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it had been before she took the first fatal step of clandestinely
marrying him。 She did not care to please such people as those with
whom she was thrown as a thriving farmer's wife。 She allowed the
pretty trifles of agricultural domesticity to glide by her as sorry
details； and had it not been for the children Darton's house would
have seemed but little brighter than it had been before。
This led to occasional unpleasantness； until Darton sometimes
declared to himself that such endeavours as his to rectify early
deviations of the heart by harking back to the old point mostly
failed of success。 'Perhaps Johns was right；' he would say。 'I
should have gone on with Sally。 Better go with the tide and make
the best of its course than stem it at the risk of a capsize。' But
he kept these unmelodious thoughts to himself； and was outwardly
considerate and kind。
This somewhat barren tract of his life had extended to less than a
year and a half when his ponderings were cut short by the loss of
the woman they concerned。 When she was in her grave he thought
better of her than when she had been alive； the farm was a worse
place without her than with her； after all。 No woman short of
divine could have gone through such an experience as hers with her
first husband without becoming a little soured。 Her stagnant
sympathies； her sometimes unreasonable manner； had covered a heart
frank and well meaning； and originally hopeful and warm。 She left
him a tiny red infant in white wrappings。 To make life as easy as
possible to this touching object became at once his care。
As this child learnt to walk and talk Darton learnt to see
feasibility in a scheme which pleased him。 Revolving the experiment
which he had hitherto made upon life； he fancied he had gained
wisdom from his mistakes and caution from his miscarriages。
What the scheme was needs no penetration to discover。 Once more he
had opportunity to recast and rectify his ill…wrought situations by
returning to Sally Hall； who still lived quietly on under her
mother's roof at Hintock。 Helena had been a woman to lend pathos
and refinement to a home； Sally was the woman to brighten it。 She
would not； as Helena did； despise the rural simplicities of a
farmer's fireside。 Moreover； she had a pre…eminent qualification
for Darton's household； no other woman could make so desirable a
mother to her brother's two children and Darton's one as Sally
while Darton； now that Helena had gone； was a more promising husband
for Sally than he had ever been when liable to reminders from an
uncured sentimental wound。
Darton was not a man to act rapidly； and the working out of his
reparative designs might have been delayed for some time。 But there
came a winter evening precisely like the one which had darkened over
that former ride to Hintock； and he asked himself why he should
postpone longer； when the very landscape called for a repetition of
that attempt。
He told his man to saddle the mare； booted and spurred himself with
a younger horseman's nicety； kissed the two youngest children； and
rode off。 To make the journey a complete parallel to the first； he
would fain have had his old acquaintance Japheth Johns with him。
But Johns； alas！ was missing。 His removal to the other side of the
county had left unrepaired the breach which had arisen between him
and Darton； and though Darton had forgiven him a hundred times； as
Johns had probably forgiven Darton； the effort of reunion in present
circumstances was one not likely to be made。
He screwed himself up to as cheerful a pitch as he could without his
former crony； and became content with his own thoughts as he rode；
instead of the words of a companion。 The sun went down； the boughs
appeared scratched in like an etching against the sky； old crooked
men with faggots at their backs said 'Good…night； sir；' and Darton
replied 'Good…night' right heartily。
By the time he reached the forking roads it was getting as dark as
it had been on the occasion when Johns climbed the directing…post。
Darton made no mistake this time。 'Nor shall I be able to mistake；
thank Heaven； when I arrive；' he murmured。 It gave him peculiar
satisfaction to think that the proposed marriage； like his first；
was of the nature of setting in order things long awry； and not a
momentary freak of fancy。
Nothing hindered the smoothness of his journey； which seemed not
half its former length。 Though dark； it was only between five and
six o'clock when the bulky chimneys of Mrs。 Hall's residence
appeared in view behind the sycamore…tree。 On second thoughts he
retreated and put up at the ale…house as in former time； and when he
had plumed himself before the inn mirror； called for something to
drink； and smoothed out the incipient wrinkles of care； he walked on
to the Knap with a quick step。
CHAPTER V
That evening Sally was making 'pinners' for the milkers； who were
now increased by two； for her mother and herself no longer joined in
milking the cows themselves。 But upon the whole there was little
change in the household economy； and not much in its appearance；
beyond such minor particulars as that the crack over the window；
which had been a hundred years coming； was a trifle wider； that the
beams were a shade blacker； that the influence of modernism had
supplanted the open chimney corner by a grate； that Rebekah； who had
worn a cap when she had plenty of hair； had left it off now she had
scarce any； because it was reported that caps were not fashionable；
and that Sally's face had naturally assumed a more womanly and
experienced cast。
Mrs。 Hall was actually lifting coals with the tongs； as she had used
to do。
'Five years ago this very night； if I am not mistaken' she said；
laying on an ember。
'Not this very nightthough 'twas one night this week；' said the
correct Sally。
'Well； 'tis near enough。 Five years ago Mr。 Darton came to marry
you； and my poor boy Phil came home to die。' She sighed。 'Ah；
Sally；' she presently said； 'if you had managed well Mr。 Darton
would have had you； Helena or none。'
'Don't be sentimental about that； mother；' begged Sally。 'I didn't
care to manage well in such a case。 Though I liked him； I wasn't so
anxious。 I would never have married the man in the midst of such a
hitch as that was；' she added with decision； 'and I don't think I
would if he were to ask me now。'
'I am not sure about that； unless you have another in your eye。'
'I wouldn't； and I'll tell you why。 I could hardly marry him for
love at this time o' day。 And as we've quite enough to live on if
we give up the dairy to…morrow； I should have no need to marry for
any meaner reason 。 。 。 I am quite happy enough as I am； and there's
an end of it。'
Now it was not long after this dialogue that there came a mild rap
at the door； and in a moment there entered Rebekah； looking as
though a ghost had arrived。 The fact was that that accomplished
skimmer and churner （now a resident in the house） had overheard the
desultory observations between mother and daughter； and on opening
the door to Mr。 Darton thought the coincidence must have a grisly
meaning in it。 Mrs