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the hand of ethelberta-µÚ65ÕÂ

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little¡¡seat¡¡which¡¡they¡¡overhung£»¡¡like¡¡two¡¡big¡¡puddings¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡small
dish¡£

'Fatherwhat£»¡¡you¡¡going£¿'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡£¡¡¡¡'Is¡¡it¡¡about¡¡Berta¡¡that¡¡you've
come£¿'

'Yes£»¡¡I¡¡got¡¡your¡¡letter£»'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel£»¡¡'and¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like
to¡¡comethat¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡come£»¡¡to¡¡save¡¡her¡¡from¡¡what¡¡she'll¡¡regret¡£
Luckily£»¡¡this¡¡gentleman£»¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡has¡¡given¡¡me¡¡a¡¡lift¡¡from
Anglebury£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡hired¡£'¡¡¡¡He¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡Christopher¡£

'But¡¡he's¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Julian£¡'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡£

'You¡¡are¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Petherwin's¡¡father£¿I¡¡have¡¡travelled¡¡in¡¡your¡¡company
without¡¡knowing¡¡it£¡'¡¡exclaimed¡¡Christopher£»¡¡feeling¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡both
astonished¡¡and¡¡puzzled¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡first£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that£»¡¡in
direct¡¡antagonism¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡purpose£»¡¡her¡¡friends¡¡were¡¡favouring
Ethelberta's¡¡wedding£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡otherwise¡£

'Yes£»¡¡that's¡¡father£»'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡£¡¡¡¡'Father£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Julian¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£
Julian£»¡¡this¡¡gentleman¡¡here¡¡is¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere's¡¡brotherand£»¡¡to
cut¡¡the¡¡story¡¡short£»¡¡we¡¡all¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡the¡¡wedding¡£'

'Then¡¡let¡¡us¡¡get¡¡on£»¡¡in¡¡Heaven's¡¡name£¡'¡¡said¡¡Mountclere¡£¡¡¡¡'You¡¡are
the¡¡lady's¡¡father£¿'

'I¡¡am£»'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel¡£

'Then¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡come¡¡into¡¡this¡¡carriage¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡go¡¡faster
than¡¡the¡¡dogcart¡£¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡driver£»¡¡are¡¡the¡¡wheels¡¡right¡¡again£¿'

Chickerel¡¡hastily¡¡entered¡¡with¡¡Mountclere£»¡¡Sol¡¡joined¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they
sped¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡Christopher¡¡drove¡¡close¡¡in¡¡their¡¡rear£»¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡certain
whether¡¡he¡¡did¡¡well¡¡in¡¡going¡¡further£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡plenty¡¡of
people¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡business£»¡¡but¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡The
other¡¡three¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡silence£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡knees£»¡¡though
the¡¡clouds¡¡were¡¡dispersing£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡grew¡¡bright¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡about
twenty¡¡minutes¡¡the¡¡square¡¡unembattled¡¡tower¡¡of¡¡Knollsea¡¡Church
appeared¡¡below¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vale£»¡¡its¡¡summit¡¡just¡¡touching¡¡the
distant¡¡line¡¡of¡¡sea¡¡upon¡¡sky¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡element¡¡by¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been
victimized¡¡on¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡evening¡¡now¡¡smiled¡¡falsely¡¡to¡¡the¡¡low
morning¡¡sun¡£

They¡¡descended¡¡the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village¡¡at¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡mannerly
pace¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earlier¡¡journey£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡rays¡¡glance¡¡upon
the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡clock£»¡¡which¡¡marked¡¡five¡­and¡­twenty¡¡minutes
to¡¡nine¡£



45¡£¡¡KNOLLSEA¡¡¡­¡¡THE¡¡ROAD¡¡THENCE¡¡¡­¡¡ENCKWORTH

All¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡directed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡church¡­gate£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡travellers
descended¡¡the¡¡hill¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡wedding¡¡carriages¡¡were¡¡there£»¡¡no¡¡favours£»¡¡no
slatternly¡¡group¡¡of¡¡women¡¡brimming¡¡with¡¡interest£»¡¡no¡¡aged¡¡pauper¡¡on
two¡¡sticks£»¡¡who¡¡comes¡¡because¡¡he¡¡has¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do¡¡till¡¡dying
time£»¡¡no¡¡nameless¡¡female¡¡passing¡¡by¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡with¡¡a¡¡laugh
of¡¡indifference£»¡¡no¡¡ringers¡¡taking¡¡off¡¡their¡¡coats¡¡as¡¡they¡¡vanish¡¡up
a¡¡turret£»¡¡no¡¡hobbledehoys¡¡on¡¡tiptoe¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡chancel¡¡windowsin
short£»¡¡none¡¡whatever¡¡of¡¡the¡¡customary¡¡accessories¡¡of¡¡a¡¡country
wedding¡¡was¡¡anywhere¡¡visible¡£

'Thank¡¡God£¡'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel¡£

'Wait¡¡till¡¡you¡¡know¡¡he¡¡deserves¡¡it£»'¡¡said¡¡Mountclere¡£

'Nothing's¡¡done¡¡yet¡¡between¡¡them¡£'

'It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡likely¡¡that¡¡anything¡¡is¡¡done¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time¡¡of¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I
have¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡church¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡probably¡¡go¡¡to
your¡¡relative's¡¡house¡¡at¡¡once£¿'

Sol¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father¡¡for¡¡a¡¡reply¡£

'No£»¡¡I¡¡too¡¡shall¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡church¡¡first£»¡¡just¡¡to¡¡assure¡¡myself£»'
said¡¡Chickerel¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡shall¡¡then¡¡go¡¡on¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡¡Petherwin's¡£'

The¡¡carriage¡¡was¡¡stopped¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡a¡¡steep¡¡incline¡¡leading
down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edifice¡£¡¡¡¡Mountclere¡¡and¡¡Chickerel¡¡alighted¡¡and¡¡walked
on¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡gates£»¡¡Sol¡¡remaining¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡Christopher¡¡was
some¡¡way¡¡off£»¡¡descending¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡having¡¡halted¡¡to¡¡leave
his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡trap¡¡at¡¡a¡¡small¡¡inn¡¡at¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village¡£

When¡¡Chickerel¡¡and¡¡Mountclere¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡churchyard¡¡gate¡¡they¡¡found
it¡¡slightly¡¡open¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡church¡­door¡¡beyond¡¡it¡¡was¡¡also¡¡open£»¡¡but
nobody¡¡was¡¡near¡¡the¡¡spot¡£

'We¡¡have¡¡arrived¡¡not¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡too¡¡soon£»¡¡however£»'¡¡said¡¡Mountclere¡£
'Preparations¡¡have¡¡apparently¡¡begun¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡early¡¡wedding£»
no¡¡doubt¡£'

Entering¡¡the¡¡building£»¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡around£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡empty¡£
Chickerel¡¡turned¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡chancel£»¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡being¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡a
red¡¡kneeling¡­cushion£»¡¡placed¡¡at¡¡about¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡altar¡­
railing£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡for¡¡early¡¡use¡£¡¡¡¡Mountclere¡¡strode¡¡to¡¡the¡¡vestry£»
somewhat¡¡at¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡how¡¡to¡¡proceed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡difficult¡¡task¡¡of
unearthing¡¡his¡¡brother£»¡¡obtaining¡¡a¡¡private¡¡interview¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡and
then£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡introduction¡¡of¡¡Sol¡¡and¡¡Chickerel£»¡¡causing¡¡a¡¡general
convulsion¡£

'Ha£¡¡¡here's¡¡somebody£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡observing¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vestry¡£¡¡¡¡He
advanced¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡asking¡¡where¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡¡was¡¡to
be¡¡found¡£¡¡¡¡Chickerel¡¡came¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡direction¡£

'Are¡¡you¡¡the¡¡parish¡¡clerk£¿'¡¡said¡¡Mountclere¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡was
dressed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡his¡¡best¡¡clothes¡£

'I¡¡hev¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡that¡¡calling£»'¡¡the¡¡man¡¡replied¡£

Two¡¡large¡¡books¡¡were¡¡lying¡¡before¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡vestry¡¡table£»¡¡one¡¡of
them¡¡being¡¡open¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡clerk¡¡spoke¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡slantingly¡¡on¡¡the
page£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡person¡¡might¡¡do¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡if¡¡some¡¡writing¡¡were¡¡dry¡£
Mountclere¡¡and¡¡Chickerel¡¡gazed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡page¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡book¡¡was¡¡the
marriage¡­register¡£

'Too¡¡late£¡'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel¡£

There¡¡plainly¡¡enough¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡signatures¡¡of¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡¡and
Ethelberta¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡viscount's¡¡was¡¡very¡¡black£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡dried¡£
Her¡¡strokes¡¡were¡¡firm£»¡¡and¡¡comparatively¡¡thick¡¡for¡¡a¡¡woman's£»¡¡though
paled¡¡by¡¡juxtaposition¡¡with¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡muddled¡¡characters¡£¡¡¡¡In
the¡¡space¡¡for¡¡witnesses'¡¡names¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡trembling¡¡lines¡¡as¡¡fine
as¡¡silk¡¡the¡¡autograph¡¡of¡¡Picotee£»¡¡the¡¡second¡¡name¡¡being¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a
stranger£»¡¡probably¡¡the¡¡clerk¡£

'Yes£»¡¡yeswe¡¡are¡¡too¡¡late£»¡¡it¡¡seems£»'¡¡said¡¡Mountclere¡¡coolly¡£¡¡¡¡'Who
could¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡they'd¡¡marry¡¡at¡¡eight£¡'

Chickerel¡¡stood¡¡like¡¡a¡¡man¡¡baked¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡dry¡£¡¡¡¡Further¡¡than¡¡his
first¡¡two¡¡words¡¡he¡¡could¡¡say¡¡nothing¡£

'They¡¡must¡¡have¡¡set¡¡about¡¡it¡¡early£»¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡soul£»'¡¡Mountclere
continued¡£¡¡¡¡'When¡¡did¡¡the¡¡wedding¡¡take¡¡place£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clerk
sharply¡£

'It¡¡was¡¡over¡¡about¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡before¡¡you¡¡came¡¡in£»'¡¡replied¡¡that
luminary¡¡pleasantly£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡played¡¡at¡¡an¡¡invisible¡¡game¡¡of¡¡pitch¡­and¡­
toss¡¡with¡¡some¡¡half¡­sovereigns¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pocket¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡received¡¡orders¡¡to
have¡¡the¡¡church¡¡ready¡¡at¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡to¡¡eight¡¡this¡¡morning£»¡¡though
I¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡till¡¡bedtime¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
very¡¡private¡¡and¡¡plain£»¡¡not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡mind¡¡another¡¡such¡¡a¡¡one£»
sir£»'¡¡and¡¡he¡¡secretly¡¡pitched¡¡and¡¡tossed¡¡again¡£

Meanwhile¡¡Sol¡¡had¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡too¡¡restless¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡the
carriage¡¡for¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡after¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡¡had¡¡left¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡He
stepped¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡that¡¡Christopher¡¡came¡¡past£»¡¡and
together¡¡they¡¡too¡¡went¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡church¡£

'Father£»¡¡ought¡¡we¡¡not¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡at¡¡once¡¡to¡¡Ethelberta's£»¡¡instead¡¡of
waiting£¿'¡¡said¡¡Sol£»¡¡on¡¡reaching¡¡the¡¡vestry£»¡¡still¡¡in¡¡ignorance¡£
''Twas¡¡no¡¡use¡¡in¡¡coming¡¡here¡£'

'No¡¡use¡¡at¡¡all£»'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡straw¡¡in¡¡his¡¡throat¡£
'Look¡¡at¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡almost¡¡sooner¡¡have¡¡had¡¡it¡¡that¡¡in¡¡leaving
this¡¡church¡¡I¡¡came¡¡from¡¡her¡¡gravewell£»¡¡no£»¡¡perhaps¡¡not¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡I
fear¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡thing¡£'

Sol¡¡then¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡names¡¡in¡¡the¡¡register£»¡¡Christopher¡¡saw¡¡them£»¡¡and
the¡¡man¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡book¡£¡¡¡¡Christopher¡¡could¡¡not¡¡well¡¡command
himself£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡retired¡£

'I¡¡knew¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡always¡¡said¡¡that¡¡pride¡¡would¡¡lead¡¡Berta¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡an
unworthy¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡it¡¡has£¡'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡¡bitterly¡£¡¡¡¡'What¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡do
now£¿¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡see¡¡her¡£'

'Do¡¡no¡¡such¡¡thing£»¡¡young¡¡man£»'¡¡said¡¡Mountclere¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡best¡¡course¡¡is
to¡¡leave¡¡matters¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡are¡¡married¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡are¡¡wise£»¡¡you
will¡¡try¡¡to¡¡think¡¡the¡¡match¡¡a¡¡good¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡content¡¡to¡¡let¡¡her
keep¡¡her¡¡position¡¡without¡¡inconveniencing¡¡her¡¡by¡¡your¡¡intrusions¡¡or
complaints¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡the¡¡satisfaction¡¡of¡¡her¡¡ambition
will¡¡help¡¡her¡¡to¡¡endure¡¡any¡¡few¡¡surprises¡¡to¡¡her¡¡propriety¡¡that¡¡may
occur¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡is¡¡a¡¡clever¡¡young¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡has¡¡played¡¡her¡¡cards
adroitly¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡she¡¡may¡¡never¡¡repent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡game£¡¡¡¡¡A¡­hem¡£
Good¡¡morning¡£'¡¡¡¡Saying¡¡this£»¡¡Mountclere¡¡slightly¡¡bowed¡¡to¡¡his
relations£»¡¡and¡¡marched¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡with¡¡dignity£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was
told¡¡afterwards¡¡by¡¡the¡¡coachman£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡no¡¡love¡¡for¡¡Mountclere£»
that¡¡when¡¡he¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fly£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡as¡¡he¡¡believed
unobserved£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡overcome¡¡with¡¡fatuous¡¡rage£»¡¡his¡¡lips
frothing¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mug¡¡of¡¡hot¡¡ale¡£

'What¡¡an¡¡impertinent¡¡gentleman¡¡'tis£»'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel¡£¡¡¡¡'As¡¡if¡¡we¡¡had
tried¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡his¡¡brother£¡'

'He¡¡knows¡¡better¡¡than¡¡that£»'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡he'll¡¡never¡¡believe
that¡¡Berta¡¡didn't¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡trap¡¡for¡¡the¡¡old¡¡fellow¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡thinks¡¡at¡¡this
moment¡¡that¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡told¡¡of¡¡us¡¡and¡¡our
belongings¡£'

'I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡she¡¡has¡¡deceived¡¡him¡¡in¡¡anything£»'¡¡murmured¡¡Chickerel¡£
'I¡¡can¡¡hardly¡¡suppose¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡is¡¡altogether¡¡beyond¡¡me¡£
However£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡has¡¡misled¡¡him¡¡on¡¡any¡¡point¡¡she¡¡will¡¡suffer¡¡for¡¡it¡£'

'You¡¡need¡¡not¡¡fear¡¡that£»¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡isn't¡¡her¡¡way¡¡of¡¡working¡£¡¡¡¡Why
couldn't¡¡she¡¡have¡¡known¡¡that¡¡when¡¡a¡¡title¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡had¡¡for¡¡the
asking£»¡¡the¡¡owner¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡shocking¡¡one¡¡indeed£¿'

'The¡¡title¡¡is¡¡well¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡Any¡¡poor¡¡scrubs¡¡in¡¡our¡¡place¡¡must¡¡be
fools¡¡not¡¡to¡¡think¡¡the¡¡match¡¡a¡¡very¡¡rare¡¡and¡¡astonishing¡¡honour£»¡¡as
far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡position¡¡goes¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡that¡¡my¡¡brave¡¡girl¡¡will¡¡be¡¡miserable
is¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡stomach¡¡so¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡any
other¡¡lord¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kingdom£»¡¡we¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡merry¡¡indeed¡£¡¡¡¡I
believe¡¡he¡¡will¡¡ruin¡¡her¡¡happinessyes£»¡¡I¡¡donot¡¡by¡¡any¡¡personal
snubbing¡¡or¡¡rough¡¡conduct£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡other¡¡things£»¡¡causing¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be
despised£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡she¡¡can't¡¡endure¡£'

'She's¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡despised¡¡without¡¡a¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡troublewe¡¡must
remember¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡if¡¡he¡¡insults¡¡her¡¡by¡¡introducing¡¡new¡¡favourites£»
as¡¡they¡¡say¡¡he¡¡did¡¡his¡¡first¡¡wife£»¡¡I'll¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡and¡¡ask¡¡his
meaning£»¡¡and¡¡take¡¡her¡¡away¡£'

'Nonsensewe¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡know¡¡what¡¡he¡¡does£»¡¡or¡¡how¡¡she¡¡feels£»¡¡she
will¡¡never¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡word¡£¡¡¡¡However¡¡unhappy¡¡she¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡she¡¡will
always¡¡deny¡¡itthat's¡¡the¡¡unfortunate¡¡part¡¡of¡¡such¡¡marriages¡£'

'An¡¡old¡¡chap¡¡like¡¡that¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡young¡¡women¡¡alone£»¡¡damn¡¡him£¡'

The¡¡clerk¡¡came¡¡nearer¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡allow¡¡bad¡¡words¡¡to¡¡be
spoke¡¡in¡¡this¡¡sacred¡¡pile£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡'As¡¡far¡¡as¡¡my¡¡personal¡¡self
goes£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡no¡¡objection¡¡to¡¡your¡¡cussing¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡you
like£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡a¡¡official¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡my¡¡conscience¡¡won't¡¡allow¡¡it
to¡¡be¡¡done¡£'

'Your¡¡conscience¡¡has¡¡allowed¡¡something¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡that¡¡cussing¡¡and
swearing¡¡are¡¡godly¡¡worship¡¡to¡£'

'The¡¡prettiest¡¡maid¡¡is¡¡left¡¡out¡¡of¡¡harness£»¡¡however£»'¡¡said¡¡the
clerk¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡little¡¡witness¡¡was¡¡the¡¡chicken¡¡to¡¡my¡¡tasteLord
forgive¡¡me¡¡for¡¡saying¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡family£¡'

Sol¡¡and¡¡his¡¡father¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡withdraw£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡forgot¡¡the¡¡remark£»
but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡frequently¡¡recalled¡¡by¡¡Christopher¡£

'Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Ethelberta¡¡before¡¡you¡¡leave£¿'¡¡said
Sol¡£

'Certainly¡¡not£»'¡¡said¡¡Chickerel¡£¡¡¡¡'Mr¡£¡¡Mountclere's¡¡advice¡¡was¡¡good
in¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡more¡¡we¡¡keep¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡the¡¡more¡¡good¡¡we¡¡are¡¡doing
her¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Anglebury¡¡by¡¡the¡¡carrier£»¡¡and¡¡get¡¡on¡¡at
once¡¡to¡¡London¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡go¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡suppose£¿'

'The¡¡carrier¡¡does¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡yet¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡two¡£'

'I¡¡shall¡¡walk¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡him¡¡overtake¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡possible£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡get
one¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡Enckworth¡¡Court£»¡¡Berta's¡¡new¡¡home£»¡¡there¡¡may¡¡be¡¡time£»
if¡¡I¡¡start¡¡at¡¡once¡£'

'I¡¡will¡¡walk¡¡with¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡£

'There¡¡is¡¡room¡¡for¡¡one¡¡with¡¡me£»'¡¡said¡¡Christopher¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡shall¡¡drive
back¡¡early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡£'

'Thank¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡Sol¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡will¡¡endeavour¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡you¡¡at¡¡Corvsgate¡£'

Thus¡¡it¡¡was¡¡arranged¡£¡¡¡¡Chickerel¡¡cou

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