Before the next twenty-four hours had passed a still more unlooked-for event had taken place.  Long outstanding bills had been paid, and in as matter-of-fact manner as if they had not been sent in and ignored, in some cases for years.  The settlement of Joe Buttle’s account sent him to bed at the day’s end almost light-headed.  To become suddenly the possessor of thirty-seven pounds, fifteen and tenpence half-penny, of which all hope had been lost three years ago, was almost too much for any man.  Six pounds, eight pounds, ten pounds, came into places as if sovereigns had been sixpences, and shillings farthings.  More than one cottage woman, at the sight of the hoarded wealth in her staring goodman’s hand, gulped and began to cry.  If they had had it before, and in driblets, it would have been spent long since, now, in a lump, it meant shoes and petticoats and tea and sugar in temporary abundance, and the sense of this abundance was felt to be entirely due to American magic.  America was, in fact, greatly lauded and discussed, the case of “Gaarge” Lumsden being much quoted.

CHAPTER XXI

KEDGERS

The work at Stornham Court went on steadily, though with no greater rapidity than is usually achieved by rural labourers.  There was, however, without doubt, a certain stimulus in the occasional appearance of Miss Vanderpoel, who almost daily sauntered round the place to look on, and exchange a few words with the workmen.  When they saw her coming, the men, hastily standing up to touch their foreheads, were conscious of a slight acceleration of being which was not quite the ordinary quickening produced by the presence of employers.  It was, in fact, a sensation rather pleasing than anxious.  Her interest in the work was, upon the whole, one which they found themselves beginning to share.  The unusualness of the situation—­a young woman, who evidently stood for many things and powers desirable, employing labourers and seeming to know what she intended them to do—­was a thing not easy to get over, or be come accustomed to.  But there she was, as easy and well mannered as you please—­and with gentlefolks’ ways, though, as an American, such finish could scarcely be expected from her.  She knew each man’s name, it was revealed gradually, and, what was more, knew what he stood for in the village, what cottage he lived in, how many children he had, and something about his wife.  She remembered things and made inquiries which showed knowledge.  Besides this, she represented, though perhaps they were scarcely yet fully awake to the fact, the promise their discouraged dulness had long lost sight of.

It actually became apparent that her ladyship, who walked with her, was altering day by day.  Was it true that the bit of colour they had heard spoken of when she returned from town was deepening and fixing itself on her cheek?  It sometimes looked like it.  Was she a bit less stiff and shy-like and frightened in her way?  Buttle mentioned to his friends at The Clock that he was sure of it.  She had begun to look a man in the face when she talked, and more than once he had heard her laugh at things her sister said.