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In the churchyard he became pale as a summer cloud； and finding it
not easy to proceed he sat down on one of the tombstones and
supported his head with his hand。
Hard by was a sexton filling up a grave which he had not found time
to finish on the previous evening。 Observing Barnet； he went up to
him； and recognizing him； said； 'Shall I help you home； sir？'
'O no； thank you；' said Barnet； rousing himself and standing up。
The sexton returned to his grave； followed by Barnet； who； after
watching him awhile； stepped into the grave； now nearly filled； and
helped to tread in the earth。
The sexton apparently thought his conduct a little singular； but he
made no observation； and when the grave was full； Barnet suddenly
stopped； looked far away； and with a decided step proceeded to the
gate and vanished。 The sexton rested on his shovel and looked after
him for a few moments； and then began banking up the mound。
In those short minutes of treading in the dead man Barnet had formed
a design； but what it was the inhabitants of that town did not for
some long time imagine。 He went home； wrote several letters of
business； called on his lawyer； an old man of the same place who had
been the legal adviser of Barnet's father before him； and during the
evening overhauled a large quantity of letters and other documents
in his possession。 By eleven o'clock the heap of papers in and
before Barnet's grate had reached formidable dimensions； and he
began to burn them。 This； owing to their quantity； it was not so
easy to do as he had expected； and he sat long into the night to
complete the task。
The next morning Barnet departed for London； leaving a note for
Downe to inform him of Mrs。 Barnet's sudden death； and that he was
gone to bury her； but when a thrice…sufficient time for that purpose
had elapsed； he was not seen again in his accustomed walks； or in
his new house； or in his old one。 He was gone for good； nobody knew
whither。 It was soon discovered that he had empowered his lawyer to
dispose of all his property； real and personal； in the borough； and
pay in the proceeds to the account of an unknown person at one of
the large London banks。 The person was by some supposed to be
himself under an assumed name； but few； if any； had certain
knowledge of that fact。
The elegant new residence was sold with the rest of his possessions；
and its purchaser was no other than Downe； now a thriving man in the
borough； and one whose growing family and new wife required more
roomy accommodation than was afforded by the little house up the
narrow side street。 Barnet's old habitation was bought by the
trustees of the Congregational Baptist body in that town； who pulled
down the time…honoured dwelling and built a new chapel on its site。
By the time the last hour of that； to Barnet； eventful year had
chimed； every vestige of him had disappeared from the precincts of
his native place； and the name became extinct in the borough of
Port…Bredy； after having been a living force therein for more than
two hundred years。
CHAPTER IX
Twenty…one years and six months do not pass without setting a mark
even upon durable stone and triple brass； upon humanity such a
period works nothing less than transformation。 In Barnet's old
birthplace vivacious young children with bones like india…rubber had
grown up to be stable men and women； men and women had dried in the
skin； stiffened； withered； and sunk into decrepitude； while
selections from every class had been consigned to the outlying
cemetery。 Of inorganic differences the greatest was that a railway
had invaded the town； tying it on to a main line at a junction a
dozen miles off。 Barnet's house on the harbour…road； once so
insistently new； had acquired a respectable mellowness； with ivy；
Virginia creepers； lichens； damp patches； and even constitutional
infirmities of its own like its elder fellows。 Its architecture；
once so very improved and modern； had already become stale in style；
without having reached the dignity of being old…fashioned。 Trees
about the harbour…road had increased in circumference or disappeared
under the saw； while the church had had such a tremendous practical
joke played upon it by some facetious restorer or other as to be
scarce recognizable by its dearest old friends。
During this long interval George Barnet had never once been seen or
heard of in the town of his fathers。
It was the evening of a market…day； and some half…dozen middle…aged
farmers and dairymen were lounging round the bar of the Black…Bull
Hotel； occasionally dropping a remark to each other； and less
frequently to the two barmaids who stood within the pewter…topped
counter in a perfunctory attitude of attention； these latter sighing
and making a private observation to one another at odd intervals； on
more interesting experiences than the present。
'Days get shorter；' said one of the dairymen； as he looked towards
the street； and noticed that the lamp…lighter was passing by。
The farmers merely acknowledged by their countenances the propriety
of this remark； and finding that nobody else spoke； one of the
barmaids said 'yes；' in a tone of painful duty。
'Come fair…day we shall have to light up before we start for home…
along。'
'That's true；' his neighbour conceded； with a gaze of blankness。
'And after that we shan't see much further difference all's winter。'
The rest were not unwilling to go even so far as this。
The barmaid sighed again； and raised one of her hands from the
counter on which they rested to scratch the smallest surface of her
face with the smallest of her fingers。 She looked towards the door；
and presently remarked； 'I think I hear the 'bus coming in from
station。'
The eyes of the dairymen and farmers turned to the glass door
dividing the hall from the porch； and in a minute or two the omnibus
drew up outside。 Then there was a lumbering down of luggage； and
then a man came into the hall； followed by a porter with a
portmanteau on his poll； which he deposited on a bench。
The stranger was an elderly person； with curly ashen white hair； a
deeply…creviced outer corner to each eyelid； and a countenance baked
by innumerable suns to the colour of terra…cotta； its hue and that
of his hair contrasting like heat and cold respectively。 He walked
meditatively and gently； like one who was fearful of disturbing his
own mental equilibrium。 But whatever lay at the bottom of his
breast had evidently made him so accustomed to its situation there
that it caused him little practical inconvenience。
He paused in silence while； with his dubious eyes fixed on the
barmaids； he seemed to consider himself。 In a moment or two he
addressed them； and asked to be accommodated for the night。 As he
waited he looked curiously round the hall； but said nothing。 As
soon as invited he disappeared up the staircase； preceded by a
chambermaid and candle； and followed by a lad with his trunk。 Not a
soul had recognized him。
A quarter of an hour later； when the farmers and dairymen had driven
off to their homesteads in the country； he came downstairs； took a
biscuit and one glass of wine； and walked