A Life's Morning

n, a personified appetite. He went through his routine, at the mill and elsewhere, in a mechanical way; all the time his instincts and habits subjugated themselves to the frenzy

ith curses on his lips, only to return an hour later, to torture himself with conjecture which room might be Emily's. His sufferings were unutterable. What devil-he groaned-had sent upon him this torment? He wished he were as in former days, when the indifference he felt towards his wife's undeniable beauty had, as it seemed, involved all womankind. In those times he could not have conceived a ma

became acute; and the imaginative energy which lurked in him, a sort of undeveloped genius, was another source of suffering beyond that which ordinary men endure. He was a fine creature in these hours, colossal, tragic; it needed this experience to bring out all there was of great and exceptional in his character. He was not of those who can quit the scene of their fruit

hope came to him that she might by chance walk at evening on the Heath, but he was disappointed; Emily, indeed, had long

rvice of love. He believed it was leading him to success. Certainly the first result that he aimed at was assured, and he could not imagine a subsequent obstacle. He would not have admitted that he was wronging the man whom he made his tool; if honesty failed under temptation it was honesty's own look-out. Ten to one he himself would have fallen into such a trap, in similar circumstances; he was quite free from pharisaical prejudice; had he not reckoned on mere human nature in devising his plan? Nor would the result be cruel, for he had it in his power to repay a hundredfold all temporary pain. There were no limits to the kindness he was capable of, when once he had Emily for his wife; sh

ny woman, to escape from a difficult position. In his heart he did not believe this, knowing her better, though his practical knowledge of her was so slight; but it was one of the devices by which he mitigated his suffering now and then. If the engagement existed, it was probably one of those which contemplated years of waiting, otherwise why should she have kept silence about it at home? In any case he held her; how could she escape him? He

omorrow, and of course alone. A few words with her would suffice. To call upon her at the house would be only his last resource. He felt assured that she had not spoken to her parents of the scene in the garden; several reasons supported this belief, especially the reflection that Emily wou

ircuit of trespass; from this position he had a complete view of the house he wished to watch. He came thus early because he thought it possible that Emily accompanied her father on his morning's walk into Dunfield; in which case he would follow at a distance, and find his opportunity as the girl returned. There had been rain in the night, and his passage through the bushes covered him with moisture; the thick grass, too, in which he stood, was so wet that before long his feet grew damp

o'clock the sky had cleared, and he saw the leaves above him drying in the sunlight. Inactivity was at all times intolerable to him to stand thus for hours was an exercise of impatient patience which only his relentless pas

moment, then took the way neither to the Heath nor to Dunfield, but crossed to the lane which led to Pendal. From his hiding-place Dagw

railway line. He walked in the same direction, keeping at some distance behind Emily. Before reaching the village of Pendal, he had to cross a field, and enter the lane itself. There was now the danger that

nature united to worship her, as the highest and holiest he knew. In his heart was a subtle temptation, the voice of very love bidding him cast himself at her feet and sue but for the grace of so much human kindness as would make life without her endurable. He remembered the self-abasement which had come upon him when he tried to tell her of his love; the offering had seemed so

tract her attention till he almost stood before her; then she looked at him, and at once rose. He expected signs of apprehension or embarrassment, but she seemed calm.

coloured, and she half turned away. Then he spoke abruptly, yet wit

ou last. I tried to put you out of my mind. I

r able to control herself than at the last interview. The sense of being passionately sought cannot but enhance a woman's dignity in her own eyes, and Emily was not without perception of

se are not words to use to you-I know it. It isn't that I don't respect you, but because I must speak what I feel. Look-I am worn out with suffering; I feel as if it would take but a little more to kill me, strong man as I am. You don't think I find a pleasure in co

Emily to feel deep distress, but she was awed by the terrible evid

I will stand here, but I have m

how very painful it is to hear you speak in this way? What

o one would do for you all that I would do. My love gives me a claim upon you. It is you that have brought me to t

hat he might yet win her in other ways; he used language recklessly, half believing that his

any way sought to win your affection? Is it manly to press upon me a suit which you know it is out of my power to favour? You say you respect me; your wor

h his eyes o

ve to say?' he aske

s, to your sense of what is due from a man to a woman, to let me leave you now, and to make no further atte

th it made him deadly pale, and brought a cold sweat to his brow. 'When you think afterwards of what I say now, remember that it was love of you that made me despe

ords would bear no futile meaning. Her thoughts were at once of her father; through him alone c

r fa

enough exemplified the law in prominent instances. As he pronounced the words, he eyed her delib

sty; he has taken money from the mill.

a blow. Then the blood rushed to her face, and,

her voice could express. 'Now I know that you are indeed capable

ve relinquished all his hope to be able to retract those words. He was like

ne, which he found in a ledger he took out of my room. He had to go to Hebsworth on business, and there he changed the note to buy hi

she had said; only the sight of the coins could convince her of its truth. Emily's mind worked over the details of the previous evening with terrible rapidity and insight. To her directly her father had spoken not a word of the repayment; he had bidden her keep in another room while he informed her mother of it; he h

hreats were of small account in this shaking of the

m lying to you fo

unnatural calm. 'It is more likel

e was no turning back; he could even enjoy the anticipation of each new move in the game,

r I have him arrested then or not depends upon yourself. If you consent to become my wife as soon as it is possible for us to be married, neither you nor he will ever hear another word of the matter. What's more, I wi

after

r mind. You can either send me a note or come an

tood in

it is not so impossible that you should marry me for my own sake;'-he said it with bitterness. 'People will see nothing to wonder at. Fortunately, no one knows of that-of what you told me. Your father

he stoo

xpect an a

hook he

tn't leave it after to-morrow

d, with a passionate movement of repulsion, terror, and hate transfiguring her

, turned about, and walke