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desire； and when he had done； said； turning to Hugh：
‘Dennis’s policy was mine； as you may have observed。 You saw；
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for instance； how I fell when I was set upon。 I made no resistance。
I did nothing to provoke an outbreak。 Oh dear no！’
‘No； by the Lord Harry！’ cried Dennis with a noisy laugh； ‘you
went down very quiet； Muster Gashford—and very flat besides。 I
thinks to myself at the time “it’s all up with Muster Gashford！” I
never see a man lay flatter nor more still—with the life in him—
than you did to…day。 He’s a rough ’un to play with； is that ’ere
Papist； and that’s the fact。’
The secretary’s face； as Dennis roared with laughter； and
turned his wrinkled eyes on Hugh who did the like； might have
furnished a study for the devil’s picture。 He sat quite silent until
they were serious again； and then said； looking round：
‘We are very pleasant here； so very pleasant； Dennis； that but
for my lord’s particular desire that I should sup with him； and the
time being very near at hand； I should he inclined to stay； until it
would be hardly safe to go homeward。 I come upon a little
business—yes； I do—as you supposed。 It’s very flattering to you；
being this。 If we ever should be obliged—and we can’t tell； you
know—this is a very uncertain world’—
‘I believe you； Muster Gashford；’ interposed the hangman with
a grave nod。 ‘The uncertainties as I’ve seen in reference to this
here state of existence； the unexpected contingencies as have
come about！—Oh my eye！’ Feeling the subject much too vast for
expression； he puffed at his pipe again； and looked the rest。
‘I say；’ resumed the secretary； in a slow； impressive way； ‘we
can’t tell what may come to pass； and if we should be obliged；
against our wills； to have recourse to violence； my lord （who has
suffered terribly to…day； as far as words can go） consigns to you
two—bearing in mind my recommendation of you both； as good
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staunch men； beyond all doubt and suspicion—the pleasant task of
punishing this Haredale。 You may do as you please with him； or
his； provided that you show no mercy； and no quarter； and leave
no two beams of his house standing where the builder placed
them。 You may sack it； burn it； do with it as you like； but it must
come down； it must be razed to the ground； and he； and all
belonging to him； left as shelterless as new…born infants whom
their mothers have exposed。 Do you understand me？’ said
Gashford； pausing； and pressing his hands together gently。
‘Understand you； master！’ cried Hugh。 ‘You speak plain now。
Why； this is hearty！’
‘I knew you would like it；’ said Gashford； shaking him by the
hand； ‘I thought you would。 Good night！ Don’t rise； Dennis： I
would rather find my way alone。 I may have to make other visits
here； and it’s pleasant to come and go without disturbing you。 I
can find my way perfectly well。 Good night！’
He was gone； and had shut the door behind him。 They looked at
each other； and nodded approvingly： Dennis stirred up the fire。
‘This looks a little more like business！’ he said。
‘Ay； indeed！’ cried Hugh； ‘this suits me！’
‘I’ve heerd it said of Muster Gashford；’ said the hangman； ‘that
he’d a surprising memory and wonderful firmness—that he never
forgot； and never forgave。—Let’s drink his health！’
Hugh readily complied—pouring no liquor on the floor when he
drank this toast—and they pledged the secretary as a man after
their own hearts； in a bumper。
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Chapter 45
hile the worst passions of the worst men were thus
Wworking in the dark； and the mantle of religion；
assumed to cover the ugliest deformities； threatened to
become the shroud of all that was good and peaceful in society； a
circumstance occurred which once more altered the position of
two persons from whom this history has long been separated； and
to whom it must now return。
In a small English country town； the inhabitants of which
supported themselves by the labour of their hands in plaiting and
preparing straw for those who made bonnets and other articles of
dress and ornament from that material；—concealed under an
assumed name； and living in a quiet poverty which knew no
change； no pleasures； and few cares but that of struggling on from
day to day in one great toil for bread；—dwelt Barnaby and his
mother。 Their poor cottage had known no stranger’s foot since
they sought the shelter of its roof five years before； nor had they in
all that time held any commerce or communication with the old
world from which they had fled。 To labour in peace； and devote
her labour and her life to her poor son； was all the widow sought。
If happiness can be said at any time to be the lot of one on whom a
secret sorrow preys； she was happy now。 Tranquillity； resignation；
and her strong love of him who needed it so much； formed the
small circle of her quiet joys； and while that remained unbroken；
she was contented。
For Barnaby himself； the time which had flown by； had passed
him like the wind。 The daily suns of years had shed no brighter
gleam of reason on his mind； no dawn had broken on his long；
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dark night。 He would sit sometim