He said no more except that it would be a nice scandal for the
Dissenters, and that he trusted God would bring me into a better
frame of mind. He then went away. His reasoning went in at one ear
and out at the other. Parsons are bound to preach by rule. It is
all general: it doesn't fit the ins and outs.


BLACKDEEP, 1st May 1839.

You had better stop at Ely as long as you can. Everybody is
gossiping, for parson has told the story as he heard it from your
husband. It is worse for Jim than for me, as he goes about among
people here, and although they daren't say anything to him about
you, there is no mistake as to what they think. Mrs. Horrocks
inquired after me, and said she was sorry to hear of my trouble.
Jim told her I was quite well, and that the two cows were now all
right. He wouldn't let her see he knew what she meant.

Last night, Jim, who has been talking for a twelvemonth past about
going to his cousin in America, asked me whether I would not be
willing to leave. I have always set my face against it. To turn my
back on the old house and the Fen, to begin again at my time of life
in a new strange world would be the death of me. More than ever now
am I determined to end my days here. They'd say at once we had
fled. No, here we'll bide and face it out.


They did not fly. Years went on, and to the astonishment of their
neighbours--perhaps they were a little sorry--there was no sign that