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deliberately tore them into halves and quarters； and threw them into
the empty fireplace。 Then he went out of the house； locked the
door； and stood in the front awhile。 Instead of returning into the
town； he went down the harbour…road and thoughtfully lingered about
by the sea； near the spot where the body of Downe's late wife had
been found and brought ashore。
Barnet was a man with a rich capacity for misery； and there is no
doubt that he exercised it to its fullest extent now。 The events
that had； as it were； dashed themselves together into one half…hour
of this day showed that curious refinement of cruelty in their
arrangement which often proceeds from the bosom of the whimsical god
at other times known as blind Circumstance。 That his few minutes of
hope； between the reading of the first and second letters； had
carried him to extraordinary heights of rapture was proved by the
immensity of his suffering now。 The sun blazing into his face would
have shown a close watcher that a horizontal line； which he had
never noticed before； but which was never to be gone thereafter； was
somehow gradually forming itself in the smooth of his forehead。 His
eyes； of a light hazel； had a curious look which can only be
described by the word bruised； the sorrow that looked from them
being largely mixed with the surprise of a man taken unawares。
The secondary particulars of his present position； too； were odd
enough； though for some time they appeared to engage little of his
attention。 Not a soul in the town knew； as yet； of his wife's
death； and he almost owed Downe the kindness of not publishing it
till the day was over： the conjuncture； taken with that which had
accompanied the death of Mrs。 Downe； being so singular as to be
quite sufficient to darken the pleasure of the impressionable
solicitor to a cruel extent； if made known to him。 But as Barnet
could not set out on his journey to London； where his wife lay； for
some hours （there being at this date no railway within a distance of
many miles）； no great reason existed why he should leave the town。
Impulse in all its forms characterized Barnet； and when he heard the
distant clock strike the hour of ten his feet began to carry him up
the harbour…road with the manner of a man who must do something to
bring himself to life。 He passed Lucy Savile's old house； his own
new one； and came in view of the church。 Now he gave a perceptible
start； and his mechanical condition went away。 Before the church…
gate were a couple of carriages； and Barnet then could perceive that
the marriage between Downe and Lucy was at that moment being
solemnized within。 A feeling of sudden； proud self…confidence； an
indocile wish to walk unmoved in spite of grim environments； plainly
possessed him； and when he reached the wicket…gate he turned in
without apparent effort。 Pacing up the paved footway he entered the
church and stood for a while in the nave passage。 A group of people
was standing round the vestry door； Barnet advanced through these
and stepped into the vestry。
There they were； busily signing their names。 Seeing Downe about to
look round； Barnet averted his somewhat disturbed face for a second
or two； when he turned again front to front he was calm and quite
smiling； it was a creditable triumph over himself； and deserved to
be remembered in his native town。 He greeted Downe heartily；
offering his congratulations。
It seemed as if Barnet expected a half…guilty look upon Lucy's face；
but no； save the natural flush and flurry engendered by the service
just performed； there was nothing whatever in her bearing which
showed a disturbed mind： her gray…brown eyes carried in them now as
at other times the well…known expression of common…sensed rectitude
which never went so far as to touch on hardness。 She shook hands
with him； and Downe said warmly； 'I wish you could have come sooner：
I called on purpose to ask you。 You'll drive back with us now？'
'No； no；' said Barnet； 'I am not at all prepared； but I thought I
would look in upon you for a moment； even though I had not time to
go home and dress。 I'll stand back and see you pass out； and
observe the effect of the spectacle upon myself as one of the
public。'
Then Lucy and her husband laughed； and Barnet laughed and retired；
and the quiet little party went gliding down the nave and towards
the porch； Lucy's new silk dress sweeping with a smart rustle round
the base…mouldings of the ancient font； and Downe's little daughters
following in a state of round…eyed interest in their position； and
that of Lucy； their teacher and friend。
So Downe was comforted after his Emily's death； which had taken
place twelve months； two weeks； and three days before that time。
When the two flys had driven off and the spectators had vanished；
Barnet followed to the door； and went out into the sun。 He took no
more trouble to preserve a spruce exterior； his step was unequal；
hesitating； almost convulsive； and the slight changes of colour
which went on in his face seemed refracted from some inward flame。
In the churchyard he became pale as a summer cloud； and finding it
not easy to proceed he sat down on one of the tombstones and
supported his head with his hand。
Hard by was a sexton filling up a grave which he had not found time
to finish on the previous evening。 Observing Barnet； he went up to
him； and recognizing him； said； 'Shall I help you home； sir？'
'O no； thank you；' said Barnet； rousing himself and standing up。
The sexton returned to his grave； followed by Barnet； who； after
watching him awhile； stepped into the grave； now nearly filled； and
helped to tread in the earth。
The sexton apparently thought his conduct a little singular； but he
made no observation； and when the grave was full； Barnet suddenly
stopped； looked far away； and with a decided step proceeded to the
gate and vanished。 The sexton rested on his shovel and looked after
him for a few moments； and then began banking up the mound。
In those short minutes of treading in the dead man Barnet had formed
a design； but what it was the inhabitants of that town did not for
some long time imagine。 He went home； wrote several letters of
business； called on his lawyer； an old man of the same place who had
been the legal adviser of Barnet's father before him； and during the
evening overhauled a large quantity of letters and other documents
in his possession。 By eleven o'clock the heap of papers in and
before Barnet's grate had reached formidable dimensions； and he
began to burn them。 This； owing to their quantity； it was not so
easy to do as he had expected； and he sat long into the night to
complete the task。
The next morning Barnet departed for London； leaving a note for
Downe to inform him of Mrs。 Barnet's sudden death； and that he was
gone to bury her； but when a thrice…sufficient time for that purpose
had elapsed； he was not seen again in his accustomed walks； or in
his new house； or in his old one。 He was gone for good； nobody knew
whither。 It was soon discovered that he had empowered his lawyer to
dispose of all his property； real and personal； in the borough； and
pay in the proceeds to the account of an unknown person at one of
the large London banks。 The person was by some supposed to be
himself under an assumed name； but few； if any； had certain
knowledge of that fact。
The elegant new residence was sold with the rest of his possessions；
and its purchaser was no other than Downe； now a thriving man in the
borough； and one whose growing family and new wife required more
roomy accommodation than was afforded by the little house up the
narrow side street。 Barnet's old habitation was bought by the
trustees of the Congregational Baptist body in that town； who pulled
down the time…honoured dwelling and built a new chapel on its site。
By the time the last hour of that； to Barnet； eventful year had
chimed； every vestige of him had disappeared from the precincts of
his native place； and the name became extinct in the borough of
Port…Bredy； after having been a living force therein for more than
two hundred years。
CHAPTER IX
Twenty…one years and six