The Woodlanders

"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.