The Distracted Preacher by Thomas Hardy

all,” said Latimer, with complete dispassionateness. “For my part, I’d sooner be them than we. The clitches of my arms are burning like fire from the cords those two strapping women tied round ’em. My opinion is, now I have had time to think o’t, that you may serve your gover’ment at too high a price. For these two nights and days I have not had an hour’s rest; and, please God, here’s for home-along.”
    The other officers agreed heartily to this course, and thanking Stockdale for his timely assistance, they parted from him at the cross, taking themselves the western road and Stockdale going back to Nether-Moynton.
    During that walk the minister was lost in reverie of the most painful kind. As soon as he got into the house, and before entering his own rooms, he advanced to the door of the little back parlor in which Lizzy usually sat with her mother. He found her there alone. Stockdale went forward, and, like a man in a dream, looked down upon the table that stood between him and the young woman, who had her bonnet and cloak still on. As he did not speak, she looked up from her chair at him, with misgiving in her eye.
    â€œWhere are they gone?” he then said, listlessly.
    â€œWho?—I don’t know. I have seen nothing of them since. I came straight in here.”
    â€œIf your men can manage to get off with those tubs it will be a great profit to you, I suppose?”
    â€œA share will be mine, a share my cousin Owlett’s, a share to each of the two farmers, and a share divided among the men who helped us.”
    â€œAnd you still think,” he went on slowly, “that you will not give this business up?”
    Lizzy rose, and put her hand upon his shoulder. “Don’t ask that,” she whispered. “You don’t know what you are asking. I must tell you, though I meant not to do it. What I make by that trade is all I have to keep my mother and myself with.”
    He was astonished. “I did not dream of such a thing,” he said. “I would rather have swept the streets, had I been you. What is money compared with a clear conscience?”
    â€œMy conscience is clear. I know my mother, but the King I have never seen. His dues are nothing to me. But it is a great deal to me that my mother and I should live.”
    â€œMarry me, and promise to give it up. I will keep your mother.”
    â€œIt is good of you,” she said, trembling a little. “Let me think of it by myself. I would rather not answer now.”
    She reserved her answer till the next day, and came into his room with a solemn face. “I cannot do what you wished!” she said, passionately. “It is too much to ask. My whole life ha’ been passed in this way.” Her words and manner showed that before entering she had been struggling with herself in private, and that the contention had been strong.
    Stockdale turned pale, but he spoke quietly. “Then, Lizzy, we must part. I cannot go against my principles in this matter, and I cannot make my profession a mockery. You know how I love you, and what I would do for you; but this one thing I cannot do.”
    â€œBut why should you belong to that profession?” she burst out. “I have got this large house; why can’t you marry me, and live here with us, and not be a Methodist preacher any more? I assure you, Richard, it is no harm, and I wish you could only see it as I do! We only carry it on in winter; in summer it is never done at all. It stirs up one’s dull life at this time o’ the year, and gives excitement, which I have got so used to now that I should hardly know how to do ’ithout it. At nights, when the wind blows, instead of being dull and stupid, and not noticing whether it do blow or not, your mind is afield, even if you are not afield yourself; and you are wondering how the chaps are getting on; and you walk up and down the room, and look out o’ window,