ought to be explained。
Japheth Johns continued to converse in his well…known style；
interspersing his talk with some private reflections on the position
of Darton and Sally； which； though the sparkle in his eye showed
them to be highly entertaining to himself； were apparently not quite
communicable to the company。 At last he withdrew for the night；
going off to the roadside inn half…a…mile back； whither Darton
promised to follow him in a few minutes。
Half…an…hour passed； and then Mr。 Darton also rose to leave； Sally
and her sister…in…law simultaneously wishing him good…night as they
retired upstairs to their rooms。 But on his arriving at the front
door with Mrs。 Hall a sharp shower of rain began to come down； when
the widow suggested that he should return to the fire…side till the
storm ceased。
Darton accepted her proposal； but insisted that； as it was getting
late； and she was obviously tired； she should not sit up on his
account； since he could let himself out of the house； and would
quite enjoy smoking a pipe by the hearth alone。 Mrs。 Hall assented；
and Darton was left by himself。 He spread his knees to the brands；
lit up his tobacco as he had said； and sat gazing into the fire； and
at the notches of the chimney…crook which hung above。
An occasional drop of rain rolled down the chimney with a hiss； and
still he smoked on； but not like a man whose mind was at rest。 In
the long run； however； despite his meditations； early hours afield
and a long ride in the open air produced their natural result。 He
began to doze。
How long he remained in this half…unconscious state he did not know。
He suddenly opened his eyes。 The back…brand had burnt itself in
two； and ceased to flame； the light which he had placed on the
mantelpiece had nearly gone out。 But in spite of these deficiencies
there was a light in the apartment； and it came from elsewhere。
Turning his head he saw Philip Hall's wife standing at the entrance
of the room with a bed…candle in one hand； a small brass tea…kettle
in the other； and HIS gown； as it certainly seemed； still upon her。
'Helena！' said Darton； starting up。
Her countenance expressed dismay； and her first words were an
apology。 'Idid not know you were here； Mr。 Darton；' she said；
while a blush flashed to her cheek。 'I thought every one had
retiredI was coming to make a little water boil； my husband seems
to be worse。 But perhaps the kitchen fire can be lighted up again。'
'Don't go on my account。 By all means put it on here as you
intended；' said Darton。 'Allow me to help you。' He went forward to
take the kettle from her hand； but she did not allow him； and placed
it on the fire herself。
They stood some way apart； one on each side of the fireplace；
waiting till the water should boil； the candle on the mantel between
them； and Helena with her eyes on the kettle。 Darton was the first
to break the silence。 'Shall I call Sally？' he said。
'O no；' she quickly returned。 'We have given trouble enough
already。 We have no right here。 But we are the sport of fate； and
were obliged to come。'
'No right here！' said he in surprise。
'None。 I can't explain it now；' answered Helena。 'This kettle is
very slow。'
There was another pause； the proverbial dilatoriness of watched pots
was never more clearly exemplified。
Helena's face was of that sort which seems to ask for assistance
without the owner's knowledgethe very antipodes of Sally's； which
was self…reliance expressed。 Darton's eyes travelled from the
kettle to Helena's face； then back to the kettle； then to the face
for rather a longer time。 'So I am not to know anything of the
mystery that has distracted me all the evening？' he said。 'How is
it that a woman； who refused me because （as I supposed） my position
was not good enough for her taste； is found to be the wife of a man
who certainly seems to be worse off than I？'
'He had the prior claim；' said she。
'What！ you knew him at that time？'
'Yes； yes！ Please say no more；' she implored。
'Whatever my errors； I have paid for them during the last five
years！'
The heart of Darton was subject to sudden overflowings。 He was kind
to a fault。 'I am sorry from my soul；' he said； involuntarily
approaching her。 Helena withdrew a step or two； at which he became
conscious of his movement； and quickly took his former place。 Here
he stood without speaking； and the little kettle began to sing。
'Well； you might have been my wife if you had chosen；' he said at
last。 'But that's all past and gone。 However； if you are in any
trouble or poverty I shall be glad to be of service； and as your
relation by marriage I shall have a right to be。 Does your uncle
know of your distress？'
'My uncle is dead。 He left me without a farthing。 And now we have
two children to maintain。'
'What； left you nothing？ How could he be so cruel as that？'
'I disgraced myself in his eyes。'
'Now；' said Darton earnestly； 'let me take care of the children； at
least while you are so unsettled。 YOU belong to another； so I
cannot take care of you。'
'Yes you can；' said a voice； and suddenly a third figure stood
beside them。 It was Sally。 'You can； since you seem to wish to？'
she repeated。 'She no longer belongs to another 。 。 。 My poor
brother is dead！'
Her face was red； her eyes sparkled； and all the woman came to the
front。 'I have heard it！' she went on to him passionately。 'You
can protect her now as well as the children！' She turned then to
her agitated sister…in…law。 'I heard something；' said Sally （in a
gentle murmur； differing much from her previous passionate words）；
'and I went into his room。 It must have been the moment you left。
He went off so quickly； and weakly； and it was so unexpected； that I
couldn't leave even to call you。'
Darton was just able to gather from the confused discourse which
followed that； during his sleep by the fire； this brother whom he
had never seen had become worse； and that during Helena's absence
for water the end had unexpectedly come。 The two young women
hastened upstairs； and he was again left alone。
After standing there a short time he went to the front door and
looked out； till； softly closing it behind him； he advanced and
stood under the large sycamore…tree。 The stars were flickering
coldly； and the dampness which had just descended upon the earth in
rain now sent up a chill from it。 Darton was in a strange position；
and he felt it。 The unexpected appearance； in deep poverty； of
Helenaa young lady； daughter of a deceased naval officer； who had
been brought up by her uncle； a solicitor； and had refused Darton in
marriage years agothe passionate； almost angry demeanour of Sally
at discovering them； the abrupt announcement that Helena was a
widow； all this coming together was a conjuncture difficult to cope
with in a moment； and made him question whether he ought to leave
the house or offer assistance。 But for Sally's manner he would
unhesitatingly have done the latter。
He was still standing under the tree when the door in front of him
opened； and Mrs。 Hall came out。 She went round to the garden…gate
at the side without seeing him。 Darton followed her； intending to
speak。
Pausing outside； as if in thought； she proceeded to a spot where the
sun came earliest in spring…time； and where the north wind never
blew； it was where the row of beehives stood under the wall。
Discerning her object； he waited till she had accomplished it。
It was the universal custom thereabout to wake the bees by tapping
at their hives whenever a death occurred in the household； under the
belief that if this were not done the bees themselves would pine
away and perish during the ensuing year。 As soon as an interior
buzzing responded to her tap at the first hive Mrs。 Hall went on to
the second； and thus passed down the row。 As soon as she came back
he met her。
'What can I do in this trouble； Mrs。 Hall？' he said。
'Onothing； thank you； nothing；' she said in a tearful voice； now
just perceiving him。 'We have called Rebekah and her husband； and
they will do everything necessary。' She told him in a few words the
particulars of her son's arrival； broken in healthindeed； at
death's very door； though they did not suspect itand suggested； as
the result of a conversation between her and her daughter； that the
wedding should be postponed。
'Yes； of course；' said Darton。 'I think now to go straight to the
inn and tell Johns what has happened。' It was not till after he had
shaken hands with her that he turned hesitatingly and added； 'Will
you tell the mother of his children that； as they are now left
fatherless； I shall be glad to take the eldest of them； if it would
be any convenience to her and to you？'
Mrs。 Hall promised that her son's widow should he told of the offer；
and they parted。 He retired down the rooty slope and disappeared in
the direction of the inn； where he informed Johns of the
circumstances。 Meanwhile Mrs。 Hall had entered the house； Sally was
downstairs in the sitting…room alone； and her mother explained to
her that Darton had readily assented to the postponement。
'No doubt he has；' said Sally； with sad emphasis。 'It is not put
off for a week； or a month； or a year。 I shall never marry him； and
she will！'
CHAPTER IV
Time passed； and the household on the Knap became again serene under
the composing influences of daily routine。 A desultory； very
desultory correspondence； dragged on between Sally Hall and Darton；
who； not quite knowing how to take her petulant words on the night
of her brother's death； had continued passive thus long。 Helena and
her children remained at the dairy…house； almost of necessity； and
Darton therefore deemed it advisable to stay away。
One day； seven months later on； when Mr。 Darton was as usual at his
farm； twenty miles from Hintock； a note reached him from Helena。
She thanked him for his kind offer about her children； which her
mother…in…law had duly communicated； and stated that she would be
glad to accept it as regarded the eldest； the boy。 Helena had； in
truth； good need to do so； for her uncle had left her penniless； and
all application to som