"Oh，myGod！"hesaid。Butthenextinstanthisheadlifteditself。"Itisthemysteryoftheworld——thisthing。Atidalwavegatheringitselfmountainhighandcrashingdownuponone’shelplessnessmightbeaseasilydefied。Itissupposedtodisperse，Ibelieve。Thathasbeensaidsooftenthattheremustbetruthinit。Intwentyorthirtyorfortyyearsoneistoldonewillhavegotoverit。Butonemustlivethroughtheyears——onemustLIVEthroughthem——andthechieffeatureofone’smadnessisthatoneisconvincedthattheywilllastforever。"
"Goon，"saidMr。Penzance，becausehehadpausedandstoodbitinghislip。"Sayallthatyoufeelinclinedtosay。
Itisthebestthingyoucando。Ihavenevergonethroughthismyself，butIhaveseenandknowntheamazingnessofitformanyyears。Ihaveseenitcomeandgo。"
"Canyouimagine，"MountDunstansaid，"thatthemostdamnablethoughtofall——whenamanispassingthroughit——
isthepossibilityofitsGOING？Anythingelseratherthantheknowledgethatyearscouldchangeordeathcouldendit！
Eternityseemsonlytoofferspaceforit。Oneknows——butonedoesnotbelieve。Itdoessomethingtoone’sbrain。"
"Noscientist，howsoeverprofound，haseverdiscoveredwhat，"thevicarmusedaloud。
"TheBookofRevelationshasshowntomehow——howMAGNIFICENTlifemightbe！"MountDunstanclenchedandunclenchedhishands，hiseyesflashing。"Magnificent——thatistheword。Togotoheronequalgroundtotakeherhandsandspeakone’spassionasonewould——ashereyesanswered。
Oh，onewouldknow！Tobringherhometothisplace——havingmadeitasitoncewas——tolivewithherhere——tobeWITH
herasthesunroseandsetandtheseasonschanged——withthejoyoflifefillingeachofthem。SHEisthejoyofLife——theveryheartofit。YouseewhereIam——yousee！"
"Yes，"Penzanceanswered。Hesaw，andbowedhishead，andMountDunstanknewhewishedhimtocontinue。
"Sometimes——oflate——ithasbeentoomuchformeandI
havegivenfreereintomyfancy——knowingthattherecouldneverbemorethanfancy。IwasdoingitthisafternoonasI
watchedhermoveaboutamongthepeople。AndMaryLithcombegantotalkabouther。"Hesmiledagrimsmile。
"Perhapsitwasaninterventionofthegodstodragmedownfrommyimpiousheights。Shewasquiteunconsciousthatshewasdrivinghomefactslikenails——thefactsthateverymanwhowantedmoneywantedReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter——andthattheyounglady，notbeingdull，wasnotunawareoftheobvioustruth！Andthatmenwithprizestoofferwerereadytooffertheminapropermanner。Alsothatshewasonlyabrilliantbirdofpassage，who，inafewmonths，wouldbecaughtinthedazzlingnetofthegreatworld。AndthatevenLordWestholtandDunholmCastlewerenotquitewhatshemightexpect。LadyMarywassincerelyinterested。Shedroveithomeinherardour。ShetoldmetoLOOKather——toLOOK
athermouthandchinandeyelashes——andtomakenoteofwhatshestoodforinacrowdofordinarypeople。Icouldhavelaughedaloudwithrageandself—mockery。"
Mr。Penzancewasrestinghisforeheadonhishand，hiselbowonhischair’sarm。
"Thisisprofoundunhappiness，"hesaid。"Itisprofoundunhappiness。"
MountDunstanansweredbyabrusquegesture。
"Butitwillpassaway，"wentonPenzance，"andnotasyoufearitmust，"inanswertoanothergesture，fiercelyimpatient。"Notthatway。Someday——ornight——youwillstandheretogether，andyouwilltellherallyouhavetoldme。IKNOWitwillbeso。"
"What！"MountDunstancriedout。Butthewordshadbeenspokenwithsuchabsoluteconvictionthathefelthimselfbecomepale。
ItwaswiththesameconvictionthatPenzancewenton。
"Ihavespentmyquietlifeinthinkingoftheforcesforwhichwefindnoexplanation——ofthecausesofwhichweonlyseetheeffects。LongagoinlookingatyouinoneofmyponderingmomentsIsaidtomyselfthatYOUwereofthePrimevalForcewhichcannotloseitsway——whichsweepsaclearpathwayforitselfasitmoves——andwhichcannotbeheldback。Isaidtoyoujustnowthatbecauseyouareastrongmanyoucannotbesurethatawomanyouare——eveninspiteofyourself——
makingmadloveto，isunconsciousthatyouaredoingit。Youdonotknowwhatyourstrengthliesin。Idonot，thewomandoesnot，butwemustallfeelit，whetherwecomprehenditorno。Yousaidofthisfinecreature，sometimesince，thatshewasLife，andyouhavejustsaidagainsomethingofthesamekind。Itisquitetrue。SheisLife，andthejoyofit。Youaretwostrongforces，andyouaredrawingtogether。"
Herosefromhischair，andgoingtoMountDunstanputhishandonhisshoulder，hisfineoldfacesingularlyraptandglowing。
"Sheisdrawingyouandyouaredrawingher，andeachistoostrongtoreleasetheother。Ibelievethattobetrue。
Bothbodiesandsoulsdoit。Theyarenotseparatethings。Theymoveontheirwayasthestarsdo——theymoveontheirway。"
Ashespoke，MountDunstan’seyeslookedintohisfixedly。
Thentheyturnedasideandlookeddownuponthemantelagainstwhichhewasleaning。Heaimlesslypickeduphispipeandlaiditdownagain。Hewaspalerthanbefore，buthesaidnosingleword。
"Youthinkyourreasonsforholdingalooffromherarethereasonsofaman。"Mr。Penzance’svoicesoundedtohimremote。"Theyarethereasonsofaman’spride——butthatisnotthestrongestthingintheworld。Itonlyimaginesitis。Youthinkthatyoucannotgotoherasaluckiermancould。Youthinknothingshallforceyoutospeak。Askyourselfwhy。Itisbecauseyoubelievethattoshowyourheartwouldbetoplaceyourselfinthehumiliatingpositionofamanwhomightseemtoherandtotheworldtobeabasefellow。"
"Animpudent，pushing，basefellow，"thrustinMountDunstanfiercely。"Oneofavulgarlot。Athingfancyingevenitsbeggaryworthbuying。Whathasaman——whoseverynameishungwithtatteredugliness——tooffer？"
Penzance’shandwasstillonhisshoulderandhislookathimwaslong。
"Hisverypride，"hesaidatlast，"hisveryobstinacyandhaughty，stubborndetermination。Thosebrokenbecausetheotherfeelingisthestrongerandovercomeshimutterly。"
AflushleapedtoMountDunstan’sforehead。Hesetbothelbowsonthemantelandlethisforeheadfallonhisclenchedfists。AndthesavageBritonroseinhim。
"No！"hesaidpassionately。"ByGod，no！"
"Yousaythat，"saidtheolderman，"becauseyouhavenotyetreachedtheendofyourtether。Unhappyasyouare，youarenotunhappyenough。Ofthetwo，youloveyourselfthemore——yourprideandyourstubbornness。"
"Yes，"betweenhisteeth。"IsupposeIretainyetasortofrespect——andaffection——formypride。MayGodleaveittome！"
Penzancefelthimselfcuriouslyexalted；heknewhimselfunreasoninglypassingthroughanoddlyunpractical，upliftedmoment，inwhoseimpellinghesingularlybelieved。
"Youaredrawingherandsheisdrawingyou，"hesaid。
"Perhapsyoudreweachotheracrossseas。Youwillstandheretogetherandyouwilltellherofthis——onthisveryspot。"
MountDunstanchangedhispositionandlaughedroughly，asiftorousehimself。Hethrewouthisarminabig，uneasygesture，takingintheroom。
"Oh，come，"hesaid。"Youtalklikeaseer。Lookaboutyou。Look！Iamtobringherhere！"
"Ifitistheprimevalthingshewillnotcare。Whyshouldshe？"
"She！Bringalifelikeherstothis！Orperhapsyoumeanthatherownwealthmightmakehersurroundingsbecoming——
thatamanwouldendurethat？"
"Ifitistheprimevalthing，YOUwouldnotcare。Youwouldhaveforgottenthatyoutwohadeverlivedanhourapart。"
Hespokewithadeep，movedgravity——almostasifhewerespeakingofthefirstTitanbuildingoftheearth。MountDunstanstaringathisdelicate，insistent，elderlyface，triedtolaughagain——andfailedbecausetheeffortseemedactuallyirreverent。
Itwasasingularhypnoticmoment，indeed。Hehimselfwashypnotised。Aflashlightofnewvisionblazedbeforehimandlefthimdumb。Hetookuphispipehurriedly，andwithstillunsteadyfingersbegantorefillit。Whenitwasfilledhelightedit，andthenwithoutawordofanswerleftthehearthandbegantotrampupanddowntheroomagain——outofthedimlightintotheshadows，backoutoftheshadowsandintothedimlightagain，hisbrowworkingandhisteethholdinghardhisambermouthpiece。
Themorningawakeningofanormalhealthyhumancreatureshouldbeajoyousthing。Afterthesoul’slonghoursofreleasefromtheburdenofthebody，itslonghoursspent——
onecanonlysayinaweatthemysteryofit，"away，away"——
inflight，perhaps，onbroad，tirelesswings，beatingsoftlyinfair，farskies，breathingpurelife，tobebroughtbacktorenewthestrengthofeachdawningday；afterthesehoursofquiescenceoflimbandnerveandbrain，themorninglifereturningshouldunsealforthebodycleareyesofpeaceatleast。Intimetocomethiswillbeso，whenthesoul’swingsarestronger，thebodymoreattunedtoinfinitelawandtheraceagreaterpower——butasyetitoftenseemsasthoughthewingedthingcamebackalaggingandreluctantrebelagainstitsfateandthechainwhichdrawsitbackaprisonertoitstoil。
IthadseemedsooftentoMountDunstan——oftenerthannot。Youthshouldnotknowsuchawakening，hewaswellaware；buthehadknownitsometimesevenwhenhehadbeenachild，andsincehisreturnfromhisill—starredstruggleinAmerica，thedullandreluctantfacingofthedayhadbecomeahabit。Yetonthemorningafterhistalkwithhisfriend——
thecurious，uplifted，unpracticaltalkwhichhadseemedtohypnotisehim——heknewwhenheopenedhiseyestothelightthathehadawakenedasamanshouldawake——withanunreasoningsenseofpleasureinthelifeandhealthofhisownbody，ashestretchedmightylimbs，strongafterthenight’srest，andfeelingthattherewasworktobedone。Itwasallunreasoning——
therewasnomoretobedonethanonthoseotherdayswhichhehadwakenedtowithbitterness，becausetheyseemeduselessandemptyofanyworth——butthismorningthemerelightofthesunwasofuse，therustleofthesmallbreezeintheleaves，thesoftfloatingpastofthewhiteclouds，themerefactthatthegreatblind—faced，statelyhousewashisown，thathecouldtrampfaroverlandswhichwerehisheritage，unfedthoughtheymightbe，andthattheveryrusticswhowouldpasshiminthelaneswere，sotospeak，hisownpeople：thathehadname，life，eventhecommonthingofhungerforhismorningfood——itwasallofuse。
Analluringpicture——ofacertaindeep，clearbathingpoolintheparkrosebeforehim。Ithadnotcalledtohimformanyaday，andnowhesawitsdarkbluenessgleambetweenflagsandgreenrushesinitsencirclingthicknessofshrubsandtrees。
Hesprangfromhisbed，andinafewminuteswasstridingacrossthegrassofthepark，histowelsoverhisarm，hisheadthrownbackashedrankinthefreshnessofthemorning—
scentedair。Itwasscentedwithdewandgrassandthebreathofwakingtreesandgrowingthings；earlytwittersandthrillsweretobeheardhereandthere，insistingonmorningjoyfulness；rabbitsfriskedaboutamongthefine—grassedhummocksoftheirwarrenand，ashepassed，scuttledbackintotheirholes，withawhiskingofshortwhitetails，atwhichhelaughedwithfriendlyamusement。Croppingstagsliftedtheirantleredheads，andfawnswithdappledsidesandimmenselustrouseyesgazedathimwithoutactualfear，evenwhiletheysidledclosertotheirmothers。Askylarkspringingsuddenlyfromthegrassafewyardsfromhisfeetmadehimstopshortonceandstandlookingupwardandlistening。Whocouldpassbyaskylarkatfiveo’clockonasummer’smorning——thelittle，heavenlylight—heartcirclingandwheeling，showeringdowndiamonds，showeringdownpearls，fromitstinypulsating，trillingthroat？
"Doyouknowwhytheysinglikethat？Itisbecauseallbutthejoyofthingshasbeenkepthiddenfromthem。Theyknewnothingbutlifeandflightandmating，andthegoldofthesun。Sotheysing。"Thatshehadoncesaid。
Helisteneduntilthejewelledrainseemedtohavefallenintohissoul。Thenhewentonhiswaysmilingasheknewhehadneversmiledinhislifebefore。Heknewitbecauseherealisedthathehadneverbeforefeltthesamevigorous，lightnormalityofspirit，thesamesenseofbeingasothermen。Itwasasthoughsomethinghadsweptagreatclearspaceabouthim，andhavingroomforairhebreatheddeepandwasgladofthecommonestgiftsofbeing。
Thebathingpoolhadbeenthegreatestpleasureofhisuncared—forboyhood。NooneknewwhichlongpassedawayMountDunstanhadmadeit。Theoldestvillagerhadtoldhimthatithad"allusbenthere，"eveninhisfather’stime。Sincehehimselfhadknownithehadseenthatitwaskeptatitsbest。
Itsdarkbluedepthsreflectedintheirpellucidclearnessthewaterplantsgrowingatitsedgeandtheenclosingshrubsandtrees。Theturfborderingitwasvelvet—thickandgreen，andafewflag—stepsleddowntothewater。Birdscametheretodrinkandbatheandpreenanddresstheirfeathers。Heknewtherewereoftennestsinthebushes——sometimesthenestsofnightingaleswhofilledthesoftdarknessormoonlightofearlyJunewiththewonderfulnessofnestingsong。Sometimesastrayingfawnpokedinatendernose，andafterdrinkingdelicatelystoleaway，asifitknewitselfatrespasser。
Toundressandplungeheadlongintothedarksapphirewaterwasarapturousthing。Heswamswiftlyandslowlybyturns，hefloated，lookingupwardatheaven’sblue，listeningtobirds’
songandinhalingallthefragranceoftheearlyday。Strengthgrewinhimandlifepulsedasthewaterlappedhislimbs。Hefoundhimselfthinkingwithpleasureofalongwalkheintendedtotaketoseeafarmerhemusttalktoabouthishopgardens；
hefoundhimselfthinkingwithpleasureofotherthingsassimpleandcommontoeverydaylife——suchthingsasheordinarilyfacedmerelybecausehemust，sincehecouldnotaffordanexperiencedbailiff。Hewashisownbailiff，hisownsteward，merely，hehadoftenthought，anunsuccessfulfarmerofhalf—
starvedlands。Butthismorningneitherhenortheyseemedsostarved，and——fornoreason——therewasafutureofsomesort。
Heemergedfromhispoolglowing，theturffeelinglikevelvetbeneathhisfeet，afinelightinhiseyes。
"Yes，"hesaid，throwingouthisarmsinalordlystretchofphysicalwell—being，"itmightbeamagnificentthing——merestrongliving。THISismagnificent。"
CHAPTERXXXVI
BYTHEROADSIDEEVERYWHERE
HisbreakfastandthetalkoveritwithPenzanceseemedgoodthings。ItsuddenlyhadbecomeworthwhiletodiscusstheapproachinghopharvestandtheyearlyinfluxofthehoppickersfromLondon。Yesterdaythesubjecthadappeareddiscouragingenough。Thegreathopgardensoftheestatehadbeenintimespastitsmostprolificsourceofagriculturalrevenueandtheboastandwonderofthehop—growingcounty。
Theneglectandscantfoodoftheleanyearshadcostthemtheirreputation。Eachseasontheyhadneededsmallerbandsof"hoppers，"andtheirstandardhadbeenlowered。Ithadbeenhishabittothinkofthemgloomily，asofhopelessandirretrievableloss。Becausethismorning，foraremotereason，thepulseoflifebeatstronginhimhewastakinganewview。
Mightnotstudyofthesubject，constantattentionandtheapplicationofallavailableresourcetooneendproduceappreciableresults？Theideapresenteditselfintheformofathingworththinkingof。
"Itwouldprovideanoutlookandgiveoneworktodo，"heputittohiscompanion。"Tohavearoofoverone’shead，asoundbody，andworktodo，isnotsobad。SuchthingsformthewholeofG。Selden’scheerfulaim。Hisspiritisalightwithinme。IwillwalkoverandtalktoBolter。"
Bolterwasafarmerwhosestruggletomakeendsmeetwasalmosttoomuchforhim。Holdingswhoseowners，eitherthroughneglectorlackofmoney，havefailedtodotheirdutyaslandlordsinthematterofrepairsoffarmhouses，outbuildings，fences，andotherthings，graduallyfallintopoorhands。Resourcefulandprosperousfarmersdonotcaretoholdlandsunderunprosperouslandlords。TherewerefarmslyingvacantontheMountDunstanestate，therewereotherswhosetenantswereuncertainrentpayersorslipshodworkersordishonestinsmallways。Wasteorsaleofthefertiliserwhichshouldhavebeengiventothesoilasitsdue，neglectinthecaseofthingswhosedecaymeantdepreciationofpropertyandexpensetothelandlord，weredishonesties。ButMountDunstanknewthatifheturnedoutThornandFittle，whomnowatchingcouldwhollyfrustrateintheirtricks，UnderMountFarmandOakfieldRisewouldstandemptyformanyayear。ButforhispovertyBolterwouldhavebeenagoodtenantenough。Hewasintroublenowbecause，thoughhishopspromisedwell，hefaceddifficultiesinthematterof"pickers。"Lastyearhehadnotbeenabletopaysatisfactorypricesinreturnforlabour，andasaresulttheprospectofsecuringgoodworkerswasanunpromisingone。
Thehordesofmen，women，andchildrenwhoflockyearafteryeartothehop—growingdistrictsknoweachother。Theylearnalsowhichmaybecalledthegoodneighbourhoodsandwhichthebad；thegardenswhoseholdersareconsideredsatisfactoryasmasters，andthosewhoareundesirable。Theyknowbyexperienceorreportwherethebest"huts"areprovided，wheretentsaresupplied，andwhereonemustgetalongasonecan。
Generallytheregularflocksareundera"captain，"whogathershisfollowerseachseason，managesthemandlooksaftertheirinterestsandtheiremployers’。Insomecasesthesamecaptainbringshisregimenttothesamegardensyearafteryear，andendsbycountinghimselfasofthesoilandalmostofthefamilyofhisemployer。Eachhard，thick—foggedwintertheyfightthroughintheirEastEndcourtsandstreets，theylookforwardtotheopen—airweeksspentbetweenlong，narrowgreengrovesoftallgarlandedpoles，whosewreathingshangthickwithfreshandpungent—scentedhopclusters。Childrenplay"’oppin"indingyroomsandalleys，andtalktoeachotherofdayswhenthesunshonehotandbirdsweresingingandflowerssmellingsweetinthehedgerows；ofotherswhentherainstreameddownandmademudofthesoftearth，andyettherewaspleasureinthegipsyinglife，andhighcheerinthefireofsticksbuiltinthefieldbysomeboldspirit，whohungoveritatinkettletoboilfortea。Theyneverforgotthegentrytheyhadcaughtsightofridingordrivingbyontheroad，theparsonwhocametotalk，andtheoccasionalgroupsofladiesfromthe"greathouse"whocameintothegardenstowalkaboutandlookatthebinsandaskqueerquestionsintheirgentry—soundingvoices。Theyneverknewanything，andtheyalwaysseemedtobeentertained。Sometimestherewereenterprising，laughingones，whoaskedtobeshownhowtostripthehopsintothebins，andafterbeingshownplayedattheworkforalittlewhile，takingofftheirglovesandshowingwhitefingerswithringson。Theyalwayslookedasiftheyhadjustbeenwashed，andasifalloftheirclotheswerefreshfromthetub，andwhenanyonestoodnearthemitwasobservablethattheysmeltnice。Generallytheygavepenniestothechildrenbeforetheyleftthegarden，andsometimesshillingstothewomen。Thehoppickingwas，infact，awonderfulblendofworkandholidaycombined。
MountDunstanhadlikedthe"hopping"fromhisfirstmemoriesofit。Hecouldrecallhissensationsofwelcomingarenewalofinterestingthingswhen，seasonafterseason，hehadbeguntomarktheearlystragglersontheroad。Thestragglerswerenotoftheclassgatheredundercaptains。Theywerederelicts——trampswhospenttheirsummersonthehighwaysandtheirwintersinsuchworkhousesaswouldtakethemin；tinkers，whodifferfromthetrampsonlybecausesometimestheyownedaricketycartfullofstrangehouseholdgoodsanddrunkententh—handperambulatorspiledwithdirtybundlesandbabies，theselastpropelledbyrobustorworn—out，slatternlywomen，whosatbythesmallroadsidefirestirringthebatteredpotortendingthebatteredkettle，whenrestingtimehadcomeandfoodmustbecooked。
Gipsiestherewerewhohadcookingfiresalso，andhobbledhorsescroppingthegrass。Nowandthenappearedagrandone，whowasrumouredtobeaLeeandthereforeroyal，andwhocameandlivedregallyinagailypaintedcaravan。Duringthelatesummerweeksonebegantoseeslouchingfigurestrampingalongthehighroadatintervals。Theseweremenwhowereold，menwhoweremiddle—agedandsomewhowereyoung，allofthemmoreorlessdust—grimed，weather—beaten，orragged。Occasionallyonewastobeseeninheavybeeryslumberunderthehedgerow，orlyingonthegrasssmokinglazily，orwithpainfulthriftcobblingupaholeinagarment。
Suchastheseweredriftinginearlythattheymightbeonthegroundwhenpickerswerewanted。Theyweretheforerunnersoftheregulararmy。
OnhiswalktoWestWays，thefarmBolterlivedon，MountDunstanpassedtwoorthreeofthesestrays。Theyweretheusualflotsamandjetsam，butontheroadsidenearahopgardenhecameuponagroupofanaspectsounusualthatitattractedhisattention。Itsunusualnessconsistedinitsairofexceedingbustlingcheerfulness。Itwasadomesticgroupofthemostlucklesstype，andragged，dirty，andwornbyanevidentlylongtramp，mightwellhavebeenexpectedtolookforlorn，discouraged，andoutofspirits。Aslouchingfatheroffivechildren，oneplainlybutafewweeksold，andslunginadirtyshawlatitsmother’sbreast，anunhealthylookingslatternmother，twoancientperambulators，onepiledwithdingybundlesandcookingutensils，theseven—year—oldeldestgirlunpackingthingsandkeepinganeyeatthesametimeonthetwoyoungest，whowereneitherofthemoldenoughtobesteadyontheirfeet，thesix—year—oldgleefullyaidingtheslouchingfathertobuildthewaysidefire。Themothersatuponthegrassnursingherbabyandstaringaboutherwithanexpressionatoncestupefiedandilluminatedbysometemporarybliss。
Eventheslouchingfatherwasgrinning，asifgoodluckhadbefallenhim，andthetwoyoungestweretumblingaboutwithsquealsofgoodcheer。Thiswasnotthehumourinwhichsuchagroupusuallydroppedwearilyonthegrassatthewaysidetoeatitsmeagreanduninvitingmealandrestitsdragginglimbs。Ashedrewnear，MountDunstansawthatatthewoman’ssidetherestoodabasketfulloffoodandacanfullofmilk。
Ordinarilyhewouldhavepassedon，but，perhapsbecauseofthehumanglowthemorninghadbroughthim，hestoppedandspoke。
"Haveyoucomeforthehopping？"heasked。
Themantouchedhisforehead，apparentlynotconsciousthatthegrinwasyetonhisface。
"Yes，sir，"heanswered。
"Howfarhaveyouwalked？"
"Agoodfiftymilessincewestarted，sir。Ittookusagoodbit。Wewasprettydoneupwhenwestoppedhere。Butwe’ve’adawonderfulpieceofgoodluck。"Andhisgrinbroadenedimmensely。
"Iamgladtohearthat，"saidMountDunstan。Thegoodluckwasplainlyofanaturetohaveexcitedthemgreatly。
Chancegoodluckdidnothappentopeoplelikethemselves。
Theywereinthestateofmindwhichintheirclasscanonlyberelievedbytalk。Thewomanbrokein，herweakmouthandchinquiteunsteady。
"Seemslikeitcan’tbetrue，sir，"shesaid。"I’donlyjustcomeoutoftheUnion——afterthisone，"signifyingthenewbabyatherbreast。"Iwasn’tfittodragalongdayafterday。We’adtostop’ere’cosIwasnearfaintingaway。"
"Shelookedfairwhitewhenshesatdown，"putintheman。
"Likeshewasgoin’off。"
"Andthatveryminute，"saidthewoman，"ayoungladycamebyon’orseback，an’theminutesheseesmeshestopsher’orsean’getsdown。"
"Ineverseennothinglikethequickwayshedoneit，"saidthehusband。"Sharp，likeshewasasoldierunderorder。
Downan’givethebridletothegrooman’comesover"
"Andkneelsdown，"thewomantookhimup，"rightbymean’says，`What’sthematter？WhatcanIdo？’an’findsoutintwominutesan’sendstothefarmforsomebrandyan’allthisbasketfulofstuff，"jerkingherheadtowardsthetreasureatherside。"An’
gives’IM，"withanotherjerktowardshermate，"moneyenoughto’elpusalongtillI’mfaironmyfeet。Thatquickitwas——thatquick，"passingherhandoverherforehead，"asifitwasn’tforthebasket，"withanervous，half—hystericgiggle，"Iwouldn’tbelievebutwhatitwasadream——Iwouldn’t。"
"Shewasaverykindyounglady，"saidMountDunstan，"andyouwereinluck。"
Hegaveafewcopperstothechildrenandstrodeonhisway。Theglowwashotinhisheart，andheheldhisheadhigh。
"Shehasgoneby，"hesaid。"Shehasgoneby。"
HeknewheshouldfindheratWestWaysFarm，andhedidso。Slimandstraightasayoungbirchtree，andelatewithherrideinthemorningair，shestoodsilhouettedinherblackhabitagainsttheancientwhitewashedbrickporchasshetalkedtoBolter。
"Ihavebeendrinkingaglassofmilkandaskingquestionsabouthops，"shesaid，givinghimherhandbareofglove。
"UntilthisyearIhaveneverseenahopgardenorahoppicker。"
AftertheexchangeofafewwordsBolterrespectfullymeltedawayandleftthemtogether。
"ItwassuchawonderfuldaythatIwantedtobeoutundertheskyforalongtime——toridealongway，"sheexplained。"IhavebeenlookingathopgardensasIrode。I
havewatchedthemallthesummer——fromthetimewhentherewasonlyalittlethingwithtwoorthreepalegreenleaveslookingimploringlyallthewayuptothetopofeachimmenselytallhoppole，fromitsplaceintheearthatthebottomofit——
asifitwassayingoverandoveragain，underitsbreath，`CanIgetupthere？CanIgetup？CanIdoitintime？CanIdoitintime？’Yes，thatwaswhattheyweresaying，thelittleboldthings。Ihavewatchedthemeversince，puttingouttendrilsandtakingholdofthepolesandpullingandclimbinglikelittleacrobats。Andcurlingroundandunfoldingleavesandmoreleaves，untilatlasttheythrewthemoutasiftheywerebeginningtoboastthattheycouldclimbupintotheblueoftheskyifthesummerwerelongenough。Andnow，lookatthem！"herhandwavedtowardsthegreatgardens。"Forestsofthem，coolgreenpathwaysandavenueswithleafcanopiesoverthem。"
"Youhaveseenitall，"hesaid。"Youdoseethings，don’tyou？AfewhundredyardsdowntheroadIpassedsomethingyouhadseen。Iknewitwasyouwhohadseenit，thoughthepoorwretcheshadnotheardyourname。"
Shehesitatedamoment，thenstoopeddownandtookupinherhandabitofpebbledearthfromthepathway。Therewasstormintheblueofhereyesasshehelditoutforhimtolookatasitlayonthebarerose—fleshofherpalm。