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“Yes； Ralph was gone before the news was brought to us。 Dear
Arthur； I shall live now to see him master at the Chase； and
making good times on the estate； like a generous…hearted fellow as
he is。 He’ll be as happy as a king now。”
Mr。 Irwine could not help giving a slight groan： he was worn
with anxiety and exertion； and his mother’s light words were
almost intolerable。
“What are you so dismal about； Dauphin？ Is there any bad
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news？ Or are you thinking of the danger for Arthur in crossing
that frightful Irish Channel at this time of year？”
“No； Mother； I’m not thinking of that； but I’m not prepared to
rejoice just now。”
“You’ve been worried by this law business that you’ve been to
Stoniton about。 What in the world is it； that you can’t tell me？”
“You will know by…and…by； mother。 It would not be right for me
to tell you at present。 Good…night： you’ll sleep now you have no
longer anything to listen for。”
Mr。 Irwine gave up his intention of sending a letter to meet
Arthur； since it would not now hasten his return： the news of his
grandfather’s death would bring him as soon as he could possibly
come。 He could go to bed now and get some needful rest； before
the time came for the morning’s heavy duty of carrying his
sickening news to the Hall Farm and to Adam’s home。
Adam himself was not come back from Stoniton； for though he
shrank from seeing Hetty； he could not bear to go to a distance
from her again。
“It’s no use； sir；” he said to the rector； “it’s no use for me to go
back。 I can’t go to work again while she’s here； and I couldn’t bear
the sight o’ the things and folks round home。 I’ll take a bit of a
room here； where I can see the prison walls； and perhaps I shall
get； in time； to bear seeing her。”
Adam had not been shaken in his belief that Hetty was innocent
of the crime she was charged with； for Mr。 Irwine； feeling that the
belief in her guilt would be a crushing addition to Adam’s load；
had kept from him the facts which left no hope in his own mind。
There was not any reason for thrusting the whole burden on
Adam at once； and Mr。 Irwine； at parting； only said； “If the
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evidence should tell too strongly against her； Adam； we may still
hope for a pardon。 Her youth and other circumstances will be a
plea for her。”
“Ah； and it’s right people should know how she was tempted
into the wrong way；” said Adam； with bitter earnestness。 “It’s
right they should know it was a fine gentleman made love to her；
and turned her head wi’ notions。 You’ll remember； sir； you’ve
promised to tell my mother； and Seth； and the people at the farm；
who it was as led her wrong； else they’ll think harder of her than
she deserves。 You’ll be doing her a hurt by sparing him； and I hold
him the guiltiest before God； let her ha’ done what she may。 If you
spare him； I’ll expose him！”
“I think your demand is just； Adam；” said Mr。 Irwine； “but
when you are calmer； you will judge Arthur more mercifully。 I say
nothing now； only that his punishment is in other hands than
ours。”
Mr。 Irwine felt it hard upon him that he should have to tell of
Arthur’s sad part in the story of sin and sorrow—he who cared for
Arthur with fatherly affection； who had cared for him with fatherly
pride。 But he saw clearly that the secret must be known before
long； even apart from Adam’s determination； since it was scarcely
to be supposed that Hetty would persist to the end in her obstinate
silence。 He made up his mind to withhold nothing from the
Poysers； but to tell them the worst at once； for there was no time
to rob the tidings of their suddenness。 Hetty’s trial must come on
at the Lent assizes； and they were to be held at Stoniton the next
week。 It was scarcely to be hoped that Martin Poyser could escape
the pain of being called as a witness； and it was better he should
know everything as long beforehand as possible。
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Before ten o’clock on Thursday morning the home at the Hall
Farm was a house of mourning for a misfortune felt to be worse
than death。 The sense of family dishonour was too keen even in
the kind…hearted Martin Poyser the younger to leave room for any
compassion towards Hetty。 He and his father were simple…minded
farmers； proud of their untarnished character； proud that they
came of a family which had held up its head and paid its way as far
back as its name was in the parish register； and Hetty had brought
disgrace on them all—disgrace that could never be wiped out。
That was the all…conquering feeling in the mind both of father and
son—the scorching sense of disgrace； which neutralised all other
sensibility—and Mr。 Irwine was struck with surprise to observe
that Mrs。 Poyser was less severe than her husband。 We are often
startled by the severity of mild people on exceptional occasions；
the reason is； that mild people are most liable to be under the yoke
of traditional impressions。
“I’m willing to pay any money as is wanted towards trying to
bring her off；” said Martin the younger when Mr。 Irwine was gone；
while the old grandfather was crying in the opposite chair； “but I’ll
not go nigh her； nor ever see her again； by my own will。 She’s
made our bread bitter to us for all our lives to come； an’ we shall
ne’er hold up our heads i’ this parish nor i’ any other。 The parson
talks o’ folks pitying us： it’s poor amends pity ’ull make us。”
“Pity？” said the grandfather； sharply。 “I ne’er wanted folks’s
pity i’ my life afore 。 。 。 an’ I mun begin to be looked down on now；
an’ me turned seventy…two