ently less
than that of the sea of troubles into which it is thrown.

Winterborne, though not demonstrative, replied to this suggestion with
something like alacrity. There was not much doubt that Marty's grounds
for cutting off her hair were substantial enough, if Ambrose's eyes had
been a reason for keeping it on. As for the timber-merchant, it was
plain that his invitation had been given solely in pursuance of his
scheme for uniting the pair. He had made up his mind to the course as
a duty, and was strenuously bent upon following it out.

Accompanied by Winterborne, he now turned towards the door of the
spar-house, when his footsteps were heard by the men as aforesaid.

"Well, John, and Lot," he said, nodding as he entered. "A rimy
morning."

"'Tis, sir!" said Creedle, energetically; for, not having as yet been
able to summon force sufficient to go away and begin work, he felt the
necessity of throwing some into his speech. "I don't care who the man
is, 'tis the rimiest morning we've had this fall."

"I heard you wondering why I've kept my daughter so long at
boarding-school," resumed Mr. Melbury, looking up from the letter which
he was reading anew by the fire, and turning to them with the
suddenness that was a trait in him. "Hey?" he asked, with affected
shrewdness. "But you did, you know. Well, now, though it is my own
business more than anybody else's, I'll tell ye. When I was a boy,
another boy--the pa'son's son--along with a lot of others, asked me
'Who dragged Whom round the walls of What?' and I said, 'Sam Barrett,
who dragged his wife in a chair round the tower corner when she went to
be churched.' They laughed at me with such torrents of scorn that I
went home ashamed, and couldn't sleep for shame; and I cried that night
till my pillow was wet: till at last I thought to myself there and
then--'They may laugh at me for my ignorance, but that was father's
fault, and none o' my making, and I must bear it. But they shall never
laugh at my children, if I have any: I'll starve first!' Thank God,
I've been able to keep her at school without sacrifice; and her
scholarship is such that she stayed on as governess for a time. Let
'em laugh now if they can: Mrs. Charmond herself is not better informed
than my girl Grace."

There was something between high indifference and humble emotion in his
delivery, which made it difficult for them to reply. Winterborne's
interest was of a kind which did not show it