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the night； the pieces of furniture and utensils which had been saved
from the several houses。 There was no other place of safety for
them； and they accordingly were gathered there。
6。 HALF…PAST TWELVE TO ONE A。M。
Manston； when he retired to meditate； had walked round the
churchyard； and now entered the opened door of the building。
He mechanically pursued his way round the piers into his own seat in
the north aisle。 The lower atmosphere of this spot was shaded by
its own wall from the shine which streamed in over the window…sills
on the same side。 The only light burning inside the church was a
small tallow candle； standing in the font； in the opposite aisle of
the building to that in which Manston had sat down； and near where
the furniture was piled。 The candle's mild rays were overpowered by
the ruddier light from the ruins； making the weak flame to appear
like the moon by day。
Sitting there he saw Farmer Springrove enter the door； followed by
his son Edward； still carrying his travelling…bag in his hand。 They
were speaking of the sad death of Mrs。 Manston； but the subject was
relinquished for that of the houses burnt。
This row of houses； running from the inn eastward； had been built
under the following circumstances：
Fifty years before this date； the spot upon which the cottages
afterwards stood was a blank strip； along the side of the village
street； difficult to cultivate； on account of the outcrop thereon of
a large bed of flints called locally a 'lanch' or 'lanchet。'
The Aldclyffe then in possession of the estate conceived the idea
that a row of cottages would be an improvement to the spot； and
accordingly granted leases of portions to several respectable
inhabitants。 Each lessee was to be subject to the payment of a
merely nominal rent for the whole term of lives； on condition that
he built his own cottage； and delivered it up intact at the end of
the term。
Those who had built had； one by one； relinquished their indentures；
either by sale or barter； to Farmer Springrove's father。 New lives
were added in some cases； by payment of a sum to the lord of the
manor； etc。； and all the leases were now held by the farmer himself；
as one of the chief provisions for his old age。
The steward had become interested in the following conversation：
'Try not to be so depressed； father； they are all insured。'
The words came from Edward in an anxious tone。
'You mistake； Edward； they are not insured；' returned the old man
gloomily。
'Not？' the son asked。
'Not one！' said the farmer。
'In the Helmet Fire Office； surely？'
'They were insured there every one。 Six months ago the office；
which had been raising the premiums on thatched premises higher for
some years； gave up insuring them altogether； as two or three other
fire…offices had done previously； on account； they said； of the
uncertainty and greatness of the risk of thatch undetached。 Ever
since then I have been continually intending to go to another
office； but have never gone。 Who expects a fire？'
'Do you remember the terms of the leases？' said Edward； still more
uneasily。
'No； not particularly；' said his father absently。
'Where are they？'
'In the bureau there； that's why I tried to save it first； among
other things。'
'Well； we must see to that at once。'
'What do you want？'
'The key。'
They went into the south aisle； took the candle from the font； and
then proceeded to open the bureau； which had been placed in a corner
under the gallery。 Both leant over upon the flap； Edward holding
the candle； whilst his father took the pieces of parchment from one
of the drawers； and spread the first out before him。
'You read it； Ted。 I can't see without my glasses。 This one will
be sufficient。 The terms of all are the same。'
Edward took the parchment； and read quickly and indistinctly for
some time； then aloud and slowly as follows：
'And the said John Springrove for himself his heirs executors and
administrators doth covenant and agree with the said Gerald
Fellcourt Aldclyffe his heirs and assigns that he the said John
Springrove his heirs and assigns during the said term shall pay unto
the said Gerald Fellcourt Aldclyffe his heirs and assigns the clear
yearly rent of ten shillings and sixpence。 。 。 。 at the several
times hereinbefore appointed for the payment thereof respectively。
And also shall and at all times during the said term well and
sufficiently repair and keep the said Cottage or Dwelling…house and
all other the premises and all houses or buildings erected or to be
erected thereupon in good and proper repair in every respect without
exception and the said premises in such good repair upon the
determination of this demise shall yield up unto the said Gerald
Fellcourt Aldclyffe his heirs and assigns。'
They closed the bureau and turned towards the door of the church
without speaking。
Manston also had come forward out of the gloom。 Notwithstanding the
farmer's own troubles； an instinctive respect and generous sense of
sympathy with the steward for his awful loss caused the old man to
step aside； that Manston might pass out without speaking to them if
he chose to do so。
'Who is he？' whispered Edward to his father； as Manston approached。
'Mr。 Manston； the steward。'
Manston came near； and passed down the aisle on the side of the
younger man。 Their faces came almost close together： one large
flame； which still lingered upon the ruins outside； threw long
dancing shadows of each across the nave till they bent upwards
against the aisle wall； and also illuminated their eyes； as each met
those of the other。 Edward had learnt； by a letter from home； of
the steward's passion for Cytherea； and his mysterious repression of
it； afterwards explained by his marriage。 That marriage was now
nought。 Edward realized the man's newly acquired freedom； and felt
an instinctive enmity towards himhe would hardly own to himself
why。 The steward； too； knew Cytherea's attachment to Edward； and
looked keenly and inscrutably at him。
7。 ONE TO TWO A。M。
Manston went homeward alone； his heart full of strange emotions。
Entering the house； and dismissing the woman to her own home； he at
once proceeded upstairs to his bedroom。
Reasoning worldliness； especially when allied with sensuousness；
cannot repress on some extreme occasions the human instinct to pour
out the soul to some Being or Personality； who in frigid moments is
dismissed with the title of Chance； or at most Law。 Manston was
selfishly and inhumanly； but honestly and unutterably； thankful for
the recent catastrophe。 Beside his bed； for that first time during
a period of nearly twenty years； he fell down upon his knees in a
passionate outburst of feeling。
Many minutes passed before he arose。 He walked to the window； and
then seemed to remember for the first time that some action on his
part was necessary in connection with the sad circumstance of the
night。
Leaving the house at once； he went to the scene of the fire；
arriving there in time to hear the rector making an arrangement with
a certain number of men to watch the spot till morning。 The ashes
were st