his life； casual and trifling thoughts are just allowed to wander
softly for an interval； before being banished altogether。 Thus；
amid his concentration did Manston receive perceptions of the
individuals about him in the lively thoroughfare of the Strand； tall
men looking insignificant； little men looking great and profound；
lost women of miserable repute looking as happy as the days are
long； wives； happy by assumption； looking careworn and miserable。
Each and all were alike in this one respect； that they followed a
solitary trail like the inwoven threads which form a banner； and all
were equally unconscious of the significant whole they collectively
showed forth。
At ten o'clock he turned into Lancaster Place； crossed the river；
and entered the railway…station； where he took his seat in the down
mail…train； which bore him； and Edward Springrove's letter to Graye；
far away from London。
XVII。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
1。 MARCH THE THIRTEENTH。 THREE TO SIX O'CLOCK A。M。
They entered Anglebury Station in the dead； still time of early
morning； the clock over the booking…office pointing to twenty…five
minutes to three。 Manston lingered on the platform and saw the
mail…bags brought out； noticing； as a pertinent pastime； the many
shabby blotches of wax from innumerable seals that had been set upon
their mouths。 The guard took them into a fly； and was driven down
the road to the post…office。
It was a raw； damp； uncomfortable morning； though； as yet； little
rain was falling。 Manston drank a mouthful from his flask and
walked at once away from the station； pursuing his way through the
gloom till he stood on the side of the town adjoining； at a distance
from the last house in the street of about two hundred yards。
The station road was also the turnpike…road into the country； the
first part of its course being across a heath。 Having surveyed the
highway up and down to make sure of its bearing； Manston
methodically set himself to walk backwards and forwards a stone's
throw in each direction。 Although the spring was temperate； the
time of day； and the condition of suspense in which the steward
found himself； caused a sensation of chilliness to pervade his frame
in spite of the overcoat he wore。 The drizzling rain increased； and
drops from the trees at the wayside fell noisily upon the hard road
beneath them； which reflected from its glassy surface the faint halo
of light hanging over the lamps of the adjacent town。
Here he walked and lingered for two hours； without seeing or hearing
a living soul。 Then he heard the market…house clock strike five；
and soon afterwards； quick hard footsteps smote upon the pavement of
the street leading towards him。 They were those of the postman for
the Tolchurch beat。 He reached the bottom of the street； gave his
bags a final hitch…up； stepped off the pavement； and struck out for
the country with a brisk shuffle。
Manston then turned his back upon the town； and walked slowly on。
In two minutes a flickering light shone upon his form； and the
postman overtook him。
The new…comer was a short； stooping individual of above five…and…
forty； laden on both sides with leather bags large and small； and
carrying a little lantern strapped to his breast； which cast a tiny
patch of light upon the road ahead。
'A tryen mornen for travellers！' the postman cried； in a cheerful
voice； without turning his head or slackening his trot。
'It is； indeed；' said Manston； stepping out abreast of him。 'You
have a long walk every day。'
'Yesa long walkfor though the distance is only sixteen miles on
the straightthat is； eight to the furthest place and eight back；
what with the ins and outs to the gentlemen's houses； it makes two…
and…twenty for my legs。 Two…and…twenty miles a day； how many a
year？ I used to reckon it； but I never do now。 I don't care to
think o' my wear and tear； now it do begin to tell upon me。'
Thus the conversation was begun； and the postman proceeded to
narrate the different strange events that marked his experience。
Manston grew very friendly。
'Postman； I don't know what your custom is；' he said； after a while；
'but between you and me； I always carry a drop of something warm in
my pocket when I am out on such a morning as this。 Try it。' He
handed the bottle of brandy。
'If you'll excuse me； please。 I haven't took no stimmilents these
five years。'
''Tis never too late to mend。'
'Against the regulations； I be afraid。'
'Who'll know it？'
'That's truenobody will know it。 Still； honesty's the best
policy。'
'Ahit is certainly。 But； thank God； I've been able to get on
without it yet。 You'll surely drink with me？'
'Really； 'tis a'most too early for that sort o' thinghowever； to
oblige a friend； I don't object to the faintest shadder of a drop。'
The postman drank； and Manston did the same to a very slight degree。
Five minutes later； when they came to a gate； the flask was pulled
out again。
'Well done！' said the postman； beginning to feel its effect； 'but
guide my soul； I be afraid 'twill hardly do！'
'Not unless 'tis well followed； like any other line you take up；'
said Manston。 'Besides； there's a way of liking a drop of liquor；
and of being goodeven religiousat the same time。'
'Ay； for some thimble…and…button in…an…out fellers； but I could
never get into the knack o' it； not I。'
'Well； you needn't be troubled； it isn't necessary for the higher
class of mind to be religiousthey have so much common…sense that
they can risk playing with fire。'
'That hits me exactly。'
'In fact； a man I know； who always had no other god but 〃Me；〃 and
devoutly loved his neighbour's wife； says now that believing is a
mistake。'
'Well； to be sure！ However； believing in God is a mistake made by
very few people； after all。'
'A true remark。'
'Not one Christian in our parish would walk half a mile in a rain
like this to know whether the Scripture had concluded him under sin
or grace。'
'Nor in mine。'
'Ah； you may depend upon it they'll do away wi' Goddymity altogether
afore long； although we've had him over us so many years。'
'There's no knowing。'
'And I suppose the Queen 'ill be done away wi' then。 A pretty
concern that'll be！ Nobody's head to put on your letters； and then
your honest man who do pay his penny will never be known from your
scamp who don't。 O； 'tis a nation！'
'Warm the cockles of your heart； however。 Here's the bottle
waiting。'
'I'll oblige you； my friend。'
The drinking was repeated。 The postman grew livelier as he went on；
and at length favoured the steward with a song； Manston himself
joining in the chorus。
'He flung his mallet against the wall；
Said； 〃The Lord make churches and chapels to fall；
And there'll be work for tradesmen all！〃
When Joan's ale was new；
My boys；
When Joan's ale was new。'
'You understand； friend；' the postman added； 'I was originally a
mason by trade： no offence to you if you be a parson？'
'None at all；' said Manston。
The rain now came down heavily； but they pursued their path with
alacrity； the produce of the several fields between which the lane
wound its way being indicated by the peculiar character of the sound
emitted by the falling drops。 Sometimes a soaking hiss proclaimed
that they were passing by a pasture； then a patter would show that
the rain fell upon some large…leafed root crop； then a paddling
plash announced the naked arable； the low sound of the wind in their
ears rising and falling with each pace they took。
Besides the small private bags of the county families； which were
all locked； the postman bore the large general budget for the
remaining inhabitants along his beat。 At each village or hamlet
they came to； the postman searched for the packet of letters
destined for that place； and thrust it into an ordinary letter…hole
cut in the door of the receiver's cottagethe village post…offices
being mostly kept by old women who had not yet risen； though lights
moving in other cottage windows showed that such people as carters；
woodmen； and stablemen had long been stirring。
The postman had by this time become markedly unsteady； but he still
continued to be too conscious of his duties to suffer the steward to
search the bag。 Manston was perplexed； and at lonely points in the
road cast his eyes keenly upon the short bowed figure of the man
trotting through the mud by his side； as if he were half inclined to
run a very great risk indeed。
It frequently happened that the houses of farmers； clergymen； etc。；
lay a short distance up or down a lane or path branching from the
direct track of the postman's journey。 To save time and distance；
at the point of junction of some of these paths with the main road；
the gate…post was hollowed out to form a letter…box； in which the
postman deposited his missives in the morning； looking in the box
again in the evening to collect those placed there for the return
post。 Tolchurch Vicarage and Farmstead； lying back from the village
street； were served on this principle。 This fact the steward now
learnt by conversing with the postman； and the discovery relieved
Manston greatly； making his intentions much clearer to himself than
they had been in the earlier stages of his journey。
They had reached the outskirts of the village。 Manston insisted
upon the flask being emptied before they proceeded further。 This
was done； and they approached the church； the vicarage； and the
farmhouse in which Owen and Cytherea were living。
The postman paused； fumbled in his bag； took out by the light of his
lantern some half…dozen letters； and tried to sort them。 He could
not perform the task。
'We be crippled disciples a b'lieve；' he said； with a sigh and a
stagger。
'Not drunk； but market…merry；' said Manston cheerfully。
'Well done！ If I baint so weak that I can't see the cloudsmuch
less letters。 Guide my soul； if so be anybody should tell the
Queen's postmaster…general of me！ The whole story will have to go
through Parliament House； and I shall be high…treasonedas safe as
housesand be fined； and who'll pay for a poor martel！ O； 'tis a
world！'
'