“It’s a true word, Sam,” replied Swithin. “Baldwin’s marked for Kingdom Come, onnybody may see; and t’ sooner they ’liver him his papers t’ better for him and iwerybody else. Inman sent him tul his long home when he put him to t’ door, though reyt eniff he wor on t’ road ivver after t’ robbery. It worn’t kindness ’at killed _him_, Ambrus.” “Nay, but it wor kindness ’at killed t’ devil in him,” persisted the old man. “A bairn could handle him now.” “Softenin’ o’ t’ brain, Ambrose, more nor softenin’ o’ t’ ’eart,” said Sam. “Be that as it may,” returned Ambrose, “he’s getten his mouth sponged clean and that’s a merricle—” At this moment the landlord, who had been summoned from the room whilst the conversation was in progress, put his head in at the door. “Swithin!” he said in such a strange voice that all present turned to look at him and saw a look of consternation on his face, “you’re wanted at once.” Swithin looked startled; but rose painfully and having knocked the ashes out of his pipe went over to the landlord. “Who is it wants me?” he asked. “Jack Pearce!” Albert answered. “He’s just outside.” He closed the door behind the old man and turned to the company. “Their Polly’s made away wi’ herself, poor lass! She couldn’t stand t’ shame on’t; and there’s Jack Pearce swearing he’ll swing for Inman!” CHAPTER XXV IN WHICH NANCY DISCUSSES THE SITUATION WITH JAGGER IN hamlets like Mawm, which are familiarised with nothing except the commonplace (for even the natural phenomena which arouse the wonder and admiration of every visitor are just ordinary features of the landscape to those who have looked upon them from their birth) an occasional episode is welcomed as a spice that gives an agreeable flavouring to life; but a succession of episodes, like an over-measure of spice, soon creates distaste and even revulsion. Ever from the date of the robbery startling events had succeeded each other with such rapidity that the villagers were stupefied by the unaccustomed whirligig. It was as if the earth which had always been so substantial and secure had become subject to sudden tremors and upheavals, which had already wrought the ruin of some familiar structures, and might for anything they knew bring the solid mass of the mountains down upon their heads. Swithin Marsden and Jack Pearce, drawn together at last by the strong twofold cord of a common sorrow and a common hate, took care that the community should trace these disturbing occurrences and disasters to their origin in Inman, and that astute man’s star set as quickly as it had risen. When the mourners returned from following Polly Marsden’s body to its resting place at Kirkby Mawm it is doubtful if the man had more than one staunch adherent in the whole neighbourhood.