to you the gates of all Futurity, and if there are children it is
irrevocable by any law. No divorce undoes it. You may likely unroll a
long line of posterity who will live when you are forgotten, but whose
actions, for good or evil, will be traced back to you."

"Well, then, John, if I am to go away and give myself an opportunity to
draw back, I want to go immediately. Lucy's father takes her to an aunt
in Bradford tomorrow. I think when people grow old, they find a perfect
joy in separating lovers."

"It is not only your love affairs that want pause and consideration,
Harry. You appear to hate your business as much as you ought to love and
honor it, and I am in hopes that a few weeks or months of nothing to do
will make you glad to come back to the mill. If not--"

"What then will you do for me, John?"

"I will buy your share of the mill."

"Thank you, John. I know you are good to me, but you cannot tell how
certain I am about Lucy; yes, and the mill, too."

"Well, my dear lad, I believe you tonight; but what I want you to
believe is that tomorrow some new light may shine and you may see your
thoughts on these two subjects in a different way. Just keep your mind
open to whatever you may see or hear that can instruct your intentions.
That is all I ask. If you are willing to be instructed, the Instructor
will come, not perhaps, but certainly."

Four days after this conversation life in Hatton had broken apart, and