On the one hand, he wished to avenge himself for the insult
paid him, and to show that he was not to be trifled with; on the other
hand, his anxiety lest he should be unable to make up matters with Wenna
led him to put an unusual value upon her. What was the result, now that
he had definitely won her back to himself? What was the sentiment that
followed on these jarring emotions of the morning?

To tell the truth, a little disappointment. Wenna was not looking her
best when she entered the room: even now he remembered that the pale
face rather shocked him. She was more insignificant--perhaps it is the
best word--than he had expected. Now that he had got back the prize
which he thought he had lost, it did not seem to him, after all, to be
so wonderful.

And in this mood he went up and walked into the pretty little cottage
which had once been his home. "What!" he said to himself, looking in
amazement at the small, old-fashioned parlor, and at the still smaller
study filled with books, "is it possible that I ever proposed to myself
to live and die in a hole like this?--my only companion a cantankerous
old fool of a woman, my only occupation reading the newspapers, my only
society the good folks of the inn?"

He thanked God he had escaped. His knocking about the world for a bit
had opened up his mind. The possibility of his having in time a handsome
income had let in upon him many new and daring ambitions.

His housekeeper, having expressed her grief that she had just posted
some letters to him, not knowing that he was returning to England,
brought in a number of small passbooks and a large sheet of blue paper.

"If yue baint too tired, zor, vor to look over the accounts, 'tis all
theear but the pultry that Mr.--"

"Good Heavens, Mrs. Cornish!" said he, "do you think I am going to look
over a lot of grocers' bills?"

Mrs. Cornish not only hinted in very plain language that her master had
been at one time particular enough about grocers' bills and all other
bills, however trifling, but further proceeded to give him a full and
minute account of the various incidental expenses to which she had been
put through young Penny Luke having broken a window by flinging a stone
from the road; through the cat having knocked down the best tea-pot;
through the pig having got out of its stye, gone mad, and smashed a
cucumber-frame; and so forth and so forth. In desperation Mr. Roscorla
got up, put on his hat and went outside, leavin