The Argosy — page 335: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

316 Caroline Heath. oeginning its work. Mr. Rochester was seen everywhere; he seemed to be almost ubiquitous ; and Caroline Heath was often meeting him, indoors or out. If by chance they met near one of the hayfields, he and she would turn and make hay together. Sometimes he would drop in to Mrs. Heath’s tea-table to discuss fashionable topics with the lady, scraps of news from the great world, or political prospects as touching upon agricultural interests with the farmer. And now and again he would be walking in the shady lanes with Caroline under the moonlight. The result was this: long before the harvest was gathered, or the line of rail had made much progress to the uninitiated eye, Caroline’s heart had gone out for good and all to this attractive man. She loved him with a pure, passionate, ardent love, which would abide within her for ever. And he—what of his heart? About that there was less cer- tainty. He kept his own feelings well in hand, and made no sign. One Sunday, when the Heaths had been attending service, Mr. Arkright walked with them home from church and was invited to remain for tea. Caroline wished she could make an excuse to stay away from the parlour—in her own room—in the kitchen—any- where. Latterly, whenever she had thought of marrying him she was conscious of a vague rush of pain, which turned her cold and almost seemed to blind her. After tea Mrs. Heath went out to pay a visit at a neighbour's house ; the farmer strolled into the garden, lighted his pipe, and sat down in the arbour ; Caroline and her stolid lover werealone. ‘Tom had long ago gone back to school. Will you walk with me up home, Caroline?” he asked. ‘‘ Mother’s all by herself ; she’d like to see us.” A shiver took Caroline, which she concealed by leaving her chair at the table and leaning out at the open window. “J think I’d rather not go out this evening,” she said; “ my head aches.” “That's bad; you’ve had a headache often lately,” returned un- suspicious Mr. Arkright ; ‘‘a walk might do you good.” “Oh, no; it would make it worse. I feel so tired.” ‘“T wonder what’s the cause? <A young girl like you has no business with headaches, or to feel tired either.” “It is the hard, incessant work I have to do,” said Caroline, incautiously. “‘Hard work! Incessant! Why what do you mean, Caroline?” he said, full of surprise. “Day in, day out, it’s always the same—work, work, work! There’s never any ending to it.” “Well, I don’t know what you can be talking of. The work in this house isn’t much ; it’s child’s play compared with the work up at my place.” COMICOOOKS.E@ im