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years！'
The heart of Darton was subject to sudden overflowings。 He was kind
to a fault。 'I am sorry from my soul；' he said； involuntarily
approaching her。 Helena withdrew a step or two； at which he became
conscious of his movement； and quickly took his former place。 Here
he stood without speaking； and the little kettle began to sing。
'Well； you might have been my wife if you had chosen；' he said at
last。 'But that's all past and gone。 However； if you are in any
trouble or poverty I shall be glad to be of service； and as your
relation by marriage I shall have a right to be。 Does your uncle
know of your distress？'
'My uncle is dead。 He left me without a farthing。 And now we have
two children to maintain。'
'What； left you nothing？ How could he be so cruel as that？'
'I disgraced myself in his eyes。'
'Now；' said Darton earnestly； 'let me take care of the children； at
least while you are so unsettled。 YOU belong to another； so I
cannot take care of you。'
'Yes you can；' said a voice； and suddenly a third figure stood
beside them。 It was Sally。 'You can； since you seem to wish to？'
she repeated。 'She no longer belongs to another 。 。 。 My poor
brother is dead！'
Her face was red； her eyes sparkled； and all the woman came to the
front。 'I have heard it！' she went on to him passionately。 'You
can protect her now as well as the children！' She turned then to
her agitated sister…in…law。 'I heard something；' said Sally （in a
gentle murmur； differing much from her previous passionate words）；
'and I went into his room。 It must have been the moment you left。
He went off so quickly； and weakly； and it was so unexpected； that I
couldn't leave even to call you。'
Darton was just able to gather from the confused discourse which
followed that； during his sleep by the fire； this brother whom he
had never seen had become worse； and that during Helena's absence
for water the end had unexpectedly come。 The two young women
hastened upstairs； and he was again left alone。
After standing there a short time he went to the front door and
looked out； till； softly closing it behind him； he advanced and
stood under the large sycamore…tree。 The stars were flickering
coldly； and the dampness which had just descended upon the earth in
rain now sent up a chill from it。 Darton was in a strange position；
and he felt it。 The unexpected appearance； in deep poverty； of
Helenaa young lady； daughter of a deceased naval officer； who had
been brought up by her uncle； a solicitor； and had refused Darton in
marriage years agothe passionate； almost angry demeanour of Sally
at discovering them； the abrupt announcement that Helena was a
widow； all this coming together was a conjuncture difficult to cope
with in a moment； and made him question whether he ought to leave
the house or offer assistance。 But for Sally's manner he would
unhesitatingly have done the latter。
He was still standing under the tree when the door in front of him
opened； and Mrs。 Hall came out。 She went round to the garden…gate
at the side without seeing him。 Darton followed her； intending to
speak。
Pausing outside； as if in thought； she proceeded to a spot where the
sun came earliest in spring…time； and where the north wind never
blew； it was where the row of beehives stood under the wall。
Discerning her object； he waited till she had accomplished it。
It was the universal custom thereabout to wake the bees by tapping
at their hives whenever a death occurred in the household； under the
belief that if this were not done the bees themselves would pine
away and perish during the ensuing year。 As soon as an interior
buzzing responded to her tap at the first hive Mrs。 Hall went on to
the second； and thus passed down the row。 As soon as she came back
he met her。
'What can I do in this trouble； Mrs。 Hall？' he said。
'Onothing； thank you； nothing；' she said in a tearful voice； now
just perceiving him。 'We have called Rebekah and her husband； and
they will do everything necessary。' She told him in a few words the
particulars of her son's arrival； broken in healthindeed； at
death's very door； though they did not suspect itand suggested； as
the result of a conversation between her and her daughter； that the
wedding should be postponed。
'Yes； of course；' said Darton。 'I think now to go straight to the
inn and tell Johns what has happened。' It was not till after he had
shaken hands with her that he turned hesitatingly and added； 'Will
you tell the mother of his children that； as they are now left
fatherless； I shall be glad to take the eldest of them； if it would
be any convenience to her and to you？'
Mrs。 Hall promised that her son's widow should he told of the offer；
and they parted。 He retired down the rooty slope and disappeared in
the direction of the inn； where he informed Johns of the
circumstances。 Meanwhile Mrs。 Hall had entered the house； Sally was
downstairs in the sitting…room alone； and her mother explained to
her that Darton had readily assented to the postponement。
'No doubt he has；' said Sally； with sad emphasis。 'It is not put
off for a week； or a month； or a year。 I shall never marry him； and
she will！'
CHAPTER IV
Time passed； and the household on the Knap became again serene under
the composing influences of daily routine。 A desultory； very
desultory correspondence； dragged on between Sally Hall and Darton；
who； not quite knowing how to take her petulant words on the night
of her brother's death； had continued passive thus long。 Helena and
her children remained at the dairy…house； almost of necessity； and
Darton therefore deemed it advisable to stay away。
One day； seven months later on； when Mr。 Darton was as usual at his
farm； twenty miles from Hintock； a note reached him from Helena。
She thanked him for his kind offer about her children； which her
mother…in…law had duly communicated； and stated that she would be
glad to accept it as regarded the eldest； the boy。 Helena had； in
truth； good need to do so； for her uncle had left her penniless； and
all application to some relatives in the north had failed。 There
was； besides； as she said； no good school near Hintock to which she
could send the child。
On a fine summer day the boy came。 He was accompanied half…way by
Sally and his motherto the 'White Horse；' at Chalk Newtonwhere
he was handed over to Darton's bailiff in a shining spring…cart； who
met them there。
He was entered as a day…scholar at a popular school at Casterbridge；
three or four miles from Darton's； having first been taught by
Darton to ride a forest…pony； on which he cantered to and from the
aforesaid fount of knowledge； and （as Darton hoped） brought away a
promising headful of the same at each diurnal expedition。 The
thoughtful taciturnity into which Darton had latterly fallen was
quite dissipated by the presence of this boy。
When the Christmas holidays came it was arranged that he should
spend them with his mother。 The journey was； for some reason or
other； performed in two stages； as at his coming； except that Darton
in person took the place of the bailiff； and that the boy and
himself rode on horseback。
Reaching the renowned 'White Horse；' Darton inquired if Miss and
young Mrs。 Hall were there to meet little Philip （as they had agreed
to be）。 He was answered by the appearance of Helena alone at the
door。
'At the last moment Sally would not come；' she faltered。
That meeting practically settled the point towards which these long…
severed persons were converging。 But nothing was broached about it
for some time yet。 Sally Hall had； in fact； imparted the first
decisive motion to events by refusing to accompany Helena。 She soon
gave them a second move by writing the following note
'＇Private。＇
'DEAR CHARLES；Living here so long and intimately with Helena； I
have naturally learnt her history； especially that of it which
refers to you。 I am sure she would accept you as a husband at the
proper time； and I think you ought to give her the opportunity。 You
inquire in an old note if I am sorry that I showed temper （which it
WASN'T） that night when I heard you talki