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about her； and so； an alien； she visited and left the village where
she had been born； and had lived a merry child； a comely girl； a
happy wife—where she had known all her enjoyment of life； and
had entered on its hardest sorrows。
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Chapter 26
nd you’re not surprised to hear this； Varden？’ said Mr
Haredale。 ‘Well！ You and she have always been the best
‘A
friends； and you should understand her if anybody
does。’
‘I ask your pardon； sir；’ rejoined the locksmith。 ‘I didn’t say I
understood her。 I wouldn’t have the presumption to say that of
any woman。 It’s not so easily done。 But I am not so much
surprised； sir； as you expected me to be； certainly。’
‘May I ask why not； my good friend？’
‘I have seen； sir；’ returned the locksmith with evident
reluctance； ‘I have seen in connection with her； something that
has filled me with distrust and uneasiness。 She has made bad
friends； how； or when； I don’t know； but that her house is a refuge
for one robber and cut…throat at least； I am certain。 There； sir！
Now it’s out。’
‘Varden！’
‘My own eyes； sir； are my witnesses； and for her sake I would be
willingly half…blind； if I could but have the pleasure of mistrusting
’em。 I have kept the secret till now； and it will go no further than
yourself； I know； but I tell you that with my own eyes—broad
awake—I saw； in the passage of her house one evening after dark；
the highwayman who robbed and wounded Mr Edward Chester；
and on the same night threatened me。’
‘And you made no effort to detain him？’ said Mr Haredale
quickly。
‘Sir；’ returned the locksmith； ‘she herself prevented me—held
me； with all her strength； and hung about me until he had got
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clear off。’ And having gone so far； he related circumstantially all
that had passed upon the night in question。
This dialogue was held in a low tone in the locksmith’s little
parlour； into which honest Gabriel had shown his visitor on his
arrival。 Mr Haredale had called upon him to entreat his company
to the widow’s； that he might have the assistance of his persuasion
and influence； and out of this circumstance the conversation had
arisen。
‘I forbore；’ said Gabriel； ‘from repeating one word of this to
anybody； as it could do her no good and might do her great harm。 I
thought and hoped； to say the truth； that she would come to me；
and talk to me about it； and tell me how it was； but though I have
purposely put myself in her way more than once or twice； she has
never touched upon the subject—except by a look。 And indeed；’
said the good…natured locksmith； ‘there was a good deal in the
look； more than could have been put into a great many words。 It
said among other matters “Don’t ask me anything” so imploringly；
that I didn’t ask her anything。 You’ll think me an old fool； I know；
sir。 If it’s any relief to call me one； pray do。’
‘I am greatly disturbed by what you tell me；’ said Mr Haredale；
after a silence。 ‘What meaning do you attach to it？’
The locksmith shook his head； and looked doubtfully out of
window at the failing light。
‘She cannot have married again；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘Not without our knowledge surely； sir。’
‘She may have done so； in the fear that it would lead； if known；
to some objection or estrangement。 Suppose she married
incautiously—it is not improbable； for her existence has been a
lonely and monotonous one for many years—and the man turned
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out a ruffian； she would be anxious to screen him； and yet would
revolt from his crimes。 This might be。 It bears strongly on the
whole drift of her discourse yesterday； and would quite explain
her conduct。 Do you suppose Barnaby is privy to these
circumstances？’
‘Quite impossible to say； sir；’ returned the locksmith； shaking
his head again： ‘and next to impossible to find out from him。 If
what you suppose is really the case； I tremble for the lad—a
notable person； sir； to put to bad uses—’
‘It is not possible； Varden；’ said Mr Haredale； in a still lower
tone of voice than he had spoken yet； ‘that we have been blinded
and deceived by this woman from the beginning？ It is not possible
that this connection was formed in her husband’s lifetime； and led
to his and my brother’s—’
‘Good God； sir；’ cried Gabriel； interrupting him； ‘don’t entertain
such dark thoughts for a moment。 Five…and…twenty years ago；
where was there a girl like her？ A gay； handsome； laughing；
bright…eyed damsel！ Think what she was； sir。 It makes my heart
ache now； even now； though I’m an old man； with a woman for a
daughter； to think what she was and what she is。 We all change；
but that’s with Time； Time does his work honestly； and I don’t
mind him。 A fig for Time； sir。 Use him well； and he’s a hearty
fellow； and scorns to have you at a disadvantage。 But care and
suffering （and those have changed her） are devils； sir—secret；
stealthy； undermining devils—who tread down the brightest
flowers in Eden； and do more havoc in a month than Time does in
a year。 Picture to yourself for one minute what Mary was before
they went to work with her fresh heart and face—do her that
justice—and say whether such a thing is possible。’
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