hoary drizzle still continued； but the trees and shrubs were laden
with icicles to an extent such as she had never before witnessed。 A
shoot of the diameter of a pin's head was iced as thick as her
finger； all the boughs in the park were bent almost to the earth
with the immense weight of the glistening incumbrance； the walks
were like a looking…glass。 Many boughs had snapped beneath their
burden； and lay in heaps upon the icy grass。 Opposite her eye； on
the nearest tree； was a fresh yellow scar； showing where the branch
that had terrified her had been splintered from the trunk。
'I never could have believed it possible；' she thought； surveying
the bowed…down branches； 'that trees would bend so far out of their
true positions without breaking。' By watching a twig she could see
a drop collect upon it from the hoary fog； sink to the lowest point；
and there become coagulated as the others had done。
'Or that I could so exactly have imitated them；' she continued。 'On
this morning I am to be marriedunless this is a scheme of the
great Mother to hinder a union of which she does not approve。 Is it
possible for my wedding to take place in the face of such weather as
this？'
2。 MORNING
Her brother Owen was staying with Manston at the Old House。
Contrary to the opinion of the doctors； the wound had healed after
the first surgical operation； and his leg was gradually acquiring
strength； though he could only as yet get about on crutches； or
ride； or be dragged in a chair。
Miss Aldclyffe had arranged that Cytherea should be married from
Knapwater House； and not from her brother's lodgings at Budmouth；
which was Cytherea's first idea。 Owen； too； seemed to prefer the
plan。 The capricious old maid had latterly taken to the
contemplation of the wedding with even greater warmth than had at
first inspired her； and appeared determined to do everything in her
power； consistent with her dignity； to render the adjuncts of the
ceremony pleasing and complete。
But the weather seemed in flat contradiction of the whole
proceeding。 At eight o'clock the coachman crept up to the House
almost upon his hands and knees； entered the kitchen； and stood with
his back to the fire； panting from his exertions in pedestrianism。
The kitchen was by far the pleasantest apartment in Knapwater House
on such a morning as this。 The vast fire was the centre of the
whole system； like a sun； and threw its warm rays upon the figures
of the domestics； wheeling about it in true planetary style。 A
nervously…feeble imitation of its flicker was continually attempted
by a family of polished metallic utensils standing in rows and
groups against the walls opposite； the whole collection of shines
nearly annihilating the weak daylight from outside。 A step further
in； and the nostrils were greeted by the scent of green herbs just
gathered； and the eye by the plump form of the cook； wholesome；
white…aproned； and flourylooking as edible as the food she
manipulatedher movements being supported and assisted by her
satellites； the kitchen and scullery maids。 Minute recurrent sounds
prevailedthe click of the smoke…jack； the flap of the flames； and
the light touches of the women's slippers upon the stone floor。
The coachman hemmed； spread his feet more firmly upon the
hearthstone； and looked hard at a small plate in the extreme corner
of the dresser。
'No wedden this mornenthat's my opinion。 In fact； there can't
be；' he said abruptly； as if the words were the mere torso of a
many…membered thought that had existed complete in his head。
The kitchen…maid was toasting a slice of bread at the end of a very
long toasting…fork； which she held at arm's length towards the
unapproachable fire； travestying the Flanconnade in fencing。
'Bad out of doors； isn't it？' she said； with a look of commiseration
for things in general。
'Bad？ Not even a liven soul； gentle or simple； can stand on level
ground。 As to getten up hill to the church； 'tis perfect lunacy。
And I speak of foot…passengers。 As to horses and carriage； 'tis
murder to think of 'em。 I am going to send straight as a line into
the breakfast…room； and say 'tis a closer。 。 。 。 Hullohere's
Clerk Crickett and John Day a…comen！ Now just look at 'em and
picture a wedden if you can。'
All eyes were turned to the window； from which the clerk and
gardener were seen crossing the court； bowed and stooping like Bel
and Nebo。
'You'll have to go if it breaks all the horses' legs in the county；'
said the cook； turning from the spectacle； knocking open the oven…
door with the tongs； glancing critically in； and slamming it
together with a clang。
'O； O； why shall I？' asked the coachman； including in his auditory
by a glance the clerk and gardener who had just entered。
'Because Mr。 Manston is in the business。 Did you ever know him to
give up for weather of any kind； or for any other mortal thing in
heaven or earth？'
' Mornen so'ssuch as it is！' interrupted Mr。 Crickett
cheerily； coming forward to the blaze and warming one hand without
looking at the fire。 'Mr。 Manston gie up for anything in heaven or
earth； did you say？ You might ha' cut it short by sayen 〃to Miss
Aldclyffe；〃 and leaven out heaven and earth as trifles。 But it
might be put off； putten off a thing isn't getten rid of a thing； if
that thing is a woman。 O no； no！'
The coachman and gardener now naturally subsided into secondaries。
The cook went on rather sharply； as she dribbled milk into the exact
centre of a little crater of flour in a platter
'It might be in this case； she's so indifferent。'
'Dang my old sides！ and so it might be。 I have a bit of newsI
thought there was something upon my tongue； but 'tis a secret； not a
word； mind； not a word。 Why； Miss Hinton took a holiday yesterday。'
'Yes？' inquired the cook； looking up with perplexed curiosity。
'D'ye think that's all？'
'Don't be so three…cunningif it is all； deliver you from the evil
of raising a woman's expectations wrongfully； I'll skimmer your pate
as sure as you cry Amen！'
'Well； it isn't all。 When I got home last night my wife said； 〃Miss
Adelaide took a holiday this mornen；〃 says she （my wife； that is）；
〃walked over to Nether Mynton； met the comen man； and got married！〃
says she。'
'Got married！ what； Lord…a…mercy； did Springrove come？'
'Springrove； nonoSpringrove's nothen to do wi' it'twas Farmer
Bollens。 They've been playing bo…peep for these two or three months
seemingly。 Whilst Master Teddy Springrove has been daddlen； and
hawken； and spetten about having her； she's quietly left him all
forsook。 Serve him right。 I don't blame the little woman a bit。'
'Farmer Bollens is old enough to be her father！'
'Ay； quite； and rich enough to be ten fathers。 They say he's so
rich that he has business in every bank； and measures his money in
half…pint cups。'
'Lord； I wish it was me； don't I wish 'twas me！' said the scullery…
maid。
'Yes； 'twas as neat a bit of stitching as ever I heard of；'
continued the clerk； with a fixed eye； as if he were watching the
process from a distance。 'Not a soul knew anything about it； and my
wife is the only one in our parish who knows it yet。 Miss Hinton
came back from the wedden； went to Mr。 Manston； puffed herself out
large； and said she was Mrs。 Bollens； but that if he wished； she had
no objection to keep on the house till the regular time of giving
notice had expired； or till he could get another tenant。'
'Just like her independence；' said the cook。
'Well； independent or no； she's Mrs。 Bollens now。 Ah； I shall never
forget once when I went by Farmer Bollens's gardenyears ago now
years； when he was taking up ashleaf taties。 A merry feller I was
at that time； a very merry fellerfor 'twas before I took holy
orders； and it didn't prick my conscience as 'twould now。 〃Farmer；〃
says I； 〃little taties seem to turn out small this year； don't em？〃
〃O no； Crickett；〃 says he； 〃some be fair…sized。〃 He's a dull man
Farmer Bollens ishe always was。 However； that's neither here nor
there； he's a…married to a sharp woman； and if I don't make a
mistake she'll bring him a pretty good family； gie her time。'
'Well； it don't matter； there's a Providence in it；' said the
scullery…maid。 'God A'mighty always sends bread as well as
children。'
'But 'tis the bread to one house and the children to another very
often。 However； I think I can see my lady Hinton's reason for
chosen yesterday to sickness…or…health…it。 Your young miss； and
that one； had crossed one another's path in regard to young Master
Springrove； and I expect that when Addy Hinton found Miss Graye
wasn't caren to have en； she thought she'd be beforehand with her
old enemy in marrying somebody else too。 That's maids' logic all
over； and maids' malice likewise。'
Women who are bad enough to divide against themselves under a man's
partiality are good enough to instantly unite in a common cause
against his attack。 'I'll just tell you one thing then；' said the
cook； shaking out her words to the time of a whisk she was beating
eggs with。 'Whatever maids' logic is and maids' malice too； if
Cytherea Graye even now knows that young Springrove is free again；
she'll fling over the steward as soon as look at him。'
'No； no： not now；' the coachman broke in like a moderator。
'There's honour in that maid； if ever there was in one。 No Miss
Hinton's tricks in her。 She'll stick to Manston。'
'Pifh！'
'Don't let a word be said till the wedden is over； for Heaven's
sake；' the clerk continued。 'Miss Aldclyffe would fairly hang and
quarter me； if my news broke off that there wedden at a last minute
like this。'
'Then you had better get your wife to bolt you in the closet for an
hour or two； for you'll chatter it yourself to the whole boiling
parish if she don't！ 'Tis a poor womanly feller！'
'You shouldn't ha' begun it； clerk。 I knew how 'twould be；' said
the gardener soothingly； in a whisper to the clerk's mangled
remains。
The clerk turned and smiled at the fire； and warmed his other hand。
3。 NOON
The weather gave way。 In half…an…hour there began a rapid thaw。 By
ten o'clock the roads； though still dangerous； were practicable to