move slowly, until
he was sure of something worth moving for. And of this he had no surety
yet, and was only too likely to lose it altogether by any headlong
action. Therefore, instead of making any instant rush, or belting on
his pistols, and hiring the sagacious quadruped that understood his
character, content he was to advance deliberately upon one foot and
three artificial legs.

Meanwhile, at Anerley Farm, the usual fatness of full garners, and
bright comfort of the evening hearth, the glow of peace, which labor
kindles in the mind that has earned its rest, and the pleasant laziness
of heart which comes where family love lies careless, confident, and
unassailed--the pleasure also of pitying the people who never can get in
their wheat, and the hot benevolence of boiling down the bones for the
man who has tumbled off one's own rick--all these blisses, large and
little, were not in their usual prime.

The master of the house was stern and silent, heavy and careless of his
customary victuals, neglectful also of his customary jokes. He disliked
the worse side of a bargain as much as in his most happy moments; and
the meditation (which is generally supposed to be going on where speech
is scarce) was not of such loftiness as to overlook the time a man
stopped round the corner. As a horse settles down to strong collar-work
better when the gloss of the stable takes the ruffle of the air, so this
man worked at his business all the harder, with the brightness of the
home joys fading. But it went very hard with him more than once, when
he made a good stroke of salesmanship, to have to put the money in the
bottom of his pocket, without even rubbing a bright half crown, and
saying to himself, "I have a'most a mind to give this to Mary."

Now if this settled and steadfast man (with three-quarters of his life
gone over him, and less and less time every year for considering soft
subjects), in spite of all that, was put out of his way by not being
looked at as usual--though for that matter, perhaps, himself failed to
look in search of those looks as usual--what, on the other hand, was
likely to remain of mirth and light-heartedness in a weaker quarter?
Mary, who used to be as happy as a bird where worms abound and cats are
scarce, was now in a grievous plight of mind, restless, lonely, troubled
in her heart, and doubtful of her conscience. Her mother had certainly
shown kind feeling, and even a readiness to take her part, which