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indulgedinafewofthosephysicalexercises,jerksand
skippingsandflexingswhichshefoundsoconducive
tohealth,pleasedtothinkthatawomanofherage
couldprancewithsuchsupplevigour.Another
birthdaywouldknockatherdoornextmonth,and
ifherbirthcertificatewascorrect(andtherewas
noreasonfordoubtingit)theconclusionwasforced
uponherthatifforeveryyearshehadalreadylived,
shelivedanother,shewouldthenbeacentenarian.
Forabriefmomentthethoughtoftheshortnessoflife
andtheall-devouringgravelaidachillonherspirit,
asifacolddraughthadblownroundthecornerofher
house,butbeforeshehadtimetoshiver,herhabitual
intrepiditywarmedherupagain,andsheresolved
tomakethemostoftheyearsthatremained,although
theremightnotbeevenfiftymoreinstoreforher.
Certainlyshewouldnotindulgeinseniledalliance,like
thoseagedbutterflies,fornothingmadeawoman
sooldaspretendingtobeyoung,andtherewould
surelybeworthieroutletsforherenergythan
wantonness.Neveryethadshebeenlackinginactivity
orinitiativeorevenattackwhennecessary,asthoseill-
advisedpersonsknewwhofromtimetotimehad
attemptedtothwarthercareer,andthesepriceless
giftswerestillquiteunimpaired.
Itwasalittleoverayearsincethemostremarkable
adventureofherlifesofarhadbefallenher,whenthe
greatfloodbursttheriverbankjustacrosstheroad,
andsheandpoorpanic-strickenElizabethMapphad
beencarriedouttoseaonthekitchentable.Theyhad
beenpickedupbyatrawlerintheChannelandhad
spentthreeweirdbutveryinterestingmonthswith
afleetofcod-fishersontheGallagherBank.Lucia’s
undefeatedvitalityhadpulledthemthrough,butsince
thenshehadnevertastedcod.Onreturninghome
atgreydaybreakonanAprilmorningtheyhadfound
thatahandsomecenotaphhadbeenerectedtotheir
memoriesinthechurchyard,forTillinghadnaturally
concludedthattheymustbedead.ButTillingwas
