〃
She took up the note and held it close to the candle。
〃Why； Jem； it is a ten…pound note； one of Hardie's_as was。_〃
〃Then what were those fools laughing at？〃 And he told her all that had happened。
Mrs。 Maxley dropped her knitting and stood up trembling。 〃Why； you told me you had got our money all safe out！〃
〃Well； and so I have； ye foolish woman； and he drew the whole packet out of his pocket and flung them fiercely on the table。 Mrs。 Maxley ran her finger and eye over them； and uttered a scream of anger and despair。
〃These！ these be all Hardie's notes；〃 she cried； 〃and what vally be Hardie's notes when Hardie's be broke？〃
Maxley staggered as if he had been shot。
The woman's eyes flashed fury at him。 〃This is your work； ye born idiot： 'mind your own business；' says you： you _must_ despise your wedded wife； that has more brains in her finger than you have in all your great long useless carease： you _must_ have your secrets： one day poison； another day beggary： you have ruined me； you have murdered me： get out of my sight！ for if I find a knife I'll put it in you； I will。〃 And in her ungovernable passion； she actually ran to the dresser for a knife： at which Maxley caught up a chair and lifted it furiously； above his head to fling at her。
Luckily the man had more self…command than the woman； he dashed the chair furiously on the floor； and ran out of the house。
He wandered about half stupid； and presently his feet took him mechanically round to his garden。 He pottered about among his plants； looking at them； inspecting them closely； and scarce seeing them。 However； he covered up one or two； and muttered； 〃I think there will be a frost to…night： I think there will be a frost〃 Then his legs seemed to give way。 He sat down and thought of his wedding…day： he began to talk to himself out loud； as some people do in trouble。 〃Bless her comely face；〃 said he； 〃and to think I had my arm lifted to strike her； after wearing her so low？； and finding her good stuff upon the whole。 Well； thank my stars I didn't We must make the best on't： money's gone； but here's the garden and our hands still； and 'tain't as if we were single to gnaw our hearts alone： wedded life cuts grief a two。 Let's make it up and begin again。 Sixty come Martinmas； and Susan forty…eight： and I be a'most weary of turning moulds。〃
He went round to his front door。
There was a crowd round it； a buzzing crowd with all their faces turned towards his door。
He came at their backs； and asked peevishly what was to do now。 Some of the women shrieked at his voice。 The crowd turned about； and a score of faces peered at him： some filled with curiosity； some with pity。
〃Lord help us！〃 said the poor man； 〃is there any more trouble a foot to…day？ Stand aside； please； and let me know。〃
〃No！ no！〃 cried a woman； 〃don't let him。〃
〃Not let me go into my own house； young woman？〃 said Maxley with dignity： 〃be these your manners？〃
〃Oh； James： I meant you no ill。 Poor man！〃
〃Poor soul！〃 said another。
〃Stand aloof！〃 said a strange man。 〃Who has as good a right to be there as he have？〃
A lane was made directly； and Maxley rushed down between two rows of peering faces； with his knees knocking together； and burst into his own house。 A scream from the women inside as he entered； and a deep groan from the strong man bereaved of his mate； told the tragedy。 Poor Susan Maxley was gone。
She had died of breast…pang within a minute of his leaving her； and the last words of two faithful spouses were words of anger。
All these things； and many more less tragic； but very deplorable； came to Alfred Hardie's knowledge； and galled and afflicted him deeply。 And several of these revelations heaped discredit high upon Richard Hardie； till the young man； born with a keen sense of justice； and bred amongst honourable minds； began to shudder at his own father。
Herein he was alone； Jane； with the affectionate blindness of her sex； could throw her arms round her father's neck； and pity him for his lossesby his own dishonestyand pity him most when some victim of his unprincipled conduct died or despaired。 〃Poor papa will feel this so deeply；〃 was her only comment on such occasions。
Alfred was not sorry she could take this view； and left her unmolested to confound black with white； and wrong with right； at affection's dictates； but his own trained understanding was not to be duped in matters of plain morality。 And so； unable to cure the wrongs he deplored； unable to put his conscience into his pocket like Richard Hardie； or into his heart like Jane； he wandered alone； or sat brooding and dejected： and the attentive reader； if I am so fortunate as to possess one； will not be surprised to learn that he was troubled； too； with dark mysterious surmises he half dreaded； yet felt it his duty to fathom。 These and Mrs。 Dodd's loss by the bank combined to keep him out of Albion Villa。 He often called to ask after Captain Dodd； but was ashamed to enter the house。
Now Richard Hardie's anxiety to know whether David was to die or live had not declined； but rather increased。 If the latter； he was now resolved to fly to the United States with his booty； and cheat his alienated son along with the rest： he had come by degrees down to this。 It was on Alfred he had counted to keep him informed of David's state； but； on his putting a smooth inquiry； the young man's face flushed with shame； or anger； or something； and he gave a very short； sharp； and obscure reply。 In reality； he did not know much； nor did Sarah； his informant； for of late the servants had never been allowed to enter David's room。
Mr。 Hardie； after this rebuff； never asked Alfred again； but having heard Sampson's name mentioned as Dodd's medical attendant； wrote and asked him to come and dine next time he should visit Barkington。
〃You will find me a fallen man；〃 said he； 〃to…morrow we resign our house and premises and furniture to the assignees； and go to live at a little furnished cottage not very far from your friends the Dodds。 It is called 'Musgrove Cottage。' There； where we have so little to offer besides a welcome； none but true friends will come near us； indeed； there are very few I should venture to ask for such a proof of fidelity to your broken friend；
R。 H。〃
The good…hearted Sampson sent a cordial reply； and came to dinner at Musgrove Cottage。
Now all Hardie wanted of him in reality was to know about David； so when Jane had retired and the decanter circulated； he began to pump him by his vanity。 〃I understand；〃 said he； 〃you have wrought one of your surprising cures in this neighbourhood。 Albion Villa！〃
Sampson shook his head sorrowfully： Mr。 Hardie's eyes sparkled。 Alfred watched him keenly and bitterly。
〃How can I work a great cure after these ass…ass…ins Short and Osmond？ Look； see！ the man had been wounded in the hid； and lost blood： thin stabbed in the shoulder； and lost more blood。〃Both the Hardies uttered an ejaculation of unfeigned surprise。〃So； instid of recruiting the buddy thus exhausted of the great liquid material of all repair； the profissional ass…ass…in came and exhausted him worse： stabbed him while he slept； stabbed him unconscious； stabbed him in a vein： and stole more blood from him。 Wasn't that enough？ No！ the routine of profissional ass…ass…ination had but begun； nixt they stabbed him with cupping…needles； and so stole more of his life…blood。 And they were goen from their stabs to their bites； goen to leech his temples； and so hand him over to the sixton。〃
〃But you came in and saved him；〃 cried Alfred。
〃I saved his life；〃 said Sampson sorrowfully； 〃but life is not the only good thing a man may be robbed of by those who steal his life…blood； and so impoverish and water the contints of the vessels of the brain。〃
〃Doctor Sampson；〃 said Alfred； 〃what do you mean by these mysterious words？ You alarm me。〃
〃What； don't you know？ Haven't they told you？〃
〃No； I have not had the courage to enter the house since the bank〃 he stopped in confusion。
〃Ay； I understand；〃 said Sampson： 〃however； it can't be hidden now：
〃He is a maniac。〃
Sampson made this awful announcement soberly and sorrowfully。
Alfred groaned aloud； and even his father experienced a momentary remorse； but so steady had been the progress of Corruption； that he felt almost unmixed joy the next instant； and his keen…witted son surprised the latter sentiment in his face； and shuddered with disgust。
Sampson went on to say that he believed the poor man had gone flourishing a razor； and Mrs。 Dodd had said； 〃Yes； kill me； David： kill the mother of your children；〃 and never moved： which feminine； or in other words irrational； behaviour had somehow disarmed him。 But it would not happen again： his sister had come； a sensible； resolute woman。 She had signed the order； and Osmond and he the certificates； and he was gone to a private asylum。 〃Talking of that；〃 said Sampson； rising suddenly； 〃I must go and give them a word of comfort； for they are just breaking their hearts at parting with him； poor things。 I'll be back in an hour。〃
On his departure； Jane returned and made the tea in the dining…room： they lived like that now。
Mr。 Hardie took it from his favourite's lithe white hand； and smiled on her： he should not have to go to a foreign land after all： who would believe a madman if he should rave about his thousands ？ He sipped his tea luxuriously； and presently delivered himself thus； with bland self…satisfaction：
〃My dear Alfred； some time ago you wished to marry a young lady without fortune。 You thought that I had a large one； and you expected me to supply all deficiencies。 You did not overrate my parental feeling； but you did my means。 I would have done this for you； and with pleasure； but for my own coming misfortunes。 As it was； I said 'No；' and when you demanded； somewhat peremptorily； my reasons； I said 'Trust me。' Well； you see I was right： such a marriage would have been your utter ruin。 However； I conclude； after what Dr。 Sampson has told us； you have resigned it on other grounds。 Jane； my dear； Captain Dodd； I am sorry to say； is afflicted。 He has gone mad。〃
〃Gone mad？！ Oh； how shocking！ What will become of his poor children？〃 She thought of Edward first。
〃We have