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She had not the slightest idea that he would be utterly overwhelmed and wrecked. She had not the least notion how he felt for her. She was very glad to be away from Mrs. Marston and Martha. She found this household of two men a great rest after the two women, although Vessons did not relax his disapproval.
Next morning Vessons went off in high feather; Hazel was so safely disposed of. Reddin left at the same time, and all the long May day Undern was deserted, and lay still and silent as if pondering on its loneliness. Reddin did not return until after night-fall.
'Neither wild 'orses, nor blood 'orses, nor race 'orses nor cart 'orses, nor Suffolk punches began Vessons whose style was cumulative, and who, when he had made a good phrase, was apt to work it to death like any other artist. 'Oh, you're drunk, Vessons! said his master. 'Shall drag it from me, finished Vessons. Reddin knew this was true, and felt rather hopeless.
Sometimes she was very homesick for Foxy, but she would not have her at Undern. She did not trust the place. She never went out anywhere, for people stared, and when Reddin, with some difficulty, persuaded her to amble round the fields with him on a pony he picked up cheap for her, she always wanted to keep in his own fields. It was not until nearly the end of October that Vessons got his chance.
It was not till three o'clock that she arrived at the front door, baby in arms, the four children, heavily expectant, at her heels, and Vessons stage-managing in the background. Hazel had been looking at two of the only books at Undern-'The Horse' and 'The Dog, illustrated. Vessons had views about books. He considered them useful in their place.
'Fetch the brood mares in from the lower pasture. They should have been in this hour. 'And late love's worse than lad's love, so they do say, concluded Vessons. 'There's nothing of love between us, Reddin snapped. 'I dunna wonder at it! Andrew cast an appraising look at his master's flushed face and at Hazel's tousled hair, and withdrew. Hazel went into the elaborately carved porch.
'And if it cosses me my place, I'll tell ye one thing! Vessons said to himself: 'There's as good to be had, and better. 'Well, I'm damned, said Reddin as they disappeared in the darkness. He went in and finished the whisky in a state of mystification that ended in sleep. As the horse trotted along the hard road, rabbits scuttled across in the momentary lamplight.
'Who comes wailing in the black o' night? said the voice of Vessons as they neared the hall door. 'I thought it was the lady as no gold comforts her as hollas "Lost! Alost!" in the Undern Coppy. Undern was in its June mood. Pinks frothed over the edges of the borders, and white bush-roses flung their arms high over the porch. All was heavily fragrant, close, muffling the senses.
The hot scent of the trees and the garden mingled with the smell of manure, pigsties, cooking pig-wash and Vessons' 'Tom Moody' tobacco. It made Hazel feel faint a strange sensation to her. Vessons stood surveying them as he had done on the bleak night of Hazel's first coming.
I'm thinking it's high time I took a bite and sup in this parlour! They got tea; and Vessons, hovering in the yard, was in despair. He could not appear, for Hazel must not know his part in the affair. 'Laws! If they've begun on tea, it's all up with Andrew, he remarked to the swan in passing. Dusk came on and still no Sally appeared. The two chimneys smoked hospitably, and he wanted his tea.
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