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dark； and silent。
On the threshold of this door； Mr Haredale and Edward Chester
met。 The younger man gave place； and both passing in with a
familiar air； which seemed to denote that they were tarrying there；
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or were well…accustomed to go to and fro unquestioned； shut it
behind them。
Entering the old back…parlour； and ascending the flight of
stairs； abrupt and steep； and quaintly fashioned as of old； they
turned into the best room； the pride of Mrs Varden’s heart； and
erst the scene of Miggs’s household labours。
‘Varden brought the mother here last evening； he told me？’ said
Mr Haredale。
‘She is above…stairs now—in the room over here；’ Edward
rejoined。 ‘Her grief； they say； is past all telling。 I needn’t add—for
that you know beforehand； sir—that the care； humanity； and
sympathy of these good people have no bounds。’
‘I am sure of that。 Heaven repay them for it； and for much
more！ Varden is out？’
‘He returned with your messenger； who arrived almost at the
moment of his coming home himself。 He was out the whole
night—but that of course you know。 He was with you the greater
part of it？’
‘He was。 Without him； I should have lacked my right hand。 He
is an older man than I； but nothing can conquer him。’
‘The cheeriest； stoutest…hearted fellow in the world。’
‘He has a right to be。 He has a right to he。 A better creature
never lived。 He reaps what he has sown—no more。’
‘It is not all men；’ said Edward； after a moment’s hesitation；
‘who have the happiness to do that。’
‘More than you imagine；’ returned Mr Haredale。 ‘We note the
harvest more than the seed…time。 You do so in me。’
In truth his pale and haggard face； and gloomy bearing； had so
far influenced the remark； that Edward was； for the moment； at a
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loss to answer him。
‘Tut； tut；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘‘twas not very difficult to read a
thought so natural。 But you are mistaken nevertheless。 I have had
my share of sorrows—more than the common lot； perhaps； but I
have borne them ill。 I have broken where I should have bent； and
have mused and brooded； when my spirit should have mixed with
all God’s great creation。 The men who learn endurance； are they
who call the whole world； brother。 I have turned from the world；
and I pay the penalty。’
Edward would have interposed； but he went on without giving
him time。
‘It is too late to evade it now。 I sometimes think； that if I had to
live my life once more； I might amend this fault—not so much； I
discover when I search my mind； for the love of what is right； as
for my own sake。 But even when I make these better resolutions； I
instinctively recoil from the idea of suffering again what I have
undergone； and in this circumstance I find the unwelcome
assurance that I should still be the same man； though I could
cancel the past； and begin anew； with its experience to guide me。’
‘Nay； you make too sure of that；’ said Edward。
‘You think so；’ Mr Haredale answered； ‘and I am glad you do。 I
know myself better； and therefore distrust myself more。 Let us
leave this subject for another—not so far removed from it as it
might； at first sight； seem to be。 Sir； you still love my niece； and
she is still attached to you。’
‘I have that assurance from her own lips；’ said Edward； ‘and
you know—I am sure you know—that I would not exchange it for
any blessing life could yield me。’
‘You are frank； honourable； and disinterested；’ said Mr
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Haredale； ‘you have forced the conviction that you are so； even on
my once…jaundiced mind； and I believe you。 Wait here till I come
back。’
He left the room as he spoke； but soon returned with his niece。
‘On that first and only time；’ he said； looking from the one to the
other； ‘when we three stood together under her father’s roof； I told
you to quit it； and charged you never to return。’
‘It is the only circumstance arising out of our love；’ observed
Edward； ‘that I have forgotten。’
‘You own a name；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I had deep reason to
remember。 I was moved and goaded by recollections of personal
wrong and injury； I know； but； even now I cannot charge myself
with having； then； or ever； lost sight of a heartfelt desire for her
true happiness； or with having acted—however much I was
mistaken—with any other impulse than the one pure； single；
earnest wish to be to her； as far as in my inferior nature lay； the
father she had lost。’
‘Dear uncle；’ cried Emma； ‘I have known no parent but you。 I
have loved the memory of others； but I have loved you all my life。
Never was father kinder to his child than you have been to me；
without the interval of one harsh hour； since I can first remember。’
‘You speak too fondly；’ he answered； ‘and yet I cannot wish you
were less partial； for I have a pleasure in hearing those words； and
shall have in calling them to mind when we are far asunder； which
nothing else could give me。 Bear with me for a moment longer；
Edward； for she and I have been together many years； and
although I believe that in resigning her to you I put the seal upon
her future happiness； I find it needs an effort。’
He pressed her tenderly to his bosom； and after a minute’s
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pause； resumed：
‘I have done you wrong；