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world she stands； and that is an additional reason why I should
sympathize with her。 Instead； then； of requesting the favour of
your retirement from the post； and dismissing your interests
altogether； I will retain you as my steward still； on condition that
you bring home your wife； and live with her respectably； in short；
as if you loved her； you understand。 I WISH you to stay here if you
grant that everything shall flow smoothly between yourself and her。'
The breast and shoulders of the steward rose； as if an expression of
defiance was about to be poured forth； before it took form； he
controlled himself and said； in his natural voice
'My part of the performance shall be carried out； madam。'
'And her anxiety to obtain a standing in the world ensures that hers
will；' replied Miss Aldclyffe。 'That will be satisfactory； then。'
After a few additional remarks； she gently signified that she wished
to put an end to the interview。 The steward took the hint and
retired。
He felt vexed and mortified； yet in walking homeward he was
convinced that telling the whole truth as he had done； with the
single exception of his love for Cytherea （which he tried to hide
even from himself）； had never served him in better stead than it had
done that night。
Manston went to his desk and thought of Cytherea's beauty with the
bitterest； wildest regret。 After the lapse of a few minutes he
calmed himself by a stoical effort； and wrote the subjoined letter
to his wife：
'KNAPWATER；
November 21； 1864。
'DEAR EUNICE；I hope you reached London safely after your flighty
visit to me。
'As I promised； I have thought over our conversation that night； and
your wish that your coming here should be no longer delayed。 After
all； it was perfectly natural that you should have spoken unkindly
as you did； ignorant as you were of the circumstances which bound
me。
'So I have made arrangements to fetch you home at once。 It is
hardly worth while for you to attempt to bring with you any luggage
you may have gathered about you （beyond mere clothing）。 Dispose of
superfluous things at a broker's； your bringing them would only make
a talk in this parish； and lead people to believe we had long been
keeping house separately。
'Will next Monday suit you for coming？ You have nothing to do that
can occupy you for more than a day or two； as far as I can see； and
the remainder of this week will afford ample time。 I can be in
London the night before； and we will come down together by the mid…
day trainYour very affectionate husband；
'AENEAS MANSTON。
'Now； of course； I shall no longer write to you as Mrs。 Rondley。'
The address on the envelope was
MRS。 MANSTON；
41 CHARLES SQUARE；
HOXTON；
LONDON； N。
He took the letter to the house； and it being too late for the
country post； sent one of the stablemen with it to Casterbridge；
instead of troubling to go to Budmouth with it himself as
heretofore。 He had no longer any necessity to keep his condition a
secret。
7。 FROM THE TWENTY…SECOND TO THE TWENTY…SEVENTH OF NOVEMBER
But the next morning Manston found that he had been forgetful of
another matter； in naming the following Monday to his wife for the
journey。
The fact was this。 A letter had just come； reminding him that he
had left the whole of the succeeding week open for an important
business engagement with a neighbouring land…agent； at that
gentleman's residence thirteen miles off。 The particular day he had
suggested to his wife； had； in the interim； been appropriated by his
correspondent。 The meeting could not now be put off。
So he wrote again to his wife； stating that business； which could
not be postponed； called him away from home on Monday； and would
entirely prevent him coming all the way to fetch her on Sunday night
as he had intended； but that he would meet her at the Carriford Road
Station with a conveyance when she arrived there in the evening。
The next day came his wife's answer to his first letter； in which
she said that she would be ready to be fetched at the time named。
Having already written his second letter； which was by that time in
her hands； he made no further reply。
The week passed away。 The steward had； in the meantime； let it
become generally known in the village that he was a married man； and
by a little judicious management； sound family reasons for his past
secrecy upon the subject； which were floated as adjuncts to the
story； were placidly received； they seemed so natural and
justifiable to the unsophisticated minds of nine…tenths of his
neighbours； that curiosity in the matter； beyond a strong curiosity
to see the lady's face； was well…nigh extinguished。
X。 THE EVENTS OF A DAY AND NIGHT
1。 NOVEMBER THE TWENTY…EIGHTH。 UNTIL TEN P。M。
Monday came； the day named for Mrs。 Manston's journey from London to
her husband's house； a day of singular and great events； influencing
the present and future of nearly all the personages whose actions in
a complex drama form the subject of this record。
The proceedings of the steward demand the first notice。 Whilst
taking his breakfast on this particular morning； the clock pointing
to eight； the horse…and…gig that was to take him to Chettlewood
waiting ready at the door； Manston hurriedly cast his eyes down the
column of Bradshaw which showed the details and duration of the
selected train's journey。
The inspection was carelessly made； the leaf being kept open by the
aid of one hand； whilst the other still held his cup of coffee； much
more carelessly than would have been the case had the expected new…
comer been Cytherea Graye； instead of his lawful wife。
He did not perceive； branching from the column down which his finger
ran； a small twist； called a shunting…line； inserted at a particular
place； to imply that at that point the train was divided into two。
By this oversight he understood that the arrival of his wife at
Carriford Road Station would not be till late in the evening： by
the second half of the train； containing the third…class passengers；
and passing two hours and three…quarters later than the previous
one； by which the lady； as a second…class passenger； would really be
brought。
He then considered that there would be plenty of time for him to
return from his day's engagement to meet this train。 He finished
his breakfast； gave proper and precise directions to his servant on
the preparations that were to be made for the lady's reception；
jumped into his gig； and drove off to Lord Claydonfield's； at
Chettlewood。
He went along by the front of Knapwater House。 He could not help
turning to look at what he knew to be the window of Cytherea's room。
Whilst he looked； a hopeless expression of passionate love and
sensuous anguish came upon his face and lingered there for a few
seconds； then； as on previous occasions； it was resolutely
repressed； and he trotted along the smooth white road； again
endeavouring to banish all thought of the young girl whose beauty
and grace