell upon his knees in the
gutter。
'O； my dear Charles！' said his wife； running down the steps； and；
quite ignoring the presence of Barnet； she seized hold of her
husband； pulled him to his feet； and kissed him； exclaiming； 'I hope
you are not hurt； darling！' The children crowded round； chiming in
piteously； 'Poor papa！'
'He's all right；' said Barnet； perceiving that Downe was only a
little muddy； and looking more at the wife than at the husband。
Almost at any other timecertainly during his fastidious bachelor
yearshe would have thought her a too demonstrative woman； but
those recent circumstances of his own life to which he had just
alluded made Mrs。 Downe's solicitude so affecting that his eye grew
damp as he witnessed it。 Bidding the lawyer and his family good…
night he left them； and drove slowly into the main street towards
his own house。
The heart of Barnet was sufficiently impressionable to be influenced
by Downe's parting prophecy that he might not be so unwelcome home
as he imagined： the dreary night might； at least on this one
occasion； make Downe's forecast true。 Hence it was in a suspense
that he could hardly have believed possible that he halted at his
door。 On entering his wife was nowhere to be seen； and he inquired
for her。 The servant informed him that her mistress had the
dressmaker with her； and would be engaged for some time。
'Dressmaker at this time of day！'
'She dined early； sir； and hopes you will excuse her joining you
this evening。'
'But she knew I was coming to…night？'
'O yes； sir。'
'Go up and tell her I am come。'
The servant did so； but the mistress of the house merely transmitted
her former words。
Barnet said nothing more； and presently sat down to his lonely meal；
which was eaten abstractedly； the domestic scene he had lately
witnessed still impressing him by its contrast with the situation
here。 His mind fell back into past years upon a certain pleasing
and gentle being whose face would loom out of their shades at such
times as these。 Barnet turned in his chair； and looked with
unfocused eyes in a direction southward from where he sat； as if he
saw not the room but a long way beyond。 'I wonder if she lives
there still！' he said。
CHAPTER II
He rose with a sudden rebelliousness； put on his hat and coat； and
went out of the house； pursuing his way along the glistening
pavement while eight o'clock was striking from St。 Mary's tower； and
the apprentices and shopmen were slamming up the shutters from end
to end of the town。 In two minutes only those shops which could
boast of no attendant save the master or the mistress remained with
open eyes。 These were ever somewhat less prompt to exclude
customers than the others： for their owners' ears the closing hour
had scarcely the cheerfulness that it possessed for the hired
servants of the rest。 Yet the night being dreary the delay was not
for long； and their windows； too； blinked together one by one。
During this time Barnet had proceeded with decided step in a
direction at right angles to the broad main thoroughfare of the
town； by a long street leading due southward。 Here； though his
family had no more to do with the flax manufacture； his own name
occasionally greeted him on gates and warehouses； being used
allusively by small rising tradesmen as a recommendation； in such
words as 'Smith； from Barnet & Co。''Robinson； late manager at
Barnet's。' The sight led him to reflect upon his father's busy
life； and he questioned if it had not been far happier than his own。
The houses along the road became fewer； and presently open ground
appeared between them on either side； the track on the right hand
rising to a higher level till it merged in a knoll。 On the summit a
row of builders' scaffold…poles probed the indistinct sky like
spears； and at their bases could be discerned the lower courses of a
building lately begun。 Barnet slackened his pace and stood for a
few moments without leaving the centre of the road； apparently not
much interested in the sight； till suddenly his eye was caught by a
post in the fore part of the ground bearing a white board at the
top。 He went to the rails； vaulted over； and walked in far enough
to discern painted upon the board 'Chateau Ringdale。'
A dismal irony seemed to lie in the words； and its effect was to
irritate him。 Downe； then； had spoken truly。 He stuck his umbrella
into the sod； and seized the post with both hands； as if intending
to loosen and throw it down。 Then； like one bewildered by an
opposition which would exist none the less though its manifestations
were removed； he allowed his arms to sink to his side。
'Let it be；' he said to himself。 'I have declared there shall be
peaceif possible。'
Taking up his umbrella he quietly left the enclosure； and went on
his way； still keeping his back to the town。 He had advanced with
more decision since passing the new building； and soon a hoarse
murmur rose upon the gloom； it was the sound of the sea。 The road
led to the harbour； at a distance of a mile from the town； from
which the trade of the district was fed。 After seeing the obnoxious
name…board Barnet had forgotten to open his umbrella； and the rain
tapped smartly on his hat； and occasionally stroked his face as he
went on。
Though the lamps were still continued at the roadside； they stood at
wider intervals than before； and the pavement had given place to
common road。 Every time he came to a lamp an increasing shine made
itself visible upon his shoulders； till at last they quite glistened
with wet。 The murmur from the shore grew stronger； but it was still
some distance off when he paused before one of the smallest of the
detached houses by the wayside； standing in its own garden； the
latter being divided from the road by a row of wooden palings。
Scrutinizing the spot to ensure that he was not mistaken； he opened
the