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wall…tints about the paintings in a gallery； something necessary to
the tone； yet not regarded。 Nothing but a special concentration of
himself on externals could interrupt this habit； and now that her
appearance along the way had changed from a chance to a custom he
began to lapse again into the old trick。 He gazed once or twice at
her form without seeing it： he did not notice that she trembled。
He sometimes read as he walked； and book in hand he frequently
approached her now。 This went on till six weeks had passed from the
time of their first encounter。 Latterly might have been once or
twice heard； when he had moved out of earshot； a sound like a small
gasping sigh； but no arrangements were disturbed； and Christopher
continued to keep down his eyes as persistently as a saint in a
church window。
The last day of his engagement had arrived； and with it the last of
his walks that way。 On his final return he carried in his hand a
bunch of flowers which had been presented to him at the country…
house where his lessons were given。 He was taking them home to his
sister Faith； who prized the lingering blossoms of the seeding
season。 Soon appeared as usual his fellow…traveller； whereupon
Christopher looked down upon his nosegay。 'Sweet simple girl；' he
thought； 'I'll endeavour to make peace with her by means of these
flowers before we part for good。'
When she came up he held them out to her and said； 'Will you allow
me to present you with these？'
The bright colours of the nosegay instantly attracted the girl's
handperhaps before there had been time for thought to thoroughly
construe the position； for it happened that when her arm was
stretched into the air she steadied it quickly； and stood with the
pose of a statuerigid with uncertainty。 But it was too late to
refuse： Christopher had put the nosegay within her fingers。
Whatever pleasant expression of thanks may have appeared in her eyes
fell only on the bunch of flowers； for during the whole transaction
they reached to no higher level than that。 To say that he was
coming no more seemed scarcely necessary under the circumstances；
and wishing her 'Good afternoon' very heartily； he passed on。
He had learnt by this time her occupation； which was that of pupil…
teacher at one of the schools in the town； whither she walked daily
from a village near。 If he had not been poor and the little teacher
humble； Christopher might possibly have been tempted to inquire more
briskly about her； and who knows how such a pursuit might have
ended？ But hard externals rule volatile sentiment； and under these
untoward influences the girl and the book and the truth about its
author were matters upon which he could not afford to expend much
time。 All Christopher did was to think now and then of the pretty
innocent face and round deep eyes； not once wondering if the mind
which enlivened them ever thought of him。
3。 SANDBOURNE MOOR （continued）
It was one of those hostile days of the year when chatterbox ladies
remain miserably in their homes to save the carriage and harness；
when clerks' wives hate living in lodgings； when vehicles and people
appear in the street with duplicates of themselves underfoot； when
bricklayers； slaters； and other out…door journeymen sit in a shed
and drink beer； when ducks and drakes play with hilarious delight at
their own family game； or spread out one wing after another in the
slower enjoyment of letting the delicious moisture penetrate to
their innermost down。 The smoke from the flues of Sandbourne had
barely strength enough to emerge into the drizzling rain； and hung
down the sides of each chimney…pot like the streamer of a becalmed
ship； and a troop of rats might have rattled down the pipes from
roof to basement with less noise than did the water that day。
On the broad moor beyond the town； where Christopher's meetings with
the teacher had so regularly occurred； were a stream and some large
pools； and beside one of these； near some hatches and a weir； stood
a little square building； not much larger inside than the Lord
Mayor's coach。 It was known simply as 'The Weir House。' On this
wet afternoon； which was the one following the day of Christopher's
last lesson over the plain； a nearly invisible smoke came from the
puny chimney of the hut。 Though the door was closed； sounds of
chatting and mirth fizzed from the interior； and would have told
anybody who had come nearwhich nobody didthat the usually empty
shell was tenanted to…day。
The scene within was a large fire in a fireplace to which the whole
floor of the house was no more than a hearthstone。 The occupants
were two gentlemanly persons； in shooting costume； who had been
traversing the moor for miles in search of wild duck and teal； a
waterman； and a small spaniel。 In the corner stood their guns； and
two or three wild mallards； which represented the scanty product of
their morning's labour； the iridescent necks of the dead birds
replying to every flicker of the fire。 The two sportsmen were
smoking； and their man was mostly occupying himself in poking and
stirring the fire with a stick： all three appeared to be pretty
well wetted。
One of the gentlemen； by way of varying the not very exhilarating
study of four brick walls within microscopic distance of his eye；
turned to a small square hole which admitted light and air to the
hut； and looked out upon the dreary prospect before him。 The wide
concave of cloud； of the monotonous hue of dull pewter； formed an
unbroken hood over the level from horizon to horizon； beneath it；
reflecting its wan lustre； was the glazed high…road which stretched；
hedgeless and ditchless； past a directing…post where another road
joined it； and on to the less regular ground beyond； lying like a
riband unrolled across the scene； till it vanished over the
furthermost undulation。 Beside the pools were occasional tall
sheaves of flags and sedge； and about the plain a few bushes； these
forming the only obstructions to a view otherwise unbroken。
The sportsman's attention was attracted by a figure in a state of
gradual enlargement as it approached along the road。
'I should think that if pleasure can't tempt a native out of doors
to…day； business will never force him out；' he observed。 'There is；
for the first time； somebody coming along the road。'
'If business don't drag him out pleasure'll never tempt en； is more
like our nater in these parts； sir；' said the man； who was looking
into the fire。
The conversation showed no vitality； and down it dropped dead as
before； the man who was standing up continuing to gaze into the
moisture。 What had at first appeared as an epicene shape the
decreasing space resolved into a cloaked female under an umbrella：
she now relaxed her pace； till； reaching the directing…post where
the road branched into two； she paused and looked about her。
Instead of coming further she slowly retraced her steps for about a
hundred yards。
'That's an appointment；' said the first speaker； as he removed the
cigar from his lips； 'and by the lords； what a day and place for an
appointment with a woman！'
'What's an appointment？' inquired h