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his； you know； that's honest。〃
〃And so are you；〃 she called back gaily； as she turned from him and went rapidly along the little path。
CHAPTER IX。 Christopher Faces Himself
When she had gone through the gate and across the little patch of trodden grass into the sunken road； Christopher took up the ropes and with a quick jerk of the buried ploughshare began his plodding walk over the turned…up sod。 The furrow was short； but when he reached the end of it he paused from sheer exhaustion and stood wiping the heavy moisture from his brow。 The scene through which he had just passed had left him quivering in every nerve； as if he had been engaged in some terrible struggle against physical odds。 All at once he became aware that the afternoon was too oppressive for field work； and； unhitching the horses from the plough； he led them slowly back to the stable beyond the house。 As he went； it seemed to him that he had grown middle…aged within the hour； his youth had departed as mysteriously as his strength。
A little later； Tucker； who was sitting on the end of a big log at the woodpile； looked up in surprise from the anthill he was watching。
〃Quit work early； eh； Christopher？〃
〃Yes； I've given out；〃 replied Christopher； stopping beside him and picking up the axe which lay in a scattered pile of chips。 〃It's the spring weather； I reckon； but I'm not fit for a tougher job than chopping wood。〃
〃Well； I'd leave that off just now； if I were you。〃
Raising the axe； Christopher swung it lightly over his shoulder； then； lowering it with a nerveless movement； he tossed it impatiently on the ground。
〃A queer thing happened just now； Uncle Tucker；〃 he said； 〃a thing you'll hardly believe even when I tell you。 I had a visit from Mrs。 Wyndham； and she came to say〃 he stammered and broke off abruptly。
〃Mrs。 Wyndham？〃 repeated Tucker。 〃She's Bill Fletcher's granddaughter； isn't she？〃
〃Maria Fletcheryou may have seen her when she lived here； five or six years ago。〃
Tucker shook his head。
〃Bless your heart； my boy； I haven't seen a woman except Lucy and the girls for twenty…five years。 But why did she come； I wonder？〃
〃That's the strange part； and you won't understand it until you see her。 She came because she had just heardsome one had told herabout Fletcher's old rascality。〃
〃You don't say so！〃 exclaimed Tucker beneath his breath。 He gave a long whistle and sat smiling at the little red anthill。 〃And did she actually proffer an apology？〃 he inquired。
〃An amendment； rather。 The Hall will come to her at Fletcher's death； and she walked over to say quite coolly that she wanted to give it back to us。 Think of that！ To part with such a home for the sake of mere right and justice。〃
〃It is something to think about；〃 assented Tucker； 〃and to think hard about； tooand yet I cut my teeth on the theory that women have no sense of honour。 Now； that is pure； foolish； strait…laced honour； and nothing else。〃
〃Nothing else；〃 repeated Christopher softly； 〃and if you'll believe it； she criedshe really cried when I told her I couldn't take it。 Oh； she's wonderful！〃 he burst out suddenly； all his awkward reserve dropping from him。 〃You can't be with her ten minutes without feeling how good she isgood all through； with a big goodness that isn't in the least like the little prudishness of other women〃
He checked himself hastily； but not before Tucker had glanced up with his pleasant smile。
〃Well； my boy； I don't misunderstand you。 I never knew a man yet to begin a love affair with a panegyric on virtue。 She's an estimable woman； I dare say； and I presume she's plain。〃
〃Plain！〃 gasped Christopher。 〃Why； she's beautifulat least； you think so when you see her smile。〃
〃So she smiled through her tears； eh？〃
Christopher started angrily。 〃Can you sit there on that log and laugh at such a thing？〃 he demanded。
〃Come； come；〃 protested Tucker； 〃an honest laugh never turned a sweet deed sour since the world beganand that was more than sweet； it was fine。 I'd like to know that woman； Christopher。〃
〃You could never know herno man could。 She's all clear and bright on the surface； but all mystery beneath。〃
〃Ah； that's it； you see； there was never a fascinating woman yet who was easy to understand。 Wasn't it that shrewd old gallant； Bolivar Blake； who said that in love an ounce of mystery was worth a pound of morality？〃
〃It's like him： he said a lot of nonsense；〃 commented Christopher。 〃But to think；〃 he added after a moment； 〃that she should be Bill Fletcher's granddaughter！〃
〃Well； I knew her mother；〃 returned Tucker； 〃and she was as honest； God…fearing a body as ever trod this earth。 She stood out against Fletcher to the last； you know； and worked hard for her living while that scamp； her husband； drank them both to death。 There are some people who are born with a downright genius for honesty； and this girl may be one of them。〃
〃I don't knowI don't know；〃 said Christopher； in a voice which had grown spiritless。 Then after an instant in which he stared blankly down at Tucker's ant…hill； he turned hurriedly away and followed the little straggling path to the barn door。
》From the restlessness that pricked in his limbs there was no escape； and after entering the barn he came out again and went down into the pasture to the long bench beside the poplar spring。 Here； while the faint shadows of the young leaves played over him； he sat with his head bent forward and his hands dropped listlessly between his knees。
Around him there was the tender green of the spring meadows； divided by a little brook where the willows shone pure silver under the April wind。 Near at hand a catbird sang in short； tripping notes； and in the clump of briars by the spring a rabbit sat alert for the first sound。 So motionless was Christopher that he seemed； sitting there by the pale gray body of a poplar； almost to become a part of the tree against which he leanedto lose； for the time at least； his share in the moving animal life around him。
At first there was mere blankness in his mindan absence of light and colour in which his thoughts were suddenly blotted out； then； as the wind raised the hair upon his brow； he lifted his eyes from the ground； and with the movement it seemed as if his life ran backward to its beginning and he saw himself not as he was to…day； but as he might have been in a period of time which had no being。
Before him were his knotted and blistered hands； his long limbs outstretched in their coarse clothes； but in the vision beyond the little spring he walked proudly with his rightful heritage upon hima Blake by force of blood and circumstance。 The world lay before himbright； alluring； a thing of enchanting promise； and it was as if he looked for the first time upon the possibilities contained in this life upon the earth。 For an instant the glow lastedthe beauty dwelt upon the vision； and he beheld； clear and radiant； the happiness which might have been his own； then it grew dark again； and he faced the brutal truth in all its nakedness； he knew himself for what he wasa man debased by ignorance and passion to the level of the beasts。 He had sold his birthright for a requital； which had sickened him even in