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morning）—and then in walking out to the first toll…gates on the
different lines of road； in the forlorn hope of finding some
recollection of her there。 No； she was not to be traced any farther；
and the next hard task for Adam was to go home and carry the
wretched tidings to the Hall Farm。 As to what he should do
beyond that； he had come to two distinct resolutions amidst the
tumult of thought and feeling which was going on within him
while he went to and fro。 He would not mention what he knew of
Arthur Donnithorne’s behaviour to Hetty till there was a clear
necessity for it： it was still possible Hetty might come back； and
the disclosure might be an injury or an offence to her。 And as soon
as he had been home and done what was necessary there to
prepare for his further absence； he would start off to Ireland： if he
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found no trace of Hetty on the road； he would go straight to Arthur
Donnithorne and make himself certain how far he was acquainted
with her movements。 Several times the thought occurred to him
that he would consult Mr。 Irwine； but that would be useless unless
he told him all； and so betrayed the secret about Arthur。 It seems
strange that Adam； in the incessant occupation of his mind about
Hetty； should never have alighted on the probability that she had
gone to Windsor； ignorant that Arthur was no longer there。
Perhaps the reason was that he could not conceive Hetty’s
throwing herself on Arthur uncalled； he imagined no cause that
could have driven her to such a step； after that letter written in
August。 There were but two alternatives in his mind： either Arthur
had written to her again and enticed her away； or she had simply
fled from her approaching marriage with himself because she
found； after all； she could not love him well enough； and yet was
afraid of her friends’ anger if she retracted。
With this last determination on his mind； of going straight to
Arthur； the thought that he had spent two days in inquiries which
had proved to be almost useless； was torturing to Adam； and yet；
since he would not tell the Poysers his conviction as to where
Hetty was gone； or his intention to follow her thither； he must be
able to say to them that he had traced her as far as possible。
It was after twelve o’clock on Tuesday night when Adam
reached Treddleston； and； unwilling to disturb his mother and
Seth； and also to encounter their questions at that hour； he threw
himself without undressing on a bed at the “Waggon
Overthrown；” and slept hard from pure weariness。 Not more than
four hours； however； for before five o’clock he set out on his way
home in the faint morning twilight。 He always kept a key of the
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workshop door in his pocket； so that he could let himself in； and he
wished to enter without awaking his mother； for he was anxious to
avoid telling her the new trouble himself by seeing Seth first； and
asking him to tell her when it should be necessary。 He walked
gently along the yard； and turned the key gently in the door； but；
as he expected； Gyp； who lay in the workshop； gave a sharp bark。
It subsided when he saw Adam； holding up his finger at him to
impose silence； and in his dumb； tailless joy he must content
himself with rubbing his body against his master’s legs。
Adam was too heart…sick to take notice of Gyp’s fondling。 He
threw himself on the bench and stared dully at the wood and the
signs of work around him； wondering if he should ever come to
feel pleasure in them again； while Gyp； dimly aware that there was
something wrong with his master； laid his rough grey head on
Adam’s knee and wrinkled his brows to look up at him。 Hitherto；
since Sunday afternoon； Adam had been constantly among
strange people and in strange places； having no associations with
the details of his daily life； and now that by the light of this new
morning he was come back to his home and surrounded by the
familiar objects that seemed for ever robbed of their charm； the
reality—the hard； inevitable reality of his troubles pressed upon
him with a new weight。 Right before him was an unfinished chest
of drawers； which he had been making in spare moments for
Hetty’s use； when his home should be hers。
Seth had not heard Adam’s entrance； but he had been roused
by Gyp’s bark； and Adam heard him moving about in the room
above； dressing himself。 Seth’s first thoughts were about his
brother： he would come home to…day； surely； for the business
would be wanting him sadly by to…morrow； but it was pleasant to
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think he had had a longer holiday than he had expected。 And
would Dinah come too？ Seth felt that that was the greatest
happiness he could look forward to for himself； though he had no
hope left that she would ever love him well enough to marry him；
but he had often said to himself； it was better to be Dinah’s friend
and brother than any other woman’s husband。 If he could but be
always near her； instead of living so far off！
He came downstairs and opened the inner door leading from
the kitchen into the workshop； intending to let out Gyp； but he
stood still in the doorway； smitten with a sudden shock at the sight
of Adam seated listlessly on the bench； pale； unwashed； with
sunken blank eyes； almost like a drunkard in the morning。 But
Seth felt in an instant what the marks meant—not drunkenness；
but some great calami