holidays--her Sundays or summer evenings--he seduced her. Scatcherd
accused him openly of having intoxicated her with drugs; and Thomas
Thorne, who took up the case, ultimately believed the charge. It
became known in Barchester that she was with child, and that the
seducer was Henry Thorne.

Roger Scatcherd, when the news first reached him, filled himself with
drink, and then swore that he would kill them both. With manly wrath,
however, he set forth, first against the man, and that with manly
weapons. He took nothing with him but his fists and a big stick as he
went in search of Henry Thorne.

The two brothers were then lodging together at a farm-house close
abutting on the town. This was not an eligible abode for a medical
practitioner; but the young doctor had not been able to settle himself
eligibly since his father's death; and wishing to put what constraint
he could upon his brother, had so located himself. To this farm-house
came Roger Scatcherd one sultry summer evening, his anger gleaming from
his bloodshot eyes, and his rage heightened to madness by the rapid
pace at which he had run from the city, and by the ardent spirits which
were fermenting within him.

At the very gate of the farm-yard, standing placidly with his cigar in
his mouth, he encountered Henry Thorne. He had thought of searching
for him through the whole premises, of demanding his victim with loud
exclamations, and making his way to him through all obstacles. In lieu
of that, there stood the man before him.

'Well, Roger, what's in the wind?' said Henry Thorne.