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them by the forethought of the man who loved her well。 Here they
installed themselves for the night； arranging to go to Budmouth by
the first train the next day。
At this hour Edward Springrove was fast approaching his native
county on the wheels of the night…mail。
XIV。 THE EVENTS OF FIVE WEEKS
1。 FROM THE SIXTH TO THE THIRTEENTH OF JANUARY
Manston had evidently resolved to do nothing in a hurry。
This much was plain； that his earnest desire and intention was to
raise in Cytherea's bosom no feelings of permanent aversion to him。
The instant after the first burst of disappointment had escaped him
in the hotel at Southampton； he had seen how far better it would be
to lose her presence for a week than her respect for ever。
'She shall be mine； I will claim the young thing yet；' he insisted。
And then he seemed to reason over methods for compassing that
object； which； to all those who were in any degree acquainted with
the recent event； appeared the least likely of possible
contingencies。
He returned to Knapwater late the next day； and was preparing to
call on Miss Aldclyffe； when the conclusion forced itself upon him
that nothing would be gained by such a step。 No； every action of
his should be done openlyeven religiously。 At least； he called on
the rector； and stated this to be his resolve。
'Certainly；' said Mr。 Raunham； 'it is best to proceed candidly and
fairly； or undue suspicion may fall on you。 You should； in my
opinion； take active steps at once。'
'I will do the utmost that lies in my power to clear up the mystery；
and silence the hubbub of gossip that has been set going about me。
But what can I do？ They say that the man who comes first in the
chain of inquiry is not to be foundI mean the porter。'
'I am sorry to say that he is not。 When I returned from the station
last night； after seeing Owen Graye off； I went again to the cottage
where he has been lodging； to get more intelligence； as I thought。
He was not there。 He had gone out at dusk； saying he would be back
soon。 But he has not come back yet。'
'I rather doubt if we shall see him again。'
'Had I known of this； I would have done what in my flurry I did not
think of doingset a watch upon him。 But why not advertise for
your missing wife as a preliminary； consulting your solicitor in the
meantime？'
'Advertise。 I'll think about it；' said Manston； lingering on the
word as he pronounced it。 'Yes； that seems a right thingquite a
right thing。'
He went home and remained moodily indoors all the next day and the
nextfor nearly a week； in short。 Then； one evening at dusk； he
went out with an uncertain air as to the direction of his walk；
which resulted； however； in leading him again to the rectory。
He saw Mr。 Raunham。 'Have you done anything yet？' the rector
inquired。
'NoI have not；' said Manston absently。 'But I am going to set
about it。' He hesitated； as if ashamed of some weakness he was
about to betray。 'My object in calling was to ask if you had heard
any tidings from Budmouth of myCytherea。 You used to speak of her
as one you were interested in。'
There was； at any rate； real sadness in Manston's tone now； and the
rector paused to weigh his words ere he replied。
'I have not heard directly from her；' he said gently。 'But her
brother has communicated with some people in the parish'
'The Springroves； I suppose；' said Manston gloomily。
'Yes； and they tell me that she is very ill； and I am sorry to say；
likely to be for some days。'
'Surely； surely； I must go and see her！' Manston cried。
'I would advise you not to go；' said Raunham。 'But do this instead…
…be as quick as you can in making a movement towards ascertaining
the truth as regards the existence of your wife。 You see； Mr。
Manston； an out…step place like this is not like a city； and there
is nobody to busy himself for the good of the community； whilst poor
Cytherea and her brother are socially too dependent to be able to
make much stir in the matter； which is a greater reason still why
you should be disinterestedly prompt。'
The steward murmured an assent。 Still there was the same
indecision！not the indecision of weaknessthe indecision of
conscious perplexity。
On Manston's return from this interview at the rectory； he passed
the door of the Rising Sun Inn。 Finding he had no light for his
cigar； and it being three…quarters of a mile to his residence in the
park； he entered the tavern to get one。 Nobody was in the outer
portion of the front room where Manston stood； but a space round the
fire was screened off from the remainder； and inside the high oak
settle； forming a part of the screen； he heard voices conversing。
The speakers had not noticed his footsteps； and continued their
discourse。
One of the two he recognized as a well…known night…poacher； the man
who had met him with tidings of his wife's death on the evening of
the conflagration。 The
other seemed to be a stranger following the same mode of life。 The
conversation was carried on in the emphatic and confidential tone of
men who are slightly intoxicated； its subject being an unaccountable
experience that one of them had had on the night of the fire。
What the steward heard was enough； and more than enough； to lead him
to forget or to renounce his motive in entering。 The effect upon
him was strange and strong。 His first object seemed to be to escape
from the house again without being seen or heard。
Having accomplished this； he went in at the park gate； and strode
off under the trees to the Old House。 There sitting down by the
fire； and burying himself in reflection； he allowed the minutes to
pass by unheeded。 First the candle burnt down in its socket and
stunk： he did not notice it。 Then the fire went out： he did not
see it。 His feet grew cold； still he thought on。
It may be remarked that a lady； a year and a quarter before this
time； had； under the same conditionsan unrestricted mental
absorptionshown nearly the same peculiarities as this man evinced
now。 The lady was Miss Aldclyffe。
It was half…past twelve when Manston moved； as if he had come to a
determination。
The first thing he did the next morning was to call at Knapwater
House； where he found that Miss Aldclyffe was not well enough to see
him。 She had been ailing from slight internal haemorrhage ever
since the confession of the porter Chinney。 Apparently not much
aggrieved at the denial； he shortly afterwards went to the railway…
station and took his departure for London； leaving a letter for Miss
Aldclyffe； stating the reason of his journey thitherto recover
traces of his missing wife。
During the remainder of the week paragraphs appeared in the local
and other newspapers； drawing attention to the facts of this
singular case。 The writers； with scarcely an exception； dwelt
forcibly upon a feature which had at first escaped the observation
of the villagers； including Mr。 Raunhamthat if the announcement of
the man Chinney were true； it seemed extremely probable that Mrs。
Manston left her watch and keys behind on purpose to blind people as
to her escape； and that therefore she would not now let herself be