clothes； helped to give him a sense of Sunday calm。 It was the last
morning in February； with a low grey sky； and a slight hoar…frost
on the green border of the road and on the black hedges。 They
heard the gurgling of the full brooklet hurrying down the hill； and
the faint twittering of the early birds。 For they walked in silence；
though with a pleased sense of companionship。
“Good…bye； lad；” said Adam； laying his hand on Seth’s shoulder
and looking at him affectionately as they were about to part。 “I
wish thee wast going all the way wi’ me； and as happy as I am。”
“I’m content； Addy； I’m content；” said Seth cheerfully。 “I’ll be
an old bachelor； belike； and make a fuss wi’ thy children。”
They turned away from each other； and Seth walked leisurely
homeward； mentally repeating one of his favourite hymns—he was
very fond of hymns：
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Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee：
Joyless is the day’s return
Till thy mercy’s beams I see：
Till thou inward light impart；
Glad my eyes and warm my heart。
Visit； then； this soul of mine；
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief—
Fill me； Radiancy Divine；
Scatter all my unbelief。
More and more thyself display；
Shining to the perfect day。
Adam walked much faster； and any one coming along the
Oakbourne road at sunrise that morning must have had a pleasant
sight in this tall broad…chested man； striding along with a carriage
as upright and firm as any soldier’s； glancing with keen glad eyes
at the dark…blue hills as they began to show themselves on his way。
Seldom in Adam’s life had his face been so free from any cloud of
anxiety as it was this morning； and this freedom from care； as is
usual with constructive practical minds like his； made him all the
more observant of the objects round him and all the more ready to
gather suggestions from them towards his own favourite plans and
ingenious contrivances。 His happy love—the knowledge that his
steps were carrying him nearer and nearer to Hetty； who was so
soon to be his—was to his thoughts what the sweet morning air
was to his sensations： it gave him a consciousness of well…being
that made activity delightful。 Every now and then there was a rush
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of more intense feeling towards her； which chased away other
images than Hetty； and along with that would come a wondering
thankfulness that all this happiness was given to him—that this
life of ours had such sweetness in it。 For Adam had a devout mind；
though he was perhaps rather impatient of devout words； and his
tenderness lay very close to his reverence； so that the one could
hardly be stirred without the other。 But after feeling had welled up
and poured itself out in this way； busy thought would come back
with the greater vigour； and this morning it was intent on schemes
by which the roads might be improved that were so imperfect all
through the country； and on picturing all the benefits that might
come from the exertions of a single country gentleman； if he would
set himself to getting the roads made good in his own district。
It seemed a very short walk； the ten miles to Oakbourne； that
pretty town within sight of the blue hills； where he break…fasted。
After this； the country grew barer and barer： no more rolling
woods； no more wide…branching trees near frequent homesteads；
no more bushy hedgerows； but grey stone walls intersecting the
meagre pastures； and dismal wide…scattered grey stone houses on
broken lands where mines had been and were no longer。 “A
hungry land；” said Adam to himself。 “I’d rather go south’ard；
where they say it’s as flat as a table； than come to live here； though
if Dinah likes to live in a country where she can be the most
comfort to folks； she’s i’ the right to live o’ this side； for she must
look as if she’d come straight from heaven； like th’ angels in the
desert； to strengthen them as ha’ got nothing t’ eat。” And when at
last he came in sight of Snowfield； he thought it looked like a town
that was “fellow to the country；” though the stream through the
valley where the great mill stood gave a pleasant greenness to the
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lower fields。 The town lay； grim； stony； and unsheltered； up the
side of a steep hill； and Adam did not go forward to it at present；
for Seth had told him where to find Dinah。 It was at a thatched
cottage outside the town； a little way from the mill—an old cottage；
standing sideways towards the road； with a little bit of potato…
ground before it。 Here Dinah lodged with an elderly couple； and if
she and Hetty happened to be out； Adam could learn where they
were gone； or when they would be at home again。 Dinah might be
out on some preaching errand； and perhaps she would have left
Hetty at home。 Adam could not help hoping this； and as he
recognised the cottage by the roadside before him； there shone out
in his face that involuntary smile which belongs to the expectation
of a near joy。
He hurried his step along the narrow causeway； and rapped at
the door。 It was opened by a very clean old woman； with a slow
palsied shake of the head。
“Is Dinah Morris at home？” said Adam。
“Eh？ 。 。 。 no；” said the old woman； looking up at this tall
stranger with a wonder that made her slower of speech than usual。
“Will you please to come in？” she added； retiring from the door； as
if recollecting herself。 “Why； ye’re brother to the young man as
come afore； arena ye？”
“Yes；” said Adam； entering。 “That was Seth Bede。 I’m his
brother Adam。 He told me to give his respects to you and your
good master。”
“Aye； the same t’ him。 He was a gracious young man。 An’ ye
feature him； on’y ye’re darker。 Sit ye down i’ th’ arm…chair。 My
man isna come home from meeting。”
Adam sat down patiently； not liking to hurry the shaking old
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woman with questions； but looking eagerly towards the narrow
twisting stairs in one corner； for he thought it was possible Hetty
might have heard his voice and would come down them。
“So you’re come to see Dinah Morris？” said the old woman；
standing opposite to him。 “An’ you didn’ know she was away from
home； then？”
“No；” said Adam； “but I thought it likely she might be away；
seeing as it’s Sunday。 But the other young woman—is she at
home； or gone along with Dinah？”
The old woman looked at Adam with a bewildered air。
“Gone along wi’ her？” she said。 “Eh； Dinah’s gone to Leeds； a
big town ye may ha’ heared on； where there’s a many o’ the Lord’s
people。 She’s been gone sin’ Friday was a fortnight： they sent her
the money for her journey。 You may see her room here；” she went
on； opening a door and not noticing the effect of her words on
Adam。 He rose and followed her； and darted an eager glance into
the little room with its narrow bed； the portrait of Wesley on the
wall； and the few books lying on the large Bible。 He had had an
irrational hope that Hetty might be there。 He could not speak in
the first moment after seeing that the room was empty； an
undefined fear had seized him—something had happened to Hetty
on the journey。 Still the old woman was so slow of； speech and
apprehension； that Hetty might be at Snowfield after all。
“It’s a pity ye didna know；” she said。 “Have ye come from your
own country o’ purpose to see her？”
“But Hetty—Hetty Sorrel；” said Adam； abruptly； “Where is
she？”
“I know nobody by that name；” said the old woman；
wonderingly。 “Is it anybody ye’ve heared on at Snowfield？”
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“Did there come no young woman here—very young and
pretty—Friday was a fortnight； to see Dinah Morris？”
“Nay； I’n seen no young woman。
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