Slowly，outoftheawfulshadows，theGhostsofMemoryroseaboutme。Thedeadpopulationofavanishedworldcamebacktoliferoundme，alivingman。Menandwomenwhoseearthlypilgrimagehadendedlongsince，returneduponmefromtheunknownspheres，andfond，familiarvoicesbursttheirwaybacktomyearsthroughtheheavysilenceofthegrave。Movingbymeinthenamelessinnerlight，whichnoeyesawbutmine，thedeadprocessionofimmaterialscenesandbeingsunrolleditssilentlength。Isawoncemorethepleadingfaceofafriendofearlydays，withthehauntingvisionthathadtorturedhimthroughlifebyhissideagain——withthelong—forgottendespairinhiseyeswhichhadoncetouchedmyheart，andboundmetohim，tillIhadtrackedhisdestinythroughitsdarkestwindingstotheend。Isawthefigureofaninnocentwomanpassingtoandfroinanancientcountryhouse，withtheshadowofastrangesuspicionstealingafterherwherevershewent。Isawamanwornbyhardshipandoldage，stretcheddreamingonthestrawofastable，andmutteringinhisdreamtheterriblesecretofhislife。
　　Otherscenesandpersonsfollowedthese，lessvividintheirrevival，butstillalwaysrecognizableanddistinct；ayounggirlalonebynight，andinperilofherlife，inacottageonadrearymoor——anupperchamberofaninn，withtwobedsinit；thecurtainsofonebedclosed，andamanstandingbythem，waiting，yetdreadingtodrawthemback——ahusbandsecretlyfollowingthefirsttracesofamysterywhichhiswife’sanxiouslovehadfatallyhiddenfromhimsincethedaywhentheyfirstmet；these，andothervisionslikethem，shadowyreflectionsofthelivingbeingsandtherealeventsthathadbeenonce，peopledthesolitudeandtheemptinessaroundme。TheyhauntedmestillwhenItriedtobreakthechainofthoughtwhichmyowneffortshadwoundaboutmymind；theyfollowedmetoandfrointheroom；andtheycameoutwithmewhenIleftit。IhadliftedtheveilfromthePastformyself，andIwasnowtorestnomoretillIhadlifteditforothers。
　　Iwentatoncetomyeldestbrotherandshowedhimmyson’sletter，andtoldhimallthatIhavewrittenhere。Hiskindheartwastouchedasminehadbeen。Hefeltformysuspense；hesharedmyanxiety；helaidasidehisownoccupationonthespot。
　　"Onlytellme，"hesaid，"howIcanhelp，andIwillgiveeveryhourinthedaytoyouandtoGeorge。"
　　Ihadcometohimwithmymindalmostasfullofhispastlifeasofmyown；IrecalledtohismemoryeventsinhisexperienceasaworkingclergymaninLondon；Isethimlookingamongpaperswhichhehadpreservedforhalfhislifetime，andtheveryexistenceofwhichhehadforgottenlongsince；Irecalledtohimthenamesofpersonstowhosenecessitieshehadministeredinhissacredoffice，andwhosestorieshehadheardfromtheirownlipsorreceivedundertheirownhandwriting。Whenwepartedhewascertainofwhathewaswantedtodo，andwasresoluteonthatverydaytobeginthework。
　　IwenttoMorgannext，andappealedtohimasIhadalreadyappealedtoOwen。Itwasonlypartofhisoddcharactertostartallsortsofeccentricobjectionsinreply；toaffectacynicalindifference，whichhewasfarfromreallyandtrulyfeeling；andtoindulgeinplentyofquaintsarcasmonthesubjectofJessieandhisnephewGeorge。Iwaitedtilltheselittlesurface—ebullitionshadallexpendedthemselves，andthenpressedmypointagainwiththeearnestnessandanxietythatIreallyfelt。
　　Evidentlytouchedbythemannerofmyappealtohimevenmorethanbythelanguageinwhichitwasexpressed，Morgantookrefugeinhiscustomaryabruptness，spreadouthispaperviolentlyonthetable，seizedhispenandink，andtoldmequitefiercelytogivehimhisworkandlethimtackleitatonce。
　　Isetmyselftorecalltohismemorysomeveryremarkableexperiencesofhisowninhisprofessionaldays，buthestoppedmebeforeIhadhalfdone。
　　"Iunderstand，"hesaid，takingasavagedipattheink，"I’mtomakeherfleshcreep，andtofrightenheroutofherwits。I’lldoitwithavengeance！"
　　ReservingtomyselfprivatelyaneditorialrightofsupervisionoverMorgan’scontributions，Ireturnedtomyownroomtobeginmyshare——byfarthelargestone——ofthetaskbeforeus。Thestimulusappliedtomymindbymyson’slettermusthavebeenastrongoneindeed，forIhadhardlybeenmorethananhouratmydeskbeforeIfoundtheoldliteraryfacilityofmyyouthfuldays，whenIwasawriterforthemagazines，returningtomeasifbymagic。Iworkedonunremittinglytilldinner—time，andthenresumedthepenafterwehadallseparatedforthenight。Attwoo’clockthenextmorningIfoundmyself——Godhelpme！——masquerading，asitwere，inmyownlong—lostcharacterofahard—writingyoungman，withtheoldfamiliarcupofstrongteabymyside，andtheoldfamiliarwettoweltiedroundmyhead。
　　MyreviewoftheprogressIhadmade，whenIlookedbackatmypagesofmanuscript，yieldedalltheencouragementIwantedtodrivemeon。Itisonlyjust，however，toaddtotherecordofthisfirstday’sattempt，thattheliterarylaborwhichitinvolvedwasbynomeansofthemosttryingkind。Thegreatstrainontheintellect——thestrainofinvention——wassparedmebymyhavingrealcharactersandeventsreadytomyhand。IfI
　　hadbeencalledontocreate，Ishould，inallprobability，havesufferedseverelybycontrastwiththeveryworstofthoseunfortunatenovelistswhomJessiehadsorashlyandsothoughtlesslycondemned。Itisnotwonderfulthatthepublicshouldrarelyknowhowtoestimatethevastservicewhichisdonetothembytheproductionofagoodbook，seeingthattheyare，forthemostpart，utterlyignorantoftheimmensedifficultyofwritingevenabadone。
　　Thenextdaywasfine，tomygreatrelief；andourvisitor，whilewewereatwork，enjoyedhercustomaryscamperonthepony，andhercustomaryramblesafterwardintheneighborhoodofthehouse。
　　AlthoughIhadinterruptionstocontendwithonthepartofOwenandMorgan，neitherofwhompossessedmyexperienceintheproductionofwhatheavypeoplecall"lightliterature，"andbothofwhomconsequentlywantedassistance，stillImadegreatprogress，andearnedmyhoursofreposeontheeveningofthesecondday。
　　OnthateveningIriskedtheworst，andopenedmynegotiationsforthefuturewith"TheQueenofHearts。"
　　Aboutanhouraftertheteahadbeenremoved，andwhenIhappenedtobeleftaloneintheroomwithher，Inoticedthatsherosesuddenlyandwenttothewriting—table。Mysuspicionswerearouseddirectly，andIenteredonthedangeroussubjectbyinquiringifsheintendedtowritetoheraunt。
　　"Yes，"shesaid。"Ipromisedtowritewhenthelastweekcame。Ifyouhadpaidmethecomplimentofaskingmetostayalittlelonger，IshouldhavereturneditbytellingyouIwassorrytogo。Asitis，Imeantobesulkyandsaynothing。"
　　Withthosewordsshetookupherpentobegintheletter。
　　"Waitaminute，"Iremonstrated。"IwasjustonthepointofbeggingyoutostaywhenIspoke。"
　　"Wereyou，indeed？"shereturned。"Ineverbelievedincoincidencesofthatsortbefore，butnow，ofcourse，Iputthemostunlimitedfaithinthem！"
　　"Willyoubelieveinplainproofs？"Iasked，adoptingherhumor。
　　"HowdoyouthinkIandmybrothershavebeenemployingourselvesalldayto—dayandalldayyesterday？Guesswhatwehavebeenabout。"
　　"Congratulatingyourselvesinsecretonmyapproachingdeparture，"sheanswered，tappingherchinsaucilywiththefeather—endofherpen。
　　Iseizedtheopportunityofastonishingher，andforthwithtoldherthetruth。Shestartedupfromthetable，andapproachedmewiththeeagernessofachild，hereyessparkling，andhercheeksflushed。
　　"Doyoureallymeanit？"shesaid。
　　IassuredherthatIwasinearnest。Shethereuponnotonlyexpressedaninterestinourundertaking，whichwasevidentlysincere，but，withcharacteristicimpatience，wantedtobeginthefirstevening’sreadingonthatverynight。Idisappointedhersadlybyexplainingthatwerequiredtimetoprepareourselves，andbyassuringherthatweshouldnotbereadyforthenextfivedays。Onthesixthday，Iadded，weshouldbeabletobegin，andtogoon，withoutmissinganevening，forprobablytendaysmore。
　　"Thenextfivedays？"shereplied。"Why，thatwilljustbringustotheendofmysixweeks’visit。Isupposeyouarenotsettingatraptocatchme？Thisisnotatrickofyouthreecunningoldgentlementomakemestayon，isit？"
　　Iquailedinwardlyasthatdangerouslycloseguessatthetruthpassedherlips。
　　"Youforget，"Isaid，"thattheideaonlyoccurredtomeafterwhatyousaidyesterday。Ifithadstruckmeearlier，weshouldhavebeenreadyearlier，andthenwherewouldyoursuspicionshavebeen？"
　　"Iamashamedofhavingfeltthem，"shesaid，inherfrank，heartyway。"Iretracttheword’trap，’andIbegpardonforcallingyou’threecunningoldgentlemen。’ButwhatamItosaytomyaunt？"
　　Shemovedbacktothewriting—tableasshespoke。
　　"Saynothing，"Ireplied，"tillyouhaveheardthefirststory。
　　Shutupthepaper—casetillthattime，andthendecidewhenyouwillopenitagaintowritetoyouraunt。"
　　Shehesitatedandsmiled。Thatterriblycloseguessofherswasnotoutofhermindyet。
　　"Iratherfancy，"shesaid，slyly，"thatthestorywillturnouttobethebestofthewholeseries。"
　　"Wrongagain，"Iretorted。"Ihaveaplanforlettingchancedecidewhichofthestoriesthefirstoneshallbe。Theyshallbeallnumberedastheyaredone；correspondingnumbersshallbewritteninsidefoldedpiecesofcardandwellmixedtogether；youshallpickoutanyonecardyoulike；youshalldeclarethenumberwrittenwithin；and，goodorbad，thestorythatanswerstothatnumbershallbethestorythatisread。Isthatfair？"
　　"Fair！"sheexclaimed；"it’sbetterthanfair；itmakes_me_ofsomeimportance；andImustbemoreorlessthanwomannottoappreciatethat。"
　　"Thenyouconsenttowaitpatientlyforthenextfivedays？"
　　"AspatientlyasIcan。"
　　"Andyouengagetodecidenothingaboutwritingtoyourauntuntilyouhaveheardthefirststory？"
　　"Ido，"shesaid，returningtothewriting—table。"Beholdtheproofofit。"Sheraisedherhandwiththeatricalsolemnity，andclosedthepaper—casewithanimpressivebang。
　　Ileanedbackinmychairwithmymindateaseforthefirsttimesincethereceiptofmyson’sletter。
　　"OnlyletGeorgereturnbythefirstofNovember，"Ithoughttomyself，"andalltheauntsinChristendomshallnotpreventJessieYelvertonfrombeingheretomeethim。"
　　THETENDAYS。
　　THEFIRSTDAY。
　　SHOWERYandunsettled。Inspiteoftheweather，JessieputonmyMackintoshcloakandrodeoffoverthehillstooneofOwen’soutlyingfarms。Shewasalreadytooimpatienttowaitquietlyfortheevening’sreadinginthehouse，ortoenjoyanyamusementlessexhilaratingthanagallopintheopenair。
　　Iwas，onmyside，asanxiousandasuneasyasourguest。Nowthatthesixweeksofherstayhadexpired——nowthatthedayhadreallyarrived，ontheeveningofwhichthefirststorywastoberead，Ibegantocalculatethechancesoffailureaswellasthechancesofsuccess。Whatifmyownestimateoftheinterestofthestoriesturnedouttobeafalseone？Whatifsomeunforeseenaccidentoccurredtodelaymyson’sreturnbeyondtendays？
　　Thearrivalofthenewspaperhadalreadybecomeaneventofthedeepestimportancetome。UnreasonableasitwastoexpectanytidingsofGeorgeatsoearlyadate，Ibegan，nevertheless，onthisfirstofourdaysofsuspense，tolookforthenameofhisshipinthecolumnsoftelegraphicnews。Themeremechanicalactoflookingwassomerelieftomyoverstrainedfeelings，althoughImighthaveknown，anddidknow，thatthesearch，forthepresent，couldleadtonosatisfactoryresult。
　　TowardnoonIshutmyselfupwithmycollectionofmanuscriptstorevisethemforthelasttime。Ourexertionshadthusfarproducedbutsixofthenecessarytenstories。Astheywereonly，however，toberead，onebyone，onsixsuccessiveevenings，andaswecouldthereforecountonplentyofleisureinthedaytime，Iwasinnofearofourfailingtofinishthelittleseries。
　　OfthesixcompletedstoriesIhadwrittentwo，andhadfoundathirdintheformofacollectionoflettersamongmypapers。
　　Morganhadonlywrittenone，andthissolitarycontributionofhishadgivenmemoretroublethanbothmyownputtogether，inconsequenceoftheperpetualintrusionofmybrother’seccentricitiesineverypartofhisnarrative。TheprocessofremovingthesequaintturnsandfrisksofMorgan’shumor——which，howeveramusingtheymighthavebeeninanessay，wereutterlyoutofplaceinastoryappealingtosuspendedinterestforitseffect——certainlytriedmypatienceandmycriticalfaculty（suchasitis）moreseverelythananyotherpartofourliteraryenterprisewhichhadfallenmyshare。
　　Owen’sinvestigationsamonghispapershadsupplieduswiththetworemainingnarratives。Onewascontainedinaletter，andtheotherintheformofadiary，andbothhadbeenreceivedbyhimdirectlyfromthewriters。Besidesthesecontributions，hehadundertakentohelpusbysomeworkofhisown，andhadbeenengagedforthelastfourdaysinmoldingcertaineventswhichhadhappenedwithinhispersonalknowledgeintotheformofastory。Hisextremefastidiousnessasawriterinterfered，however，soseriouslywithhisprogressthathewasstillsadlybehindhand，andwaslikely，thoughlessheavilyburdenedthanMorganormyself，tobethelasttocompletehisallottedtask。
　　Suchwasourposition，andsuchtheresourcesatourcommand，whenthefirstoftheTenDaysdawneduponus。ShortlyafterfourintheafternoonIcompletedmyworkofrevision，numberedthemanuscriptsfromonetosixexactlyastheyhappenedtolieundermyhand，andinclosedthemallinaportfolio，coveredwithpurplemorocco，whichbecameknownfromthattimebytheimposingtitleofThePurpleVolume。
　　MissJessiereturnedfromherexpeditionjustasIwastyingthestringsoftheportfolio，and，womanlike，instantlyaskedleavetopeepinside，whichfavorI，manlike，positivelydeclinedtogrant。
　　Assoonasdinnerwasoverourguestretiredtoarrayherselfinmagnificenteveningcostume。Ithadbeenarrangedthatthereadingsweretotakeplaceinherownsitting—room；andshewassoenthusiasticallydesiroustodohonortotheoccasion，thatsheregrettednothavingbroughtwithherfromLondonthedressinwhichshehadbeenpresentedatcourttheyearbefore，andnothavingborrowedcertainmaterialsforadditionalsplendorwhichshebrieflydescribedas"aunt’sdiamonds。"
　　Towardeighto’clockweassembledinthesitting—room，andastrangelyassortedcompanywewere。Attheheadofthetable，radiantinsilkandjewelry，flowersandfurbelows，satTheQueenofHearts，lookingsohandsomeandsohappythatIsecretlycongratulatedmyabsentsonontheexcellenttastehehadshowninfallinginlovewithher。Roundthisbrightyoungcreature（Owen，atthefootofthetable，andMorganandIoneitherside）
　　satherthreewrinkled，gray—headed，dingily—attiredhosts，andjustbehindher，instillmoreinappropriatecompanionship，toweredthespectralfigureofthemaninarmor，whichhadsounaccountablyattractedheronherarrival。Thisstrangescenewaslightedupbycandlesinhighandheavybrasssconces。BeforeJessiestoodamightychinapunch—bowloftheoldentime，containingthefoldedpiecesofcard，insidewhichwerewrittenthenumberstobedrawn，andbeforeOwenreposedthePurpleVolumefromwhichoneofuswastoread。Thewallsoftheroomwerehungallroundwithfadedtapestry；theclumsyfurniturewasblackwithage；and，inspiteofthelightfromthesconces，theloftyceilingwasalmostlostingloom。IfRembrandtcouldhavepaintedourbackground，Reynoldsourguest，andHogarthourselves，thepictureofthescenewouldhavebeencomplete。
　　Whentheoldclockoverthetowergatewayhadchimedeight，I
　　rosetoinauguratetheproceedingsbyrequestingJessietotakeoneofthepiecesofcardoutofthepunch—bowl，andtodeclarethenumber。
　　Shelaughed；thensuddenlybecamefrightenedandserious；thenlookedatme，andsaid，"Itwasdreadfullylikebusiness；"andthenentreatedMorgannottostareather，or，inthepresentstateofhernerves，sheshouldupsetthepunch—bowl。Atlastshesummonedresolutionenoughtotakeoutoneofthepiecesofcardandtounfoldit。
　　"Declarethenumber，mydear，"saidOwen。
　　"NumberFour，"answeredJessie，makingamagnificentcourtesy，andbeginningtolooklikeherselfagain。
　　OwenopenedthePurpleVolume，searchedthroughthemanuscripts，andsuddenlychangedcolor。Thecauseofhisdiscomposurewassoonexplained。Maliciousfatehadassignedtothemostdiffidentindividualinthecompanythetryingresponsibilityofleadingtheway。NumberFourwasoneofthetwonarrativeswhichOwenhadfoundamonghisownpapers。
　　"Iamalmostsorry，"beganmyeldestbrother，confusedly，"thatithasfallentomyturntoreadfirst。IhardlyknowwhichI
　　distrustmost，myselformystory。"
　　"Tryandfancyyouareinthepulpitagain，"saidMorgan，sarcastically。"Gentlemenofyourcloth，Owen，seldomseemtodistrustthemselvesortheirmanuscriptswhentheygetintothatposition。"
　　"Thefactis，"continuedOwen，mildlyimpenetrabletohisbrother’scynicalremark，"thatthelittlethingIamgoingtotryandreadishardlyastoryatall。Iamafraiditisonlyananecdote。Ibecamepossessedoftheletterwhichcontainsmynarrativeunderthesecircumstances。AtthetimewhenIwasaclergymaninLondon，mychurchwasattendedforsomemonthsbyaladywhowasthewifeofalargefarmerinthecountry。Shehadbeenobligedtocometotown，andtoremainthereforthesakeofoneofherchildren，alittleboy，whorequiredthebestmedicaladvice。"
　　Atthewords"medicaladvice"Morganshookhisheadandgrowledtohimselfcontemptuously。Owenwenton：
　　"Whileshewasattendinginthiswaytoonechild，hisshareinherlovewasunexpectedlydisputedbyanother，whocameintotheworldratherbeforehistime。Ibaptizedthebaby，andwasaskedtothelittlechristeningpartyafterward。Thiswasmyfirstintroductiontothelady，andIwasveryfavorablyimpressedbyher；notsomuchonaccountofherpersonalappearance，forshewasbutalittlewomanandhadnopretensionstobeauty，asonaccountofacertainsimplicity，andhearty，downrightkindnessinhermanner，aswellasofanexcellentfranknessandgoodsenseinherconversation。Oneoftheguestspresent，whosawhowshehadinterestedme，andwhospokeofherinthehighestterms，surprisedmebyinquiringifIshouldeverhavesupposedthatquiet，good—humoredlittlewomantobecapableofperforminganactofcouragewhichwouldhavetriedthenervesoftheboldestmaninEngland？Inaturallyenoughbeggedforanexplanation；butmyneighboratthetableonlysmiledandsaid，’Ifyoucanfindanopportunity，askherwhathappenedatTheBlackCottage，andyouwillhearsomethingthatwillastonishyou。’IactedonthehintassoonasIhadanopportunityofspeakingtoherprivately。Theladyansweredthatitwastoolongastorytotellthen，andexplained，onmysuggestingthatsheshouldrelateitonsomefutureday，thatshewasabouttostartforhercountryhomethenextmorning。’But，’shewasgoodenoughtoadd，’asI
　　havebeenundergreatobligationstoyouformanySundayspast，andasyouseeminterestedinthismatter，Iwillemploymyfirstleisuretimeaftermyreturnintellingyoubywriting，insteadofbywordofmouth，whatreallyhappenedtomeononememorablenightofmylifeinTheBlackCottage。’
　　"Shefaithfullyperformedherpromise。InafortnightafterwardI
　　receivedfromherthenarrativewhichIamnowabouttoread。"
　　BROTHEROWEN’SSTORY
　　OF
　　THESIEGEOFTHEBLACKCOTTAGE。
　　Tobeginatthebeginning，Imusttakeyoubacktothetimeaftermymother’sdeath，whenmyonlybrotherhadgonetosea，whenmysisterwasoutatservice，andwhenIlivedalonewithmyfatherinthemidstofamoorinthewestofEngland。
　　Themoorwascoveredwithgreatlimestonerocks，andintersectedhereandtherebystreamlets。Thenearesthabitationtoourswassituatedaboutamileandahalfoff，whereastripofthefertilelandstretchedoutintothewastelikeatongue。HeretheoutbuildingsofthegreatMoorFarm，theninthepossessionofmyhusband’sfather，began。Thefarm—landsstretcheddowngentlyintoabeautifulrichvalley，lyingnicelyshelteredbythehighplatformofthemoor。Whenthegroundbegantoriseagain，milesandmilesaway，itleduptoacountryhousecalledHolmeManor，belongingtoagentlemannamedKnifton。Mr。Kniftonhadlatelymarriedayoungladywhommymotherhadnursed，andwhosekindnessandfriendshipforme，herfoster—sister，Ishallremembergratefullytothelastdayofmylife。TheseandotherslightparticularsitisnecessarytomystorythatIshouldtellyou，anditisalsonecessarythatyoushouldbeespeciallycarefultobearthemwellinmind。
　　Myfatherwasbytradeastone—mason。Hiscottagestoodamileandahalffromthenearesthabitation。Inallotherdirectionswewerefourorfivetimesthatdistancefromneighbors。Beingverypoorpeople，thislonelysituationhadonegreatattractionforus——welivedrentfreeonit。Inadditiontothatadvantage，thestones，byshapingwhichmyfathergainedhislivelihood，layallabouthimathisverydoor，sothathethoughthisposition，solitaryasitwas，quiteanenviableone。IcanhardlysaythatIagreedwithhim，thoughInevercomplained。Iwasveryfondofmyfather，andmanagedtomakethebestofmylonelinesswiththethoughtofbeingusefultohim。Mrs。Kniftonwishedtotakemeintoherservicewhenshemarried，butIdeclined，unwillinglyenough，formyfather’ssake。IfIhadgoneaway，hewouldhavehadnobodytolivewithhim；andmymothermademepromiseonherdeath—bedthatheshouldneverbelefttopineawayaloneinthemidstofthebleakmoor。
　　Ourcottage，smallasitwas，wasstoutlyandsnuglybuilt，withstonefromthemoorasamatterofcourse。Thewallswerelinedinsideandfencedoutsidewithwood，thegiftofMr。Knifton’sfathertomyfather。Thisdoublecoveringofcracksandcrevices，whichwouldhavebeensuperfluousinashelteredposition，wasabsolutelynecessary，inourexposedsituation，tokeepoutthecoldwindswhich，exceptingjustthesummermonths，sweptoveruscontinuallyalltheyearround。Theoutsideboards，coveringourroughly—builtstonewalls，myfatherprotectedagainstthewetwithpitchandtar。Thisgavetoourlittleabodeacuriouslydark，dingylook，especiallywhenitwasseenfromadistance；
　　andsoithadcometobecalledintheneighborhood，evenbeforeIwasborn，TheBlackCottage。
　　Ihavenowrelatedthepreliminaryparticularswhichitisdesirablethatyoushouldknow，andmayproceedatoncetothepleasantertaskoftellingyoumystory。
　　Onecloudyautumnday，whenIwasrathermorethaneighteenyearsold，aherdsmanwalkedoverfromMoorFarmwithaletterwhichhadbeenleftthereformyfather。Itcamefromabuilderlivingatourcountytown，halfaday’sjourneyoff，anditinvitedmyfathertocometohimandgivehisjudgmentaboutanestimateforsomestoneworkonaverylargescale。Myfather’sexpensesforlossoftimeweretobepaid，andhewastohavehisshareofemploymentafterwardsinpreparingthestone。Hewasonlytooglad，therefore，toobeythedirectionswhichthelettercontained，andtoprepareatonceforhislongwalktothecountytown。
　　Consideringthetimeatwhichhereceivedtheletter，andthenecessityofrestingbeforeheattemptedtoreturn，itwasimpossibleforhimtoavoidbeingawayfromhomeforonenight，atleast。Heproposedtome，incaseIdislikedbeingleftaloneintheBlackCottage，tolockthedoorandtotakemetoMoorFarmtosleepwithanyoneofthemilkmaidswhowouldgivemeashareofherbed。IbynomeanslikedthenotionofsleepingwithagirlwhomIdidnotknow，andIsawnoreasontofeelafraidofbeingleftaloneforonlyonenight；soIdeclined。Nothieveshadevercomenearus；ourpovertywassufficientprotectionagainstthem；andofotherdangerstherewerenonethateventhemosttimidpersoncouldapprehend。Accordingly，Igotmyfather’sdinner，laughingatthenotionofmytakingrefugeundertheprotectionofamilkmaidatMoorFarm。Hestartedforhiswalkassoonashehaddone，sayingheshouldtryandbebackbydinner—timethenextday，andleavingmeandmycatPollytotakecareofthehouse。
　　Ihadclearedthetableandbrightenedupthefire，andhadsatdowntomyworkwiththecatdozingatmyfeet，whenIheardthetramplingofhorses，and，runningtothedoor，sawMr。andMrs。