"Then we'll inaugurate a new era forthwith. How long has he complained
of the tree?" asked the doctor of Marty.
"Weeks and weeks, sir. The shape of it seems to haunt him like an evil
spirit. He says that it is exactly his own age, that it has got human
sense, and sprouted up when he was born on purpose to rule him, and
keep him as its slave. Others have been like it afore in Hintock."
They could hear South's voice up-stairs "Oh, he's rocking this way; he
must come! And then my poor life, that's worth houses upon houses, will
be squashed out o' me. Oh! oh!"
"That's how he goes on," she added. "And he'll never look anywhere
else but out of the window, and scarcely have the curtains drawn."
"Down with it, then, and hang Mrs. Charmond," said Mr. Fitzpiers. "The
best plan will be to wait till the evening, when it is dark, or early
in the morning before he is awake, so that he doesn't see it fall, for
that would terrify him worse than ever. Keep the blind down till I
come, and then I'll assure him, and show him that his trouble is over."
The doctor then departed, and they waited till the evening. When it
was dusk, and the curtains drawn, Winterborne directed a couple of
woodmen to bring a crosscut-saw, and the tall, threatening tree was
soon nearly off at its base. He would not fell it completely then, on
account of the possible crash, but next morning, before South was
awake, they went and lowered it cautiously, in a direction away from
the cottage. It was a business difficult to do quite silently; but it
was done at last, and the elm of the same birth-year as the woodman's
lay stretched upon the ground. The weakest idler that passed could now
set foot on marks formerly made in the upper forks by the shoes of
adventurous climbers only; once inaccessible nests could be examined
microscopically; and on swaying extremities where birds alone had
perched, the by-standers sat down.
As soon as it was broad daylight the doctor came, and Winterborne
entered the house with him. Marty said that her father was wrapped up
and ready, as usual, to be put into his chair. They ascended the
stairs, and soon seated him. He began at once to complain of the tree,
and the danger to his life and Winterborne's house-property in
consequence.
The doctor signalled to Giles, who went and drew back the printed
cotton curtains. "'Tis gone, see," said Mr. Fitzpiers.