IfMissSallywasreally——a——a——distractingelementtocontiguousman，itwascertainlysomethingtobeconsideredinamatterofbusinessofwhichshewouldtakeamanagerialpart。ItwastruethatChampneyhadsaidshewas\"notthatsortofgirl，\"butthiswasthetestimonyofonewhowasclearlyunderherinfluence。HeenteredthehousethroughtheopenFrenchwindow。Theparlorwasdeserted。Hewalkedthroughthefronthallandporch;noonewasthere。Helingeredafewmoments，aslightchagrinbeginningtominglewithhisuneasiness。Shemighthavebeenonthelookoutforhim。SheorSophymusthaveseenhimreturning。HewouldringforSophy，andleavehisthanksandregretsforhermistress。Helookedforabell，touchedit，butonbeingconfrontedwithSophy，changedhismindandaskedtoSEEMissDows。IntheintervalbetweenherdepartureandtheappearanceofMissSallyheresolvedtodotheverythingwhichhehaddismissedfromhisthoughtsbutanhourbeforeasill—timedanddoubtful。Hehadthephotographandletterinhispocket;hewouldmakethemhisexcuseforpersonallytakingleaveofher。
Sheenteredwithherfaireyebrowsliftedinaprettysurprise。
\"Ideclaretogoodness，Ithoughtyo’’driddenovertotheredbarnandgonehomefromthere。IgotthroughmyworkonthevinesearlierthanIthought。OneofJudgeGarret’snephewsdroppedinintimetohelpmewiththelastrow。Yo’needn’thavetroubledyo’selftosendupformeformerecompanymanners，butSophysaysyo’lookedsortof’anxiousandparticular’whenyo’askedforme——
soIsupposeyo’wanttoseemeforsomething。\"
MentallyobjurgatingSophy，andwithanunpleasantimpressioninhismindoftheunknownneighborwhohadbeenhelpingMissSallyinhisplace，heneverthelesstriedtocollecthimselfgallantly。