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a little sermonizing now and then。'
'Why？'
'O； it's only in fun。 He's very naughty sometimesnot really； you
knowbut he will look at any pretty face when he sees it。'
Storing up this statement of his susceptibility as another item to
be miserable upon when she had time； 'How do you know that？'
Cytherea asked； with a swelling heart。
'Well； you know how things do come to women's ears。 He used to live
at Budmouth as an assistant…architect； and I found out that a young
giddy thing of a girl who lives there somewhere took his fancy for a
day or two。 But I don't feel jealous at allour engagement is so
matter…of…fact that neither of us can be jealous。 And it was a mere
flirtationshe was too silly for him。 He's fond of rowing； and
kindly gave her an airing for an evening or two。 I'll warrant they
talked the most unmitigated rubbish under the sunall shallowness
and pastime； just as everything is at watering placesneither of
them caring a bit for the othershe giggling like a goose all the
time'
Concentrated essence of woman pervaded the room rather than air。
'She DIDN'T！ and it WASN'T shallowness！' Cytherea burst out； with
brimming eyes。 ''Twas deep deceit on one side； and entire
confidence on the otheryes； it was！' The pent…up emotion had
swollen and swollen inside the young thing till the dam could no
longer embay it。 The instant the words were out she would have
given worlds to have been able to recall them。
'Do you know heror him？' said Miss Hinton； starting with suspicion
at the warmth shown。
The two rivals had now lost their personality quite。 There was the
same keen brightness of eye； the same movement of the mouth； the
same mind in both； as they looked doubtingly and excitedly at each
other。 As is invariably the case with women when a man they care
for is the subject of an excitement among them； the situation
abstracted the differences which distinguished them as individuals；
and left only the properties common to them as atoms of a sex。
Cytherea caught at the chance afforded her of not betraying herself。
'Yes； I know her；' she said。
'Well；' said Miss Hinton； 'I am really vexed if my speaking so
lightly of any friend of yours has hurt your feelings； but'
'O； never mind；' Cytherea returned； 'it doesn't matter； Miss Hinton。
I think I must leave you now。 I have to call at other places。 Yes…
…I must go。'
Miss Hinton； in a perplexed state of mind； showed her visitor
politely downstairs to the door。 Here Cytherea bade her a hurried
adieu； and flitted down the garden into the lane。
She persevered in her duties with a wayward pleasure in giving
herself misery； as was her wont。 Mr。 Springrove's name was next on
the list； and she turned towards his dwelling； the Three Tranters
Inn。
3。 FOUR TO FIVE P。M。
The cottages along Carriford village street were not so close but
that on one side or other of the road was always a hedge of hawthorn
or privet； over or through which could be seen gardens or orchards
rich with produce。 It was about the middle of the early apple…
harvest； and the laden trees were shaken at intervals by the
gatherers； the soft pattering of the falling crop upon the grassy
ground being diversified by the loud rattle of vagrant ones upon a
rail； hencoop； basket； or lean…to roof； or upon the rounded and
stooping backs of the collectorsmostly children； who would have
cried bitterly at receiving such a smart blow from any other
quarter； but smilingly assumed it to be but fun in apples。
The Three Tranters Inn； a many…gabled； mediaeval building；
constructed almost entirely of timber； plaster； and thatch； stood
close to the line of the roadside； almost opposite the churchyard；
and was connected with a row of cottages on the left by thatched
outbuildings。 It was an uncommonly characteristic and handsome
specimen of the genuine roadside inn of bygone times； and standing
on one of the great highways in this part of England； had in its
time been the scene of as much of what is now looked upon as the
romantic and genial experience of stage…coach travelling as any
halting…place in the country。 The railway had absorbed the whole
stream of traffic which formerly flowed through the village and
along by the ancient door of the inn； reducing the empty…handed
landlord； who used only to farm a few fields at the back of the
house； to the necessity of eking out his attenuated income by
increasing the extent of his agricultural business if he would still
maintain his social standing。 Next to the general stillness
pervading the spot； the long line of outbuildings adjoining the
house was the most striking and saddening witness to the passed…away
fortunes of the Three Tranters Inn。 It was the bulk of the original
stabling； and where once the hoofs of two…score horses had daily
rattled over the stony yard； to and from the stalls within； thick
grass now grew； whilst the line of roofsonce so straightover the
decayed stalls； had sunk into vast hollows till they seemed like the
cheeks of toothless age。
On a green plot at the other end of the building grew two or three
large； wide…spreading elm…trees； from which the sign was suspended
representing the three men called tranters （irregular carriers）；
standing side by side； and exactly alike to a hair's…breadth； the
grain of the wood and joints of the boards being visible through the
thin paint depicting their forms； which were still further
disfigured by red stains running downwards from the rusty nails
above。
Under the trees now stood a cider…mill and press； and upon the spot
sheltered by the boughs were gathered Mr。 Springrove himself； his
men； the parish clerk； two or three other men； grinders and
supernumeraries； a woman with an infant in her arms； a flock of
pigeons； and some little boys with straws in their mouths；
endeavouring； whenever the men's backs were turned； to get a sip of
the sweet juice issuing from the vat。
Edward Springrove the elder； the landlord； now more particularly a
farmer； and for two months in the year a cider…maker； was an
employer of labour of the old school； who worked himself among his
men。 He was now engaged in packing the pomace into horsehair bags
with a rammer； and Gad Weedy； his man； was occupied in shovelling up
more from a tub at his side。 The shovel shone like silver from the
action of the juice； and ever and anon； in its motion to and fro；
caught the rays of the declining sun and reflected them in bristling
stars of light。
Mr。 Springrove had been too young a man when the pristine days of
the Three Tranters had departed for ever to have much of the host
left in him now。 He was a poet with a rough skin： one whose
sturdiness was more the result of external circumstances than of
intrinsic nature。 Too kindly constituted to be very provident； he
was yet not imprudent。 He had a quiet humorousness of disposition；
not out of keeping with a frequent melancholy； the general
expression of his countenance being one of abstraction。 Like Walt
Whitman he felt as his years increased
'I foresee too much； it means more than I thought。'
On the present occasion he wore gaiters and a leathern apron； and
wor