Notasoulintheparentalmansionguessed，whenLadyCarolinecamecoollyintothehallonedayafteravisittoheraunt，that，duringthatvisit，herloverandherselfhadfoundanopportunityofunitingthemselvestilldeathshouldpartthem。Yetsuchwasthefact；theyoungwomanwhorodefinehorses，anddroveinpony-
chaises，andwassaluteddeferentiallybyeveryone，andtheyoungmanwhotrudgedabout，anddirectedthetree-felling，andthelayingoutoffish-pondsinthepark，werehusbandandwife。
Astheyhadplanned，sotheyactedtotheletterforthespaceofamonthandmore，clandestinelymeetingwhenandwheretheybestcoulddoso；bothbeingsupremelyhappyandcontent。Tobesure，towardsthelatterpartofthatmonth，whenthefirstwildwarmthofherlovehadgoneoff，theLadyCarolinesometimeswonderedwithinherselfhowshe，whomighthavechosenapeeroftherealm，baronet，knight；or，ifserious-minded，abishoporjudgeofthemoregallantsortwhopreferyoungwives，couldhavebroughtherselftodoathingsorashastomakethismarriage；particularlywhen，intheirprivatemeetings，sheperceivedthatthoughheryounghusbandwasfullofideas，andfairlywellread，theyhadnotasinglesocialexperienceincommon。Itwashiscustomtovisitherafternightfall，inherownhouse，whenhecouldfindnoopportunityforaninterviewelsewhere；andtofurtherthiscourseshewouldcontrivetoleaveunfastenedawindowontheground-flooroverlookingthelawn，byenteringwhichabackstair-casewasaccessible；sothathecouldclimbuptoherapartments，andgainaudienceofhisladywhenthehousewasstill。
Onedarkmidnight，whenhehadnotbeenabletoseeherduringtheday，hemadeuseofthissecretmethod，ashehaddonemanytimesbefore；andwhentheyhadremainedincompanyaboutanhourhedeclaredthatitwastimeforhimtodescend。
Hewouldhavestayedlonger，butthattheinterviewhadbeenasomewhatpainfulone。Whatshehadsaidtohimthatnighthadmuchexcitedandangeredhim，forithadrevealedachangeinher；coldreasonhadcometohisloftywife；shewasbeginningtohavemoreanxietyaboutherownpositionandprospectsthanardourforhim。