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feeling too generously towards Sally to condemn her in this。 What
did he want in a wife？ he asked himself。 Love and integrity。 What
next？ Worldly wisdom。 And was there really more than worldly
wisdom in her refusal to go aboard a sinking ship？ She now knew it
was otherwise。 'Begad；' he said； 'I'll try her again。'
The fact was he had so set his heart upon Sally； and Sally alone；
that nothing was to be allowed to baulk him； and his reasoning was
purely formal。
Anniversaries having been unpropitious； he waited on till a bright
day late in Maya day when all animate nature was fancying； in its
trusting； foolish way； that it was going to bask out of doors for
evermore。 As he rode through Long…Ash Lane it was scarce
recognizable as the track of his two winter journeys。 No mistake
could be made now； even with his eyes shut。 The cuckoo's note was
at its best； between April tentativeness and midsummer decrepitude；
and the reptiles in the sun behaved as winningly as kittens on a
hearth。 Though afternoon； and about the same time as on the last
occasion； it was broad day and sunshine when he entered Hintock； and
the details of the Knap dairy…house were visible far up the road。
He saw Sally in the garden； and was set vibrating。 He had first
intended to go on to the inn； but 'No；' he said； 'I'll tie my horse
to the garden…gate。 If all goes well it can soon be taken round：
if not； I mount and ride away'
The tall shade of the horseman darkened the room in which Mrs。 Hall
sat； and made her start； for he had ridden by a side path to the top
of the slope； where riders seldom came。 In a few seconds he was in
the garden with Sally。
Fiveay； three minutesdid the business at the back of that row of
bees。 Though spring had come； and heavenly blue consecrated the
scene； Darton succeeded not。 'NO；' said Sally firmly。 'I will
never； never marry you； Mr。 Darton。 I would have done it once； but
now I never can。'
'But！'implored Mr。 Darton。 And with a burst of real eloquence he
went on to declare all sorts of things that he would do for her。 He
would drive her to see her mother every weektake her to London
settle so much money upon herHeaven knows what he did not promise；
suggest； and tempt her with。 But it availed nothing。 She
interposed with a stout negative； which closed the course of his
argument like an iron gate across a highway。 Darton paused。
'Then；' said he simply； 'you hadn't heard of my supposed failure
when you declined last time？'
'I had not；' she said。 'But if I had 'twould have been all the
same。'
'And 'tis not because of any soreness from my slighting you years
ago？'
'No。 That soreness is long past。'
'Ahthen you despise me； Sally？'
'No；' she slowly answered。 'I don't altogether despise you。 I
don't think you quite such a hero as I once didthat's all。 The
truth is； I am happy enough as I am； and I don't mean to marry at
all。 Now； may _I_ ask a favour； sir？' She spoke with an ineffable
charm； which； whenever he thought of it； made him curse his loss of
her as long as he lived。
'To any extent。'
'Please do not put this question to me any more。 Friends as long as
you like； but lovers and married never。'
'I never will；' said Darton。 'Not if I live a hundred years。'
And he never did。 That he had worn out his welcome in her heart was
only too plain。
When his step…children had grown up； and were placed out in life；
all communication between Darton and the Hall family ceased。 It was
only by chance that； years after； he learnt that Sally；
notwithstanding the solicitations her attractions drew down upon
her； had refused several offers of marriage； and steadily adhered to
her purpose of leading a single life
May 1884。
THE DISTRACTED PREACHER
CHAPTER IHOW HIS COLD WAS CURED
Something delayed the arrival of the Wesleyan minister； and a young
man came temporarily in his stead。 It was on the thirteenth of
January 183… that Mr。 Stockdale； the young man in question； made his
humble entry into the village； unknown； and almost unseen。 But when
those of the inhabitants who styled themselves of his connection
became acquainted with him； they were rather pleased with the
substitute than otherwise； though he had scarcely as yet acquired
ballast of character sufficient to steady the consciences of the
hundred…and…forty Methodists of pure blood who； at this time； lived
in Nether…Moynton； and to give in addition supplementary support to
the mixed race which went to church in the morning and chapel in the
evening； or when there was a teaas many as a hundred…and…ten
people more； all told； and including the parish…clerk in the winter…
time； when it was too dark for the vicar to observe who passed up
the street at seven o'clockwhich； to be just to him； he was never
anxious to do。
It was owing to this overlapping of creeds that the celebrated
population…puzzle arose among the denser gentry of the district
around Nether…Moynton： how could it be that a parish containing
fifteen score of strong full…grown Episcopalians； and nearly
thirteen score of well…matured Dissenters； numbered barely two…and…
twenty score adults in all？
The young man being personally interesting； those with whom he came
in contact were content to waive for a while the graver question of
his sufficiency。 It is said that at this time of his life his eyes
were affectionate； though without a ray of levity； that his hair was
curly； and his figure tall； that he was； in short； a very lovable
youth； who won upon his female hearers as soon as they saw and heard
him； and caused them to say； 'Why didn't we know of this before he
came； that we might have gied him a warmer welcome！'
The fact was that； knowing him to be only provisionally selected；
and expecting nothing remarkable in his person or doctrine； they and
the rest of his flock in Nether…Moynton had felt almost as
indifferent about his advent as if they had been the soundest
church…going parishioners in the country； and he their true and
appointed parson。 Thus when Stockdale set foot in the place nobody
had secured a lodging for him； and though his journey had given him
a bad cold in the head； he was forced to attend to that business
himself。 On inquiry he learnt that the only possible accommodation
in the village would be found at the house of one Mrs。 Lizzy
Newberry； at the upper end of the street。
It was a youth who gave this information； and Stockdale asked him
who Mrs。 Newberry might be。
The boy said that she was a widow…woman； who had got no husband；
because he was dead。 Mr。 Newberry； he added； had been a well…to…do
man enough； as the saying was； and a farmer； but he had gone off in
a decline。 As regarded Mrs。 Newberry's serious side； Stockdale
gathered that she was one of the trimmers who went to church and
chapel both。
'I'll go there；' said Stockdale； feeling that； in the absence of
purely sectarian lodgings； he could do no better。
'She's a little particular； and won't hae gover'ment folks； or
curates； or the pa'son's friends； or such like；' said the lad
dubiously。
'Ah； that may be a promising sign： I'll call。 Or no； just yo