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guilt。 Unshrinkingly I accept the retribution！〃
〃The man's head is turned；〃 muttered the lime…burner to himself。
〃He may be a sinner like the rest of us；nothing more
likely；but； I'll be sworn； he is a madman too。〃
Nevertheless； he felt uncomfortable at his situation； alone with
Ethan Brand on the wild mountain…side； and was right glad to hear
the rough murmur of tongues； and the footsteps of what seemed a
pretty numerous party； stumbling over the stones and rustling
through the underbrush。 Soon appeared the whole lazy regiment
that was wont to infest the village tavern； comprehending three
or four individuals who had drunk flip beside the bar…room fire
through all the winters； and smoked their pipes beneath the stoop
through all the summers； since Ethan Brand's departure。 Laughing
boisterously； and mingling all their voices together in
unceremonious talk； they now burst into the moonshine and narrow
streaks of firelight that illuminated the open space before the
lime…kiln。 Bartram set the door ajar again； flooding the spot
with light； that the whole company might get a fair view of Ethan
Brand； and he of them。
There； among other old acquaintances； was a once ubiquitous man；
now almost extinct； but whom we were formerly sure to encounter
at the hotel of every thriving village throughout the country。 It
was the stage…agent。 The present specimen of the genus was a
wilted and smoke…dried man； wrinkled and red…nosed； in a smartly
cut； brown； bobtailed coat； with brass buttons； who； for a length
of time unknown； had kept his desk and corner in the bar…room；
and was still puffing what seemed to be the same cigar that he
had lighted twenty years before。 He had great fame as a dry
joker； though； perhaps； less on account of any intrinsic humor
than from a certain flavor of brandy…toddy and tobacco…smoke；
which impregnated all his ideas and expressions； as well as his
person。 Another well…remembered； though strangely altered； face
was that of Lawyer Giles； as people still called him in courtesy；
an elderly ragamuffin； in his soiled shirtsleeves and tow…cloth
trousers。 This poor fellow had been an attorney； in what he
called his better days； a sharp practitioner； and in great vogue
among the village litigants； but flip； and sling； and toddy； and
cocktails； imbibed at all hours； morning； noon； and night； had
caused him to slide from intellectual to various kinds and
degrees of bodily labor； till at last； to adopt his own phrase；
he slid into a soap…vat。 In other words； Giles was now a
soap…boiler； in a small way。 He had come to be but the fragment
of a human being； a part of one foot having been chopped off by
an axe； and an entire hand torn away by the devilish grip of a
steam…engine。 Yet； though the corporeal hand was gone； a
spiritual member remained； for； stretching forth the stump； Giles
steadfastly averred that he felt an invisible thumb and fingers
with as vivid a sensation as before the real ones were amputated。
A maimed and miserable wretch he was； but one； nevertheless； whom
the world could not trample on； and had no right to scorn； either
in this or any previous stage of his misfortunes； since he had
still kept up the courage and spirit of a man； asked nothing in
charity； and with his one handand that the left onefought a
stern battle against want and hostile circumstances。
Among the throng； too； came another personage； who； with certain
points of similarity to Lawyer Giles； had many more of
difference。 It was the village doctor； a man of some fifty years；
whom； at an earlier period of his life； we introduced as paying a
professional visit to Ethan Brand during the latter's supposed
insanity。 He was now a purple…visaged； rude； and brutal； yet
half…gentlemanly figure； with something wild； ruined； and
desperate in his talk； and in all the details of his gesture and
manners。 Brandy possessed this man like an evil spirit； and made
him as surly and savage as a wild beast； and as miserable as a
lost soul； but there was supposed to be in him such wonderful
skill； such native gifts of healing； beyond any which medical
science could impart； that society caught hold of him； and would
not let him sink out of its reach。 So； swaying to and fro upon
his horse； and grumbling thick accents at the bedside； he visited
all the sick…chambers for miles about among the mountain towns；
and sometimes raised a dying man； as it were； by miracle； or
quite as often； no doubt； sent his patient to a grave that was
dug many a year too soon。 The doctor had an everlasting pipe in
his mouth； and； as somebody said； in allusion to his habit of
swearing； it was always alight with hell…fire。
These three worthies pressed forward； and greeted Ethan Brand
each after his own fashion； earnestly inviting him to partake of
the contents of a certain black bottle； in which； as they
averred； he would find something far better worth seeking than
the Unpardonable Sin。 No mind； which has wrought itself by
intense and solitary meditation into a high state of enthusiasm；
can endure the kind of contact with low and vulgar modes of
thought and feeling to which Ethan Brand was now subjected。 It
made him doubtand； strange to say； it was a painful
doubtwhether he had indeed found the Unpardonable Sin； and
found it within himself。 The whole question on which he had
exhausted life； and more than life； looked like a delusion。
〃Leave me；〃 he said bitterly； 〃ye brute beasts； that have made
yourselves so； shrivelling up your souls with fiery liquors！ I
have done with you。 Years and years ago； I groped into your
hearts and found nothing there for my purpose。 Get ye gone！〃
〃Why； you uncivil scoundrel；〃 cried the fierce doctor； 〃is that
the way you respond to the kindness of your best friends？ Then
let me tell you the truth。 You have no more found the
Unpardonable Sin than yonder boy Joe has。 You are but a crazy
fellow；I told you so twenty years ago；…neither better nor worse
than a crazy fellow； and the fit companion of old Humphrey；
here！〃
He pointed to an old man； shabbily dressed； with long white hair；
thin visage； and unsteady eyes。 For some years past this aged
person had been wandering about among the hills； inquiring of all
travellers whom he met for his daughter。 The girl； it seemed； had
gone off with a company of circus…performers； and occasionally
tidings of her came to the village； and fine stories were told of
her glittering appearance as she rode on horseback in the ring；
or performed marvellous feats on the tight…rope。
The white…haired father now approached Ethan Brand； and gazed
unsteadily into his face。
〃They tell me you have been all over the earth；〃 said he；
wringing his hands with earnestness。 〃You must have seen my
daughter； for she makes a grand figure in the world； and
everybody goes to see her。 Did she send any word to her old
father； or say when she was coming back？〃
Ethan Brand's eye quailed bene