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that it should be so； for he did not go anywhere out of his
accustomed ways to endeavour to discover her。
CHAPTER VIII
The winter and the spring had passed； and the house was complete。
It was a fine morning in the early part of June； and Barnet； though
not in the habit of rising early； had taken a long walk before
breakfast； returning by way of the new building。 A sufficiently
exciting cause of his restlessness to…day might have been the
intelligence which had reached him the night before； that Lucy
Savile was going to India after all； and notwithstanding the
representations of her friends that such a journey was unadvisable
in many ways for an unpractised girl； unless some more definite
advantage lay at the end of it than she could show to be the case。
Barnet's walk up the slope to the building betrayed that he was in a
dissatisfied mood。 He hardly saw that the dewy time of day lent an
unusual freshness to the bushes and trees which had so recently put
on their summer habit of heavy leafage； and made his newly…laid lawn
look as well established as an old manorial meadow。 The house had
been so adroitly placed between six tall elms which were growing on
the site beforehand； that they seemed like real ancestral trees； and
the rooks； young and old； cawed melodiously to their visitor。
The door was not locked； and he entered。 No workmen appeared to be
present； and he walked from sunny window to sunny window of the
empty rooms； with a sense of seclusion which might have been very
pleasant but for the antecedent knowledge that his almost paternal
care of Lucy Savile was to be thrown away by her wilfulness。
Footsteps echoed through an adjoining room； and bending his eyes in
that direction； he perceived Mr。 Jones； the architect。 He had come
to look over the building before giving the contractor his final
certificate。 They walked over the house together。 Everything was
finished except the papering： there were the latest improvements of
the period in bell…hanging； ventilating； smoke…jacks； fire…grates；
and French windows。 The business was soon ended； and Jones； having
directed Barnet's attention to a roll of wall…paper patterns which
lay on a bench for his choice； was leaving to keep another
engagement； when Barnet said； 'Is the tomb finished yet for Mrs。
Downe？'
'Wellyes： it is at last；' said the architect； coming back and
speaking as if he were in a mood to make a confidence。 'I have had
no end of trouble in the matter； and； to tell the truth； I am
heartily glad it is over。'
Barnet expressed his surprise。 'I thought poor Downe had given up
those extravagant notions of his？ then he has gone back to the altar
and canopy after all？ Well； he is to be excused； poor fellow！'
'O nohe has not at all gone back to themquite the reverse；'
Jones hastened to say。 'He has so reduced design after design； that
the whole thing has been nothing but waste labour for me； till in
the end it has become a common headstone； which a mason put up in
half a day。'
'A common headstone？' said Barnet。
'Yes。 I held out for some time for the addition of a footstone at
least。 But he said； 〃O nohe couldn't afford it。〃'
'Ah； wellhis family is growing up； poor fellow； and his expenses
are getting serious。'
'Yes； exactly；' said Jones； as if the subject were none of his。 And
again directing Barnet's attention to the wall…papers； the bustling
architect left him to keep some other engagement。
'A common headstone；' murmured Barnet； left again to himself。 He
mused a minute or two； and next began looking over and selecting
from the patterns； but had not long been engaged in the work when he
heard another footstep on the gravel without； and somebody enter the
open porch。
Barnet went to the doorit was his manservant in search of him。
'I have been trying for some time to find you； sir；' he said。 'This
letter has come by the post； and it is marked immediate。 And
there's this one from Mr。 Downe； who called just now wanting to see
you。' He searched his pocket for the second。
Barnet took the first letterit had a black border； and bore the
London postmark。 It was not in his wife's handwriting； or in that
of any person he knew； but conjecture soon ceased as he read the
page； wherein he was briefly informed that Mrs。 Barnet had died
suddenly on the previous day； at the furnished villa she had
occupied near London。
Barnet looked vaguely round the empty hall； at the blank walls； out
of the doorway。 Drawing a long palpitating breath； and with eyes
downcast； he turned and climbed the stairs slowly； like a man who
doubted their stability。 The fact of his wife having； as it were；
died once already； and lived on again； had entirely dislodged the
possibility of her actual death from his conjecture。 He went to the
landing； leant over the balusters； and after a reverie； of whose
duration he had but the faintest notion； turned to the window and
stretched his gaze to the cottage further down the road； which was
visible from his landing； and from which Lucy still walked to the
solicitor's house by a cross path。 The faint words that came from
his moving lips were simply； 'At last！'
Then； almost involuntarily； Barnet fell down on his knees and
murmured some incoherent words of thanksgiving。 Surely his virtue
in restoring his wife to life had been rewarded！ But； as if the
impulse struck uneasily on his conscience； he quickly rose； brushed
the dust from his trousers and set himself to think of his next
movements。 He could not start for London for some hours； and as he
had no preparations to make that could not be made in half…an…hour；
he mechanically descended and resumed his occupation of turning over
the wall…papers。 They had all got brighter for him； those papers。
It was all changedwho would sit in the rooms that they were to
line？ He went on to muse upon Lucy's conduct in so frequently
coming to the house with the children； her occasional blush in
speaking to him； her evident interest in him。 What woman can in the
long run avoid being interested in a man whom she knows to be
devoted to her？ If human solicitation could ever effect anything；
there should be no going to India for Lucy now。 All the papers
previously chosen seemed wrong in their shades； and he began from
the beginning to choose again。
While entering on the task he heard a forced 'Ahem！' from without
the porch； evidently uttered to attract his attention； and footsteps
again advancing to the door。 His man； whom he had quite forgotten
in his mental turmoil； was still waiting there。
'I beg your pardon； sir；' the man said from round the doorway； 'but
here's the note from Mr。 Downe that you didn't take。 He called just
after you went out； and as he couldn't wait； he wrote this on your
study…table。'
He handed in the letterno black…bordered one now； but a practical…
looking note in the well…known writing of the solicitor。
'DEAR BARNET'it ran'Perhaps you will be prepared for the
information I am about to givethat Lucy Savile and myself are
going to be married this morning。 I have hitherto said nothing as
to my intention to any of my friends； for reasons which I am sure
you will fully appreciate。 The crisis has been brought about by her
expressing her intention to join her brother in India。 I then
discovered that I could not do without her。
'It is to be quite a private wedding； but it is my particular wish
that you come down here quietly at ten； and go to church with us； it
will add greatly to the pleasure I shall experience in the ceremony；
and； I believe； to Lucy's also。 I have called on you very early to
make the request； in the belief that I should find you at home； but
you are beforehand with me in your early rising。Yours sincerely；
C。 Downe。'
'Need I wait； sir？' said the servant after a dead silence。
'That will do； William。 No answer；' said Barnet calmly。
When the man had gone Barnet re…read the letter。 Turning eventually
to the wall…papers； which he had been at such pains to select； he
deliberately tore them into halves and quarters； and threw them into
the empty fireplace。 Then he went out of the house； locked the
door