byes. Tom had so often thought how joyful he should be the day
he left school »for good!« And now his school years seemed like a holiday that
had come to an end.
    The two slight youthful figures soon grew indistinct on the distant road -
were soon lost behind the projecting hedgerow.
    They had gone forth together into their new life of sorrow, and they would
never more see the sunshine undimmed by remembered cares. They had entered the
thorny wilderness, and the golden gates of their childhood had for ever closed
behind them.
 

                                   Book Third

                                  The Downfall

                                   Chapter I

                           What Had Happened at Home

When Mr. Tulliver first knew the fact that the lawsuit was decided against him,
and that Pivart and Wakem were triumphant, every one who happened to observe him
at the time thought that, for so confident and hot-tempered a man, he bore the
blow remarkably well. He thought so himself: he thought he was going to show
that if Wakem or anybody else considered him crushed, they would find themselves
mistaken. He could not refuse to see that the costs of this protracted suit
would take more than he possessed to pay them; but he appeared to himself to be
full of expedients by which he could ward off any results but such as were
tolerable, and could avoid the appearance of breaking down in the world. All the
obstinacy and defiance of his nature, driven out of their old channel, found a
vent for themselves in the immediate formation of plans by which he would meet
his difficulties, and remain Mr. Tulliver of Dorlcote Mill in spite of them.
There was such a rush of projects in his brain, that it was no wonder his face
was flushed when he came away from his talk with his attorney, Mr. Gore, and
mounted his horse to ride home from Lindum. There was Furley, who held the
mortgage on the land - a reasonable fellow, who would see his own interest, Mr.
Tulliver was convinced, and who would be glad not only to purchase the whole
estate, including the mill and homestead, but would accept Mr. Tulliver as
tenant, and be willing to advance money to be repaid with high interest out of
the profits of the business, which would be made over to him, Mr. Tulliver only
taking enough barely to maintain himself and his family. Who would neglect such
a profitable investment? Certainly not Furley, for Mr. Tulliver had determined
that Furley should meet his plans with the utmost alacrity; and there are men
whose brains have not yet been dangerously heated by the loss of a lawsuit, who
are apt
