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The very letter that had cost her so much trouble. 'Did you obtain this by force, my good fellow? said Mr Chester, casting his eye upon it without the least perceptible surprise or pleasure. 'Not quite, said Hugh. 'Partly. 'Who was the messenger from whom you took it? 'A woman. One Varden's daughter. 'Oh indeed! said Mr Chester gaily. 'What else did you take from her? 'What else?
He left some letter or some message which our Joe had charge of, but he and the old one quarrelled about it when your son had gone, and the old one wouldn't let it be delivered. He's a landlord, he says, and lives on everybody's custom. 'He's a jewel, smiled Mr Chester, 'and the better for being a dull one. Well? 'Varden's daughter that's the girl I kissed
In the meantime, Edward returned suitable replies to Mrs Varden's courtesies, and that lady brightened up very much; so that when he accepted a dish of tea from the fair hands of Dolly, she was perfectly agreeable. 'I am sure if there's anything we can do, Varden, or I, or Dolly either, to serve you, sir, at any time, you have only to say it, and it shall be done, said Mrs V.
'I dreamed, said Barnaby, passing his arm through Varden's, and peering close into his face as he answered in a whisper, 'I dreamed just now that something it was in the shape of a man followed me came softly after me wouldn't let me be but was always hiding and crouching, like a cat in dark corners, waiting till I should pass; when it crept out and came softly after me.
Then, there was a great deal to be said regarding Mrs Varden's doubts, and motherly alarms, and shrewd suspicions; and it appeared that from Mrs Varden's penetration and extreme sagacity nothing had ever been hidden. She had known it all along. She had seen it from the first. She had always predicted it. She had been aware of it before the principals.
Thus the first effect of Varden's letter was to make them quarrel. They had not openly disagreed before. In the evening he kissed her and said, "How absurd I was to get angry about things that happened last year. I will certainly not write to the person." She returned the kiss. But he knew that they had destroyed the habit of reverence, and would quarrel again.
You might suppose, said Mrs Varden, frowning at her husband, 'from Varden's sitting there so glum and silent, that he objected to this arrangement; but you must not mind that, sir, if you please. It's his way at home. Out of doors, he can be cheerful and talkative enough.
The simple truth was, however, that Mr Willet, although his eyes were wide open and he saw a woman before him whose head by long and steady looking at seemed to grow bigger and bigger until it filled the whole bar, was to all other intents and purposes fast asleep; and so sat leaning back in his chair with his hands in his pockets until his son's return caused him to wake up with a deep sigh, and a faint impression that he had been dreaming about pickled pork and greens a vision of his slumbers which was no doubt referable to the circumstance of Mrs Varden's having frequently pronounced the word 'Grace' with much emphasis; which word, entering the portals of Mr Willet's brain as they stood ajar, and coupling itself with the words 'before meat, which were there ranging about, did in time suggest a particular kind of meat together with that description of vegetable which is usually its companion.
This picture of Varden's is said to be the best likeness yet produced of this truly remarkable man. I have studied it for hours, but cannot understand how he can grip a club as he does without hooking his ball. All the bed-chambers on the second floor have been thrown into one large room, which is used as a gymnasium.
This accomplished, and the wounded man being covered with Varden's own greatcoat which he took off for the purpose, they proceeded onward at a brisk pace: Barnaby gaily counting the stars upon his fingers, and Gabriel inwardly congratulating himself upon having an adventure now, which would silence Mrs Varden on the subject of the Maypole, for that night, or there was no faith in woman.
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