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his ticket； and crossed the room in front of Manston： a young man
with a black bag and umbrella in his hand。 He passed out of the
door； down the steps； and struck out into the darkness。
'Who was that young man？' said Manston； when the porter had
returned。 The young man； by a kind of magnetism； had drawn the
steward's thoughts after him。
'He's an architect。'
'My own old profession。 I could have sworn it by the cut of him；'
Manston murmured。 'What's his name？' he said again。
'SpringroveFarmer Springrove's son； Edward。'
'Farmer Springrove's son； Edward；' the steward repeated to himself；
and considered a matter to which the words had painfully recalled
his mind。
The matter was Miss Aldclyffe's mention of the young man as
Cytherea's lover； which； indeed； had scarcely ever been absent from
his thoughts。
'But for the existence of my wife that man might have been my
rival；' he pondered； following the porter； who had now come back to
him； into the luggage…room。 And whilst the man was carrying out and
putting in one box； which was sufficiently portable for the gig；
Manston still thought； as his eyes watched the process
'But for my wife； Springrove might have been my rival。'
He examined the lamps of his gig； carefully laid out the reins；
mounted the seat and drove along the turnpike…road towards Knapwater
Park。
The exact locality of the fire was plain to him as he neared home。
He soon could hear the shout of men； the flapping of the flames； the
crackling of burning wood； and could smell the smoke from the
conflagration。
Of a sudden； a few yards ahead； within the compass of the rays from
the right…hand lamp； burst forward the figure of a man。 Having been
walking in darkness the newcomer raised his hands to his eyes； on
approaching nearer； to screen them from the glare of the reflector。
Manston saw that he was one of the villagers： a small farmer
originally； who had drunk himself down to a day…labourer and reputed
poacher。
'Hoy！' cried Manston； aloud； that the man might step aside out of
the way。
'Is that Mr。 Manston？' said the man。
'Yes。'
'Somebody ha' come to Carriford： and the rest of it may concern
you； sir。'
'Well； well。'
'Did you expect Mrs。 Manston to…night； sir？'
'Yes； unfortunately she's come； I know； and asleep long before this
time； I suppose。'
The labourer leant his elbow upon the shaft of the gig and turned
his face； pale and sweating from his late work at the fire； up to
Manston's。
'Yes； she did come；' he said。 。 。 。 'I beg pardon； sir； but I
should be glad ofof'
'What？'
'Glad of a trifle for bringen ye the news。'
'Not a farthing！ I didn't want your news； I knew she was come。'
'Won't you give me a shillen； sir？'
'Certainly not。'
'Then will you lend me a shillen； sir？ I be tired out； and don't
know what to do。 If I don't pay you back some day I'll be dd。'
'The devil is so cheated that perdition isn't worth a penny as a
security。'
'Oh！'
'Let me go on；' said Manston。
'Thy wife is DEAD； that's 'the rest o' the news；' said the labourer
slowly。 He waited for a reply； none came。
'She went to the Three Tranters； because she couldn't get into thy
house； the burnen roof fell in upon her before she could be called
up； and she's a cinder； as thou'lt be some day。'
'That will do； let me drive on；' said the steward calmly。
Expectation of a concussion may be so intense that its failure
strikes the brain with more force than its fulfilment。 The labourer
sank back into the ditch。 Such a Cushi could not realize the
possibility of such an unmoved David as this。
Manston drove hastily to the turning of the road； tied his horse；
and ran on foot to the site of the fire。
The stagnation caused by the awful accident had been passed through；
and all hands were helping to remove from the remaining cottage what
furniture they could lay hold of； the thatch of the roofs being
already on fire。 The Knapwater fire…engine had arrived on the spot；
but it was small； and ineffectual。 A group was collected round the
rector； who in a coat which had become bespattered； scorched； and
torn in his exertions； was directing on one hand the proceedings
relative to the removal of goods into the church； and with the other
was pointing out the spot on which it was most desirable that the
puny engines at their disposal should be made to play。 Every tongue
was instantly silent at the sight of Manston's pale and clear
countenance； which contrasted strangely with the grimy and streaming
faces of the toiling villagers。
'Was she burnt？' he said in a firm though husky voice； and stepping
into the illuminated area。 The rector came to him； and took him
aside。 'Is she burnt？' repeated Manston。
'She is dead： but thank God； she was spared the horrid agony of
burning；' the rector said solemnly； 'the roof and gable fell in upon
her； and crushed her。 Instant death must have followed。'
'Why was she here？' said Manston。
'From what we can hurriedly collect； it seems that she found the
door of your house locked； and concluded that you had retired； the
fact being that your servant； Mrs。 Crickett； had gone out to supper。
She then came back to the inn and went to bed。'
'Where's the landlord？' said Manston。
Mr。 Springrove came up； walking feebly； and wrapped in a cloak； and
corroborated the evidence given by the rector。
'Did she look ill； or annoyed； when she came？' said the steward。
'I can't say。 I didn't see； but I think'
'What do you think？'
'She was much put out about something。'
'My not meeting her； naturally；' murmured the other； lost in
reverie。 He turned his back on Springrove and the rector； and
retired from the shining light。
Everything had been done that could be done with the limited means
at their disposal。 The whole row of houses was destroyed； and each
presented itself as one stage of a series； progressing from smoking
ruins at the end where the inn had stood； to a partly flaming mass
glowing as none but wood embers will glowat the other。
A feature in the decline of town fires was noticeably absent here
steam。 There was present what is not observable in towns
incandescence。
The heat； and the smarting effect upon their eyes of the strong
smoke from the burning oak and deal； had at last driven the
villagers back from the road in front of the houses； and they now
stood in groups in the churchyard； the surface of which； raised by
the interments of generations； stood four or five feet above the
level of the road； and almost even with the top of the low wall
dividing one from the other。 The headstones stood forth whitely
against the dark grass and yews； their brightness being repeated on
the white smock…frocks of some of the labourers； and in a mellower；
ruddier form on their faces and hands； on those of the grinning
gargoyles； and on other salient stonework of the weather…beaten
church in the background。
The rector had decided that； under the distressing circumstances of
the case； there would be no sacrilege in placing in the church； for
the night； the pieces of furniture and utensils which had been saved
from the several houses。 There