English
Ileftthehouse,feelingthatMrs.Catherickhadhelpedmeastepforward,inspiteofherself.
BeforeIhadreachedtheturningwhichledoutofthesquare,myattentionwassuddenlyarousedbythesoundofaclosingdoorbehindme.
Ilookedround,andsawanundersizedmaninblackonthedoor-stepofahouse,which,aswellasIcouldjudge,stoodnexttoMrs.Catherick’splaceofabode—nexttoit,onthesidenearesttome.
Themandidnothesitateamomentaboutthedirectionheshouldtake.
HeadvancedrapidlytowardstheturningatwhichIhadstopped.
Irecognisedhimasthelawyer’sclerk,whohadprecededmeinmyvisittoBlackwaterPark,andwhohadtriedtopickaquarrelwithme,whenIaskedhimifIcouldseethehouse.
IwaitedwhereIwas,toascertainwhetherhisobjectwastocometoclosequartersandspeakonthisoccasion.
Tomysurprisehepassedonrapidly,withoutsayingaword,withoutevenlookingupinmyfaceashewentby.
ThiswassuchacompleteinversionofthecourseofproceedingwhichIhadeveryreasontoexpectonhispart,thatmycuriosity,orrathermysuspicion,wasaroused,andIdeterminedonmysidetokeephimcautiouslyinview,andtodiscoverwhatthebusinessmightbeinwhichhewasnowemployed.
Withoutcaringwhetherhesawmeornot,Iwalkedafterhim.
Heneverlookedback,andheledmestraightthroughthestreetstotherailwaystation.
Thetrainwasonthepointofstarting,andtwoorthreepassengerswhowerelatewereclusteringroundthesmallopeningthroughwhichtheticketswereissued.
Ijoinedthem,anddistinctlyheardthelawyer’sclerkdemandaticketfortheBlackwaterstationIsatisfiedmyselfthathehadactuallyleftbythetrainbeforeIcameaway.
TherewasonlyoneinterpretationthatIcouldplaceonwhatIhadjustseenandheard.
IhadunquestionablyobservedthemanleavingahousewhichcloselyadjoinedMrs.Catherick’sresidence.
Hehadbeenprobablyplacedthere,bySirPercival’sdirections,asalodger,inanticipationofmyinquiriesleadingme,soonerorlater,tocommunicatewithMrs.Catherick.
Hehaddoubtlessseenmegoinandcomeout,andhehadhurriedawaybythefirsttraintomakehisreportatBlackwaterPark,towhichplaceSirPercivalwouldnaturallybetakehimself(knowingwhatheevidentlyknewofmymovements),inordertobereadyonthespot,ifIreturnedtoHampshire.
Beforemanydayswereover,thereseemedeverylikelihoodnowthatheandImightmeet.
Whateverresulteventsmightbedestinedtoproduce,Iresolvedtopursuemyowncourse,straighttotheendinview,withoutstoppingorturningasideforSirPercivalorforanyone.
ThegreatresponsibilitywhichweighedonmeheavilyinLondon—theresponsibilityofsoguidingmyslightestactionsastopreventthemfromleadingaccidentallytothediscoveryofLaura’splaceofrefuge—wasremoved,nowthatIwasinHampshire.
IcouldgoandcomeasIpleasedatWelmingham,andifIchancedtofailinobservinganynecessaryprecautions,theimmediateresults,atleast,wouldaffectnoonebutmyself.
WhenIleftthestationthewintereveningwasbeginningtoclosein.
Therewaslittlehopeofcontinuingmyinquiriesafterdarktoanyusefulpurposeinaneighbourhoodthatwasstrangetome.
Accordingly,Imademywaytothenearesthotel,andorderedmydinnerandmybed.
Thisdone,IwrotetoMarian,totellherthatIwassafeandwell,andthatIhadfairprospectsofsuccess.
Ihaddirectedher,onleavinghome,toaddressthefirstlettershewrotetome(theletterIexpectedtoreceivethenextmorning)to“ThePost-Office,Welmingham,”andInowbeggedhertosendhersecondday’slettertothesameaddress.
IcouldeasilyreceiveitbywritingtothepostmasterifIhappenedtobeawayfromthetownwhenitarrived.
Thecoffee-roomofthehotel,asitgrewlateintheevening,becameaperfectsolitude.
IwaslefttoreflectonwhatIhadaccomplishedthatafternoonasuninterruptedlyasifthehousehadbeenmyown.
BeforeIretiredtorestIhadattentivelythoughtovermyextraordinaryinterviewwithMrs.Catherickfrombeginningtoend,andhadverifiedatmyleisuretheconclusionswhichIhadhastilydrawnintheearlierpartoftheday.
ThevestryofOldWelminghamchurchwasthestarting-pointfromwhichmymindslowlyworkeditswaybackthroughallthatIhadheardMrs.Cathericksay,andthroughallIhadseenMrs.Catherickdo.
AtthetimewhentheneighbourhoodofthevestrywasfirstreferredtoinmypresencebyMrs.Clements,IhadthoughtitthestrangestandmostunaccountableofallplacesforSirPercivaltoselectforaclandestinemeetingwiththeclerk’swife.
Influencedbythisimpression,andbynoother,Ihadmentioned“thevestryofthechurch”beforeMrs.Catherickonpurespeculation—itrepresentedoneoftheminorpeculiaritiesofthestorywhichoccurredtomewhileIwasspeaking.
Iwaspreparedforheransweringmeconfusedlyorangrily,buttheblankterrorthatseizedherwhenIsaidthewordstookmecompletelybysurprise.
IhadlongbeforeassociatedSirPercival’sSecretwiththeconcealmentofaseriouscrimewhichMrs.Catherickknewof,butIhadgonenofurtherthanthis.
Nowthewoman’sparoxysmofterrorassociatedthecrime,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,withthevestry,andconvincedmethatshehadbeenmorethanthemerewitnessofit—shewasalsotheaccomplice,beyondadoubt.
Whathadbeenthenatureofthecrime?Surelytherewasacontemptiblesidetoit,aswellasadangerousside,orMrs.Catherickwouldnothaverepeatedmyownwords,referringtoSirPercival’srankandpower,withsuchmarkeddisdainasshehadcertainlydisplayed.
Itwasacontemptiblecrimethenandadangerouscrime,andshehadsharedinit,anditwasassociatedwiththevestryofthechurch.
Thenextconsiderationtobedisposedofledmeastepfartherfromthispoint.
Mrs.Catherick’sundisguisedcontemptforSirPercivalplainlyextendedtohismotheraswell.
Shehadreferredwiththebitterestsarcasmtothegreatfamilyhehaddescendedfrom—”especiallybythemother’sside.”Whatdidthismean?
Thereappearedtobeonlytwoexplanationsofit.
Eitherhismother’sbirthhadbeenlow,orhismother’sreputationwasdamagedbysomehiddenflawwithwhichMrs.CatherickandSirPercivalwerebothprivatelyacquainted?
Icouldonlyputthefirstexplanationtothetestbylookingattheregisterofhermarriage,andsoascertaininghermaidennameandherparentageasapreliminarytofurtherinquiries.
Ontheotherhand,ifthesecondcasesupposedwerethetrueone,whathadbeentheflawinherreputation?
RememberingtheaccountwhichMarianhadgivenmeofSirPercival’sfatherandmother,andofthesuspiciouslyunsocialsecludedlifetheyhadbothled,Inowaskedmyselfwhetheritmightnotbepossiblethathismotherhadneverbeenmarriedatall.
Hereagaintheregistermight,byofferingwrittenevidenceofthemarriage,provetome,atanyrate,thatthisdoubthadnofoundationintruth.Butwherewastheregistertobefound?
AtthispointItookuptheconclusionswhichIhadpreviouslyformed,andthesamementalprocesswhichhaddiscoveredthelocalityoftheconcealedcrime,nowlodgedtheregisteralsointhevestryofOldWelminghamchurch.
TheseweretheresultsofmyinterviewwithMrs.Catherick—thesewerethevariousconsiderations,allsteadilyconvergingtoonepoint,whichdecidedthecourseofmyproceedingsonthenextday.
Themorningwascloudyandlowering,butnorainfell.IleftmybagatthehoteltowaittheretillIcalledforit,and,afterinquiringtheway,setforthonfootforOldWelminghamchurch.
Itwasawalkofrathermorethantwomiles,thegroundrisingslowlyalltheway.
Onthehighestpointstoodthechurch—anancient,weather-beatenbuilding,withheavybuttressesatitssides,andaclumsysquaretowerinfront.
Thevestryatthebackwasbuiltoutfromthechurch,andseemedtobeofthesameage.
RoundthebuildingatintervalsappearedtheremainsofthevillagewhichMrs.Clementshaddescribedtomeasherhusband’splaceofabodeinformeryears,andwhichtheprincipalinhabitantshadlongsincedesertedforthenewtown.
Someoftheemptyhouseshadbeendismantledtotheirouterwalls,somehadbeenlefttodecaywithtime,andsomewerestillinhabitedbypersonsevidentlyofthepoorestclass.
Itwasadrearyscene,andyet,intheworstaspectofitsruin,notsodrearyasthemoderntownthatIhadjustleft.
Heretherewasthebrown,breezysweepofsurroundingfieldsfortheeyetoreposeon—herethetrees,leaflessastheywere,stillvariedthemonotonyoftheprospect,andhelpedthemindtolookforwardtosummer-timeandshade.
AsImovedawayfromthebackofthechurch,andpassedsomeofthedismantledcottagesinsearchofapersonwhomightdirectmetotheclerk,Isawtwomensaunteroutaftermefrombehindawall.
Thetallestofthetwo—astoutmuscularmaninthedressofagamekeeper—wasastrangertome.
TheotherwasoneofthemenwhohadfollowedmeinLondononthedaywhenIleftMr.Kyrle’soffice.
Ihadtakenparticularnoticeofhimatthetime;andIfeltsurethatIwasnotmistakeninidentifyingthefellowonthisoccasion.
Neitherhenorhiscompanionattemptedtospeaktome,andbothkeptthemselvesatarespectfuldistance,butthemotiveoftheirpresenceintheneighbourhoodofthechurchwasplainlyapparent.
ItwasexactlyasIhadsupposed—SirPercivalwasalreadypreparedforme.
MyvisittoMrs.Catherickhadbeenreportedtohimtheeveningbefore,andthosetwomenhadbeenplacedonthelook-outnearthechurchinanticipationofmyappearanceatOldWelmingham.
IfIhadwantedanyfurtherproofthatmyinvestigationshadtakentherightdirectionatlast,theplannowadoptedforwatchingmewouldhavesuppliedit.
IwalkedonawayfromthechurchtillIreachedoneoftheinhabitedhouses,withapatchofkitchengardenattachedtoitonwhichalabourerwasatwork.
Hedirectedmetotheclerk’sabode,acottageatsomelittledistanceoff,standingbyitselfontheoutskirtsoftheforsakenvillage.
Theclerkwasindoors,andwasjustputtingonhisgreatcoat.
Hewasacheerful,familiar,loudly-talkativeoldman,withaverypooropinion(asIsoondiscovered)oftheplaceinwhichhelived,andahappysenseofsuperioritytohisneighboursinvirtueofthegreatpersonaldistinctionofhavingoncebeeninLondon.
“It’swellyoucamesoearly,sir,”saidtheoldman,whenIhadmentionedtheobjectofmyvisit.
“Ishouldhavebeenawayintenminutesmore.
Parishbusiness,sir,andagoodishlongtrotbeforeit’salldoneforamanatmyage.
But,blessyou,I’mstrongonmylegsstill!
Aslongasamandon’tgiveathislegs,there’sadealofworkleftinhim.Don’tyouthinksoyourself,sir?”
Hetookhiskeysdownwhilehewastalkingfromahookbehindthefireplace,andlockedhiscottagedoorbehindus.
“Nobodyathometokeephouseforme,”saidtheclerk,withacheerfulsenseofperfectfreedomfromallfamilyencumbrances.
“Mywife’sinthechurchyardthere,andmychildrenareallmarried.Awretchedplacethis,isn’tit,sir?
Buttheparishisalargeone—everymancouldn’tgetthroughthebusinessasIdo.
It’slearningdoesit,andI’vehadmyshare,andalittlemore.
IcantalktheQueen’sEnglish(GodblesstheQueen!)
,andthat’smorethanmostofthepeopleaboutherecando.You’refromLondon,Isuppose,sir?
I’vebeeninLondonamatteroffive-and-twentyyearago.
What’sthenewstherenow,ifyouplease?”
Chatteringoninthisway,heledmebacktothevestry.
Ilookedabouttoseeifthetwospieswerestillinsight.Theywerenotvisibleanywhere.
Afterhavingdiscoveredmyapplicationtotheclerk,theyhadprobablyconcealedthemselveswheretheycouldwatchmynextproceedingsinperfectfreedom.
Thevestrydoorwasofstoutoldoak,studdedwithstrongnails,andtheclerkputhislargeheavykeyintothelockwiththeairofamanwhoknewthathehadadifficultytoencounter,andwhowasnotquitecertainofcreditablyconqueringit.
“I’mobligedtobringyouthisway,sir,”hesaid,“becausethedoorfromthevestrytothechurchisboltedonthevestryside.
Wemighthavegotinthroughthechurchotherwise.
Thisisaperverselock,ifevertherewasoneyet.
It’sbigenoughforaprison-door—it’sbeenhamperedoverandoveragain,anditoughttobechangedforanewone.
I’vementionedthattothechurchwardenfiftytimesoveratleast—he’salwayssaying,‘I’llseeaboutit’—andheneverdoessee.
Ah,It’sasortoflostcorner,thisplace.NotlikeLondon—isit,sir?Blessyou,weareallasleephere!Wedon’tmarchwiththetimes.”
Aftersometwistingandturningofthekey,theheavylockyielded,andheopenedthedoor.
ThevestrywaslargerthanIshouldhavesupposedittobe,judgingfromtheoutsideonly.
Itwasadim,mouldy,melancholyoldroom,withalow,rafteredceiling.
Roundtwosidesofit,thesidesnearesttotheinteriorofthechurch,ranheavywoodenpresses,worm-eatenandgapingwithage.
Hookedtotheinnercornerofoneofthesepresseshungseveralsurplices,allbulgingoutattheirlowerendsinanirreverent-lookingbundleoflimpdrapery.
Belowthesurplices,onthefloor,stoodthreepacking-cases,withthelidshalfoff,halfon,andthestrawprofuselyburstingoutoftheircracksandcrevicesineverydirection.
Behindthem,inacorner,wasalitterofdustypapers,somelargeandrolleduplikearchitects’plans,somelooselystrungtogetheronfileslikebillsorletters.
Theroomhadoncebeenlightedbyasmallsidewindow,butthishadbeenbrickedup,andalanternskylightwasnowsubstitutedforit.
Theatmosphereoftheplacewasheavyandmouldy,beingrenderedadditionallyoppressivebytheclosingofthedoorwhichledintothechurch.
Thisdooralsowascomposedofsolidoak,andwasboltedatthetopandbottomonthevestryside.
“Wemightbetidier,mightn’twe,sir?”saidthecheerfulclerk;“butwhenyou’reinalostcornerofaplacelikethis,whatareyoutodo?
Why,lookherenow,justlookatthesepacking-cases.
Therethey’vebeen,forayearormore,readytogodowntoLondon—theretheyare,litteringtheplace,andtherethey’llstopaslongasthenailsholdthemtogether.
I’lltellyouwhat,sir,asIsaidbefore,thisisnotLondon.Weareallasleephere.
Blessyou,WEdon’tmarchwiththetimes!”
“Whatisthereinthepacking-cases?”Iasked.
“Bitsofoldwoodcarvingsfromthepulpit,andpanelsfromthechancel,andimagesfromtheorgan-loft,”saidtheclerk.
“Portraitsofthetwelveapostlesinwood,andnotawholenoseamong’em.
Allbroken,andworm-eaten,andcrumblingtodustattheedges.
Asbrittleascrockery,sir,andasoldasthechurch,ifnotolder.”
“AndwhyweretheygoingtoLondon?Toberepaired?”
“That’sit,sir,toberepaired,andwheretheywerepastrepair,tobecopiedinsoundwood.
But,blessyou,themoneyfellshort,andtheretheyare,waitingfornewsubscriptions,andnobodytosubscribe.Itwasalldoneayearago,sir.
Sixgentlemendinedtogetheraboutit,atthehotelinthenewtown.
Theymadespeeches,andpassedresolutions,andputtheirnamesdown,andprintedoffthousandsofprospectuses.
Beautifulprospectuses,sir,allflourishedoverwithGothicdevicesinredink,sayingitwasadisgracenottorestorethechurchandrepairthefamouscarvings,andsoon.
Therearetheprospectusesthatcouldn’tbedistributed,andthearchitect’splansandestimates,andthewholecorrespondencewhichseteverybodyatloggerheadsandendedinadispute,alldowntogetherinthatcorner,behindthepacking-cases.
Themoneydribbledinalittleatfirst—butwhatCANyouexpectoutofLondon?
Therewasjustenough,youknow,topackthebrokencarvings,andgettheestimates,andpaytheprinter’sbill,andafterthattherewasn’tahalfpennyleft.Therethethingsare,asIsaidbefore.
Wehavenowhereelsetoputthem—nobodyinthenewtowncaresaboutaccommodatingus—we’reinalostcorner—andthisisanuntidyvestry—andwho’stohelpit?—that’swhatIwanttoknow.”
Myanxietytoexaminetheregisterdidnotdisposemetooffermuchencouragementtotheoldman’stalkativeness.
Iagreedwithhimthatnobodycouldhelptheuntidinessofthevestry,andthensuggestedthatweshouldproceedtoourbusinesswithoutmoredelay.
“Ay,ay,themarriage-register,tobesure,”saidtheclerk,takingalittlebunchofkeysfromhispocket.“Howfardoyouwanttolookback,sir?”
MarianhadinformedmeofSirPercival’sageatthetimewhenwehadspokentogetherofhismarriageengagementwithLaura.
Shehadthendescribedhimasbeingforty-fiveyearsold.
Calculatingbackfromthis,andmakingdueallowancefortheyearthathadpassedsinceIhadgainedmyinformation,Ifoundthathemusthavebeenbornineighteenhundredandfour,andthatImightsafelystartonmysearchthroughtheregisterfromthatdate.
“Iwanttobeginwiththeyeareighteenhundredandfour,”Isaid.
“Whichwayafterthat,sir?”askedtheclerk.“Forwardstoourtimeorbackwardsawayfromus?”
“Backwardsfromeighteenhundredandfour.”
Heopenedthedoorofoneofthepresses—thepressfromthesideofwhichthesurpliceswerehanging—andproducedalargevolumeboundingreasybrownleather.
Iwasstruckbytheinsecurityoftheplaceinwhichtheregisterwaskept.
Thedoorofthepresswaswarpedandcrackedwithage,andthelockwasofthesmallestandcommonestkind.
Icouldhaveforcediteasilywiththewalking-stickIcarriedinmyhand.
“Isthatconsideredasufficientlysecureplacefortheregister?”Iinquired.“Surelyabookofsuchimportanceasthisoughttobeprotectedbyabetterlock,andkeptcarefullyinanironsafe?”
“Well,now,that’scurious!”saidtheclerk,shuttingupthebookagain,justafterhehadopenedit,andsmackinghishandcheerfullyonthecover.
“Thoseweretheverywordsmyoldmasterwasalwayssayingyearsandyearsago,whenIwasalad.
‘Whyisn’ttheregister’(meaningthisregisterhere,undermyhand)—‘whyisn’titkeptinanironsafe?’
IfI’veheardhimsaythatonce,I’veheardhimsayitahundredtimes.
Hewasthesolicitorinthosedays,sir,whohadtheappointmentofvestry-clerktothischurch.
Afineheartyoldgentleman,andthemostparticularmanbreathing.
AslongashelivedhekeptacopyofthisbookinhisofficeatKnowlesbury,andhaditpostedupregular,fromtimetotime,tocorrespondwiththefreshentrieshere.
Youwouldhardlythinkit,buthehadhisownappointeddays,onceortwiceineveryquarter,forridingovertothischurchonhisoldwhitepony,tocheckthecopy,bytheregister,withhisowneyesandhands.‘HowdoIknow?’
(heusedtosay)‘howdoIknowthattheregisterinthisvestrymaynotbestolenordestroyed?Whyisn’titkeptinanironsafe?
Whycan’tImakeotherpeopleascarefulasIammyself?
Someofthesedaystherewillbeanaccidenthappen,andwhentheregister’slost,thentheparishwillfindoutthevalueofmycopy.’
Heusedtotakehispinchofsnuffafterthat,andlookabouthimasboldasalord.Ah!
thelikeofhimfordoingbusinessisn’teasytofindnow.
YoumaygotoLondonandnotmatchhim,evenTHERE.Whichyeardidyousay,sir?Eighteenhundredandwhat?”
“Eighteenhundredandfour,”Ireplied,mentallyresolvingtogivetheoldmannomoreopportunitiesoftalking,untilmyexaminationoftheregisterwasover.
Theclerkputonhisspectacles,andturnedovertheleavesoftheregister,carefullywettinghisfingerandthumbateverythirdpage.
“Thereitis,sir,”saidhe,withanothercheerfulsmackontheopenvolume.“There’stheyearyouwant.”
AsIwasignorantofthemonthinwhichSirPercivalwasborn,Ibeganmybackwardsearchwiththeearlypartoftheyear.
Theregister-bookwasoftheold-fashionedkind,theentriesbeingallmadeonblankpagesinmanuscript,andthedivisionswhichseparatedthembeingindicatedbyinklinesdrawnacrossthepageatthecloseofeachentry.
Ireachedthebeginningoftheyeareighteenhundredandfourwithoutencounteringthemarriage,andthentravelledbackthroughDecembereighteenhundredandthree—throughNovemberandOctober—through——
No!notthroughSeptemberalso.UndertheheadingofthatmonthintheyearIfoundthemarriage.
Ilookedcarefullyattheentry.Itwasatthebottomofapage,andwasforwantofroomcompressedintoasmallerspacethanthatoccupiedbythemarriagesabove.
Themarriageimmediatelybeforeitwasimpressedonmyattentionbythecircumstanceofthebridegroom’sChristiannamebeingthesameasmyown.
Theentryimmediatelyfollowingit(onthetopofthenextpage)wasnoticeableinanotherwayfromthelargespaceitoccupied,therecordinthiscaseregisteringthemarriagesoftwobrothersatthesametime.
TheregisterofthemarriageofSirFelixGlydewasinnorespectremarkableexceptforthenarrownessofthespaceintowhichitwascompressedatthebottomofthepage.
Theinformationabouthiswifewastheusualinformationgiveninsuchcases.
Shewasdescribedas“CeciliaJaneElster,ofPark-ViewCottages,Knowlesbury,onlydaughterofthelatePatrickElster,Esq.,formerlyofBath.”
Inoteddowntheseparticularsinmypocket-book,feelingasIdidsobothdoubtfulanddisheartenedaboutmynextproceedings.
TheSecretwhichIhadbelieveduntilthismomenttobewithinmygraspseemednowfartherfrommyreachthanever.
Whatsuggestionsofanymysteryunexplainedhadarisenoutofmyvisittothevestry?Isawnosuggestionsanywhere.
WhatprogresshadImadetowardsdiscoveringthesuspectedstainonthereputationofSirPercival’smother?
TheonefactIhadascertainedvindicatedherreputation.
Freshdoubts,freshdifficulties,freshdelaysbegantoopenbeforemeininterminableprospect.WhatwasItodonext?
Theoneimmediateresourcelefttomeappearedtobethis.
Imightinstituteinquiriesabout“MissElsterofKnowlesbury,”onthechanceofadvancingtowardsthemainobjectofmyinvestigation,byfirstdiscoveringthesecretofMrs.Catherick’scontemptforSirPercival’smother.
“Haveyoufoundwhatyouwanted,sir?”saidtheclerk,asIclosedtheregister-book.
“Yes,”Ireplied,“butIhavesomeinquiriesstilltomake.Isupposetheclergymanwhoofficiatedhereintheyeareighteenhundredandthreeisnolongeralive?”
“No,no,sir,hewasdeadthreeorfouryearsbeforeIcamehere,andthatwasaslongagoastheyeartwenty-seven.
Igotthisplace,sir,”persistedmytalkativeoldfriend,“throughtheclerkbeforemeleavingit.
Theysayhewasdrivenoutofhouseandhomebyhiswife—andshe’slivingstilldowninthenewtownthere.
Idon’tknowtherightsofthestorymyself—allIknowisIgottheplace.
Mr.Wansboroughgotitforme—thesonofmyoldmasterthatIwastellyouof.
He’safreepleasantgentlemanaseverlived—ridestothehounds,keepshispointersandallthat.
He’svestry-clerkherenowashisfatherwasbeforehim.”
“DidyounottellmeyourformermasterlivedatKnowlesbury?”
Iasked,callingtomindthelongstoryabouttheprecisegentlemanoftheoldschoolwithwhichmytalkativefriendhadweariedmebeforeheopenedtheregister-book.
“Yes,tobesure,sir,”repliedtheclerk.“OldMr.WansboroughlivedatKnowlesbury,andyoungMr.Wansboroughlivestheretoo.”
“Yousaidjustnowhewasvestry-clerk,likehisfatherbeforehim.IamnotquitesurethatIknowwhatavestry-clerkis.”
“Don’tyouindeed,sir?—andyoucomefromLondontoo!
Everyparishchurch,youknow,hasavestry-clerkandaparish-clerk.
Theparish-clerkisamanlikeme(exceptthatI’vegotadealmorelearningthanmostofthem—thoughIdon’tboastofit).
Thevestry-clerkisasortofanappointmentthatthelawyersget,andifthere’sanybusinesstobedoneforthevestry,whytheretheyaretodoit.It’sjustthesameinLondon.
Everyparishchurchtherehasgotitsvestry-clerk—andyoumaytakemywordforithe’ssuretobealawyer.”
“ThenyoungMr.Wansboroughisalawyer,Isuppose?”
“Ofcourseheis,sir!AlawyerinHighStreet,Knowlesbury—theoldofficesthathisfatherhadbeforehim.
ThenumberoftimesI’vesweptthoseofficesout,andseentheoldgentlemancometrottingintobusinessonhiswhitepony,lookingrightandleftalldownthestreetandnoddingtoeverybody!Blessyou,hewasapopularcharacter!—he’dhavedoneinLondon!”
“HowfarisittoKnowlesburyfromthisplace?”
“Alongstretch,sir,”saidtheclerk,withthatexaggeratedideaofdistances,andthatvividperceptionofdifficultiesingettingfromplacetoplace,whichispeculiartoallcountrypeople.“Nighonfivemile,Icantellyou!”
Itwasstillearlyintheforenoon.TherewasplentyoftimeforawalktoKnowlesburyandbackagaintoWelmingham;andtherewasnopersonprobablyinthetownwhowasfittertoassistmyinquiriesaboutthecharacterandpositionofSirPercival’smotherbeforehermarriagethanthelocalsolicitor.
ResolvingtogoatoncetoKnowlesburyonfoot,Iledthewayoutofthevestry.
“Thankyoukindly,sir,”saidtheclerk,asIslippedmylittlepresentintohishand.
“AreyoureallygoingtowalkallthewaytoKnowlesburyandback?Well!
you’restrongonyourlegs,too—andwhatablessingthatis,isn’tit?There’stheroad,youcan’tmissit.
IwishIwasgoingyourway—it’spleasanttomeetwithgentlemenfromLondoninalostcornerlikethis.Onehearsthenews.
Wishyougood-morning,sir,andthankyoukindlyoncemore.”
Weparted.AsIleftthechurchbehindmeIlookedback,andtherewerethetwomenagainontheroadbelow,withathirdintheircompany,thatthirdpersonbeingtheshortmaninblackwhomIhadtracedtotherailwaytheeveningbefore.
Thethreestoodtalkingtogetherforalittlewhile,thenseparated.
ThemaninblackwentawaybyhimselftowardsWelmingham—theothertworemainedtogether,evidentlywaitingtofollowmeassoonasIwalkedon.
IproceededonmywaywithoutlettingthefellowsseethatItookanyspecialnoticeofthem.
Theycausedmenoconsciousirritationoffeelingatthatmoment—onthecontrary,theyratherrevivedmysinkinghopes.
Inthesurpriseofdiscoveringtheevidenceofthemarriage,IhadforgottentheinferenceIhaddrawnonfirstperceivingthemenintheneighbourhoodofthevestry.
TheirreappearanceremindedmethatSirPercivalhadanticipatedmyvisittoOldWelminghamchurchasthenextresultofmyinterviewwithMrs.Catherick—otherwisehewouldneverhaveplacedhisspiestheretowaitforme.
Smoothlyandfairlyasappearanceslookedinthevestry,therewassomethingwrongbeneaththem—therewassomethingintheregister-book,foraughtIknew,thatIhadnotdiscoveredyet.
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