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dexterous malice； would never let rest； it was his joy； at first quite a
disinterested one； to goad Catherine and to frighten Hayes： though； in truth；
that unfortunate creature had no occasion for incitements from without to
keep up the dreadful state of terror and depression into which he had
fallen。
For； from the morning after the quarrel； the horrible words and looks
of Catherine never left Hayes's memory； but a cold fear followed hima
dreadful prescience。 He strove to overcome this fate as a coward wouldto
kneel to it for compassionto coax and wheedle it into forgiveness。 He
was slavishly gentle to Catherine； and bore her fierce taunts with mean
resignation。 He trembled before young Billings； who was now established
in the house （his mother said； to protect her against the violence of her
husband）； and suffered his brutal language and conduct without venturing
to resist。
The young man and his mother lorded over the house： Hayes hardly
dared to speak in their presence； seldom sat with the family except at
meals； but slipped away to his chamber （he slept apart now from his wife）
or passed the evening at the public…house； where he was constrained to
drinkto spend some of his beloved sixpences for drink！
And； of course； the neighbours began to say； 〃John Hayes neglects his
wife。〃 〃He tyrannises over her； and beats her。〃 〃Always at the public…
house； leaving an honest woman alone at home！〃
The unfortunate wretch did NOT hate his wife。 He was used to her
fond of her as much as he could be fondsighed to be friends with her
againrepeatedly would creep； whimpering； to Wood's room； when the
latter was alone； and begged him to bring about a reconciliation。 They
WERE reconciled； as much as ever they could be。 The woman looked at
him； thought what she might be but for him； and scorned and loathed him
with a feeling that almost amounted to insanity。 What nights she lay awake；
weeping； and cursing herself and him！ His humility and beseeching looks
only made him more despicable and hateful to her。
If Hayes did not hate the mother； however； he hated the boyhated and
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feared him dreadfully。 He would have poisoned him if he had had the
courage； but he dared not： he dared not even look at him as he sat there；
the master of the house； in insolent triumph。 O God！ how the lad's brutal
laughter rung in Hayes's ears； and how the stare of his fierce bold black
eyes pursued him！ Of a truth； if Mr。 Wood loved mischief； as he did；
honestly and purely for mischief's sake； he had enough here。 There was
mean malice； and fierce scorn； and black revenge； and sinful desire；
boiling up in the hearts of these wretched people； enough to content Mr。
Wood's great master himself。
Hayes's business； as we have said； was nominally that of a carpenter；
but since； for the last few years； he had added to it that of a lender of
money； the carpenter's trade had been neglected altogether for one so
much more profitable。 Mrs。 Hayes had exerted herself； with much benefit
to her husband； in his usurious business。 She was a resolute； clear…sighted；
keen woman； that did not love money； but loved to be rich and push her
way in the world。 She would have nothing to do with the trade now；
however； and told her husband to manage it himself。 She felt that she was
separated from him for ever； and could no more be brought to consider her
interests as connected with his own。
The man was well fitted for the creeping and niggling of his dastardly
trade； and gathered his moneys； and busied himself with his lawyer； and
acted as his own bookkeeper and clerk； not without satisfaction。 His wife's
speculations； when they worked in concert； used often to frighten him。 He
never sent out his capital without a pang； and only because he dared not
question her superior judgment and will。 He began now to lend no more：
he could not let the money out of his sight。 His sole pleasure was to creep
up into his room； and count and recount it。 When Billings came into the
house； Hayes had taken a room next to that of Wood。 It was a protection to
him； for Wood would often rebuke the lad for using Hayes ill： and both
Catherine and Tom treated the old man with deference。
At lastit was after he had collected a good deal of his money Hayes
began to reason with himself； 〃Why should I stay？stay to be insulted by
that boy； or murdered by him？ He is ready for any crime。〃 He determined
to fly。 He would send Catherine money every year。 Noshe had the
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furniture； let her let lodgingsthat would support her。 He would go； and
live away； abroad in some cheap placeaway from that boy and his
horrible threats。 The idea of freedom was agreeable to the poor wretch；
and he began to wind up his affairs as quickly as he could。
Hayes would now allow no one to make his bed or enter his room； and
Wood could hear him through the panels fidgeting perpetually to and fro；
opening and shutting of chests； and clinking of coin。 At the least sound he
would start up； and would go to Billings's door and listen。 Wood used to
hear him creeping through the passages； and returning stealthily to his own
chamber。
One day the woman and her son had been angrily taunting him in the
presence of a neighbour。 The neighbour retired soon； and Hayes； who had
gone with him to the door； heard； on returning； the voice of Wood in the
parlour。 The old man laughed in his usual saturnine way； and said； 〃Have a
care； Mrs。 Cat； for if Hayes were to die suddenly； by the laws； the
neighbours would accuse thee of his death。〃
Hayes started as if he had been shot。 〃He too is in the plot；〃 thought he。
〃They are all leagued against me： they WILL kill me： they are only biding
their time。〃 Fear seized him； and he thought of flying that instant and
leaving all； and he stole into his room and gathered his money together。
But only a half of it was there： in a few weeks all would have come in。 He
had not the heart to go。 But that night Wood heard Hayes pause at HIS
door； before he went to listen at Mrs。 Catherine's。 〃What is the man
thinking of？〃 said Wood。 〃He is gathering his money together。 Has he a
hoard yonder unknown to us all？〃
Wood thought he would watch him。 There was a closet between the
two rooms： Wood bored a hole in the panel； and peeped through。 Hayes
had a brace of pistols； and four or five little bags before him on the table。
One of these he opened； and placed； one by one； five…and…twenty guineas
into it。 Such a sum had been due that dayCatherine spoke of it only in the
morning； for the debtor's name had by chance been mentioned in the
conversation。 Hayes commonly kept but a few guineas in the house。 For
what was he amassing all these？ The next day； Wood asked for change for
a twenty…pound bill。 Hayes said he had but three guineas。 And； when
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asked by Catherine where the money was that was paid the day before；
said that it was at the banker's。 〃The man is going to fly；〃 said Wood； 〃that
is sure： if he does； I know himhe will leave his wife without a shilling。〃
He watched him for several days regularly： two or three more bags
were added to the former number。 〃They are pretty things； guineas；〃
thought Wood； 〃and tell no tales； like bank…bills。〃 And he thought over the
days when he and Macshane used to ride abroad in search of them。
I don't know what thoughts entered into Mr。 Wood's brain； but the next
day； after seeing young Billings； to whom he actually made a present of a
guinea； that young man； in conversing with his mother； said； 〃Do you
know； mother； that if you were free； and married the Count； I should be a
lord？ It's the German law； Mr。 Wood says； and you know he was in them
countries with Marlborough。〃
〃Ay； that he wo