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surprised； sir； as you expected me to be； certainly。’
‘May I ask why not； my good friend？’
‘I have seen； sir；’ returned the locksmith with evident
reluctance； ‘I have seen in connection with her； something that
has filled me with distrust and uneasiness。 She has made bad
friends； how； or when； I don’t know； but that her house is a refuge
for one robber and cut…throat at least； I am certain。 There； sir！
Now it’s out。’
‘Varden！’
‘My own eyes； sir； are my witnesses； and for her sake I would be
willingly half…blind； if I could but have the pleasure of mistrusting
’em。 I have kept the secret till now； and it will go no further than
yourself； I know； but I tell you that with my own eyes—broad
awake—I saw； in the passage of her house one evening after dark；
the highwayman who robbed and wounded Mr Edward Chester；
and on the same night threatened me。’
‘And you made no effort to detain him？’ said Mr Haredale
quickly。
‘Sir；’ returned the locksmith； ‘she herself prevented me—held
me； with all her strength； and hung about me until he had got
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clear off。’ And having gone so far； he related circumstantially all
that had passed upon the night in question。
This dialogue was held in a low tone in the locksmith’s little
parlour； into which honest Gabriel had shown his visitor on his
arrival。 Mr Haredale had called upon him to entreat his company
to the widow’s； that he might have the assistance of his persuasion
and influence； and out of this circumstance the conversation had
arisen。
‘I forbore；’ said Gabriel； ‘from repeating one word of this to
anybody； as it could do her no good and might do her great harm。 I
thought and hoped； to say the truth； that she would come to me；
and talk to me about it； and tell me how it was； but though I have
purposely put myself in her way more than once or twice； she has
never touched upon the subject—except by a look。 And indeed；’
said the good…natured locksmith； ‘there was a good deal in the
look； more than could have been put into a great many words。 It
said among other matters “Don’t ask me anything” so imploringly；
that I didn’t ask her anything。 You’ll think me an old fool； I know；
sir。 If it’s any relief to call me one； pray do。’
‘I am greatly disturbed by what you tell me；’ said Mr Haredale；
after a silence。 ‘What meaning do you attach to it？’
The locksmith shook his head； and looked doubtfully out of
window at the failing light。
‘She cannot have married again；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘Not without our knowledge surely； sir。’
‘She may have done so； in the fear that it would lead； if known；
to some objection or estrangement。 Suppose she married
incautiously—it is not improbable； for her existence has been a
lonely and monotonous one for many years—and the man turned
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out a ruffian； she would be anxious to screen him； and yet would
revolt from his crimes。 This might be。 It bears strongly on the
whole drift of her discourse yesterday； and would quite explain
her conduct。 Do you suppose Barnaby is privy to these
circumstances？’
‘Quite impossible to say； sir；’ returned the locksmith； shaking
his head again： ‘and next to impossible to find out from him。 If
what you suppose is really the case； I tremble for the lad—a
notable person； sir； to put to bad uses—’
‘It is not possible； Varden；’ said Mr Haredale； in a still lower
tone of voice than he had spoken yet； ‘that we have been blinded
and deceived by this woman from the beginning？ It is not possible
that this connection was formed in her husband’s lifetime； and led
to his and my brother’s—’
‘Good God； sir；’ cried Gabriel； interrupting him； ‘don’t entertain
such dark thoughts for a moment。 Five…and…twenty years ago；
where was there a girl like her？ A gay； handsome； laughing；
bright…eyed damsel！ Think what she was； sir。 It makes my heart
ache now； even now； though I’m an old man； with a woman for a
daughter； to think what she was and what she is。 We all change；
but that’s with Time； Time does his work honestly； and I don’t
mind him。 A fig for Time； sir。 Use him well； and he’s a hearty
fellow； and scorns to have you at a disadvantage。 But care and
suffering （and those have changed her） are devils； sir—secret；
stealthy； undermining devils—who tread down the brightest
flowers in Eden； and do more havoc in a month than Time does in
a year。 Picture to yourself for one minute what Mary was before
they went to work with her fresh heart and face—do her that
justice—and say whether such a thing is possible。’
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‘You’re a good fellow； Varden；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘and are quite
right。 I have brooded on that subject so long； that every breath of
suspicion carries me back to it。 You are quite right。’
‘It isn’t； sir；’ cried the locksmith with brightened eyes； and
sturdy； honest voice； ‘it isn’t because I courted her before Rudge；
and failed； that I say she was too good for him。 She would have
been as much too good for me。 But she was too good for him； he
wasn’t free and frank enough for her。 I don’t reproach his memory
with it； poor fellow； I only want to put her before you as she really
was。 For myself； I’ll keep her old picture in my mind； and thinking
of that； and what has altered her； I’ll stand her friend； and try to
win her back to peace。 And damme； sir；’ cried Gabriel； ‘with your
pardon for the word； I’d do the same if she had married fifty
highwaymen in a twelvemonth； and think it in the Protestant
Manual too； though Martha said it wasn’t； tooth and nail； till
doomsday！’
If the dark little parlour had been filled with a dense fog； which；
clearing away in an instant； left it all radiance and brightness； it
could not have been more suddenly cheered than by this outbreak
on the part of the hearty locksmith。 In a voice nearly as full and
round as his own； Mr Haredale cried ‘Well said！’ and bade him
come away without more parley。 The locksmith complied right
willingly； and both getting into a hackney coach which was waiting
at the door； drove off straightway。
They alighted at the street corner； and dismissing their
conveyance； walked to the house。 To their first knock at the door
there was no response。 A second met with the like result。 But in
answer to the third； which was of a more vigorous kind； the
parlour window…sash was gently raised； and a musical voice cried：
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‘Haredale； my dear fellow； I am extremely glad to see you。 How
very much you have improved in your appearance since our last
meeting！ I never saw you looking better。 How do you do？’
Mr Haredale turned his eyes towards the casement whence the
voice proceeded； though there was no need to do so； to recognise
the speaker； and Mr Chester waved his hand； and smiled a
courteous welcome。
‘The door will be opened immediately；’ he said。 ‘There is
nobody but a very dilapidated female to perform such offices。 You
will excuse her infi