clear I was on my awn paart," explained Mr. Lyddon; but that
night Will wrote a letter to his enemy and despatched it by a lad before
breakfast on the following morning.

"Sir," he said, "this comes to say that Miller seen you yesterday
out of his own head, and if I had knowed he was coming I would have
took good care to prevent it.

"W. BLANCHARD."

CHAPTER XIV

ACTION

Time passed, and Mrs. Blanchard made a slow return to health. Her
daughter assumed control of the sick-room, and Martin Grimbal was denied
the satisfaction of seeing Chris settled in her future home for a period
of nearly two months. Then, when the invalid became sufficiently
restored to leave Chagford for change of air, both Martin and Chris
accompanied her and spent a few weeks by the sea.

Will, meantime, revolved upon his own affairs and suffered torments long
drawn out. For these protracted troubles those of his own house were
responsible, and both Phoebe and the miller greatly erred in their
treatment of him at this season. For the woman there were indeed
excuses, but Mr. Lyddon might have been expected to show more wisdom and
better knowledge of a character at all times transparent enough. Phoebe,
nearing maternal tribulation, threw a new obstacle in her husband's way,
and implored him by all holy things, now that he had desisted from
confession thus far, to keep his secret yet a little longer and wait for
the birth of the child. She used every possible expedient to win this
new undertaking from Will, and her father added his voice to hers. The
miller's expressed wish, strongly urged, frequently repeated, at last
triumphed, and against his own desire and mental promptings, Blanchard,
at terrible cost to himself, had promised patience until June.

Life, thus clouded and choked, wrought havoc with the man. His natural
safety-valves were blocked, his nerves shattered, his temper poisoned.
Primitive characteristics appeared as a result of this position, and he
exhibited the ferocity of an over-driven tame beast, or a hunted wild
one. In days long removed from this crisis he looked back with chill of
body and shudder of mind to that nightmare springtime; and he never
willingly permitted even those dearest to him to retrace the period.

The struggle lasted long, but his nature beat Blanchard before the end,
burst its bonds, shattered promises and undertakings, weakened marital
love for a while, and set him free by