CHAPTERXXVIII
SHOWINGHOWMAJORGRANTLYTOOKAWALK
MajorGrantlydrovehisgigintotheyardofthe’RedLion’atAllington，andfromthencewalkedawayatoncetoMrsDale’shouse。Whenhereachedthevillagehehadhardlymadeuphismindasthewayinwhichhewouldbeginhisattack；butnow，ashewentdownthestreet，heresolvedthathewouldfirstaskforMrsDale。MostprobablyhewouldfindhimselfinthepresentofMrsDaleandherdaughter，andofGracealso，athisfirstentrance；andifso，hispositionwouldbeawkwardenough。HealmostregrettednowthathehadnotwrittentoMrsDale，andaskedforaninterview。Histaskwouldbeverydifficultifheshouldfindalltheladiestogether。ButhewasstrongenoughinthefeelingthatwhenhispurposewastolditwouldmeettheapprovalatanyrateofMrsDale；andhewalkedboldlyon，andbravelyknockedatthedooroftheSmallHouse，ashehadalreadylearnedthatMrsDale’sresidencewascalledbytheneighbourhood。Nobodywasathome，theservantsaid；andthen，whenthevisitorbegantomakefurtherinquiry，thegirlexplainedthatthetwoyoungladieshadwalkedasfarasGuestwickCottage，andthatMrsDalewasatthismomentattheGreatHousewiththesquire。Shehadgoneacrosssoonaftertheyoungladieshadstarted。Themaid，however，wasinterruptedbeforeshehadfinishedtellingallthistothemajor，byfindinghermistressbehindherinthepassage。MrsDalehadreturned，andhadenteredthehousefromthelawn。
’Iamherenow，Jane，’saidMrsDale，’ifthegentlemanwishestoseeme。’
Thenthemajorannouncedhimself。’MynameisMajorGrantly，’saidhe；
andhewasblunderingonwithsomewordsabouthisownintrusion，whenMrsDalebeggedhimtofollowherintothedrawing—room。HehadmutteredsomethingtotheeffectthatMrsDalewouldnotknowwhohewas；butMrsDaleknewallabouthim，andhadheardthewholeofGrace’sstoryfromLily。SheandLilyhadoftendiscussedthequestionwhether，underexistingcircumstances，MajorGrantlyshouldfeelhimselfboundtoofferhishandtoGrace，andthemotheranddaughterhaddifferedsomewhatonthematter。MrsDalehadheldthathewasnotsobound，urgingthattheunfortunatepositioninwhichMrCrawleywasplacedwassocalamitoustoallconnectedwithhim，astojustifyanyman，notabsolutelyengaged，inabandoningthethoughtsofsuchamarriage。MrsDalehadspokenofMajorGrantly’sfatherandmotherandbrotherandsister，andhaddeclaredheropinionthattheywereentitledtoconsideration。ButLilyhadopposedthisideaverystoutly，assertingthatinanaffairofloveamanshouldthinkneitheroffatherorbrotherofmotherorsister。’Ifheisworthanything，’Lilyhadsaid，’hewillcometohernow——inhertrouble；andwilltellherthatsheatleasthasgotafriendwhowillbetruetoher。Ifhedoesthat，thenIshallthinkthatthereissomethingofthepoetryandnoblenessofloveleft。’InanswertothisMrsDalehadrepliedthatwomenhadorighttoexpectfrommensuchself—denyingnobilityasthat。’Idon’texpectit，mamma，’saidLily。
’AndIamsurethatGracedoesnot。IndeedIamquitesurethatGracedoesnotexpecteventoseehimeveragain。Sheneversaysso，butI
knowthatshehasmadeuphermindaboutit。StillIthinkheoughttocome。’’Itcanhardlybethatamanisboundtodoathing，thedoingofwhich，asyouconfess，wouldbealmostmorethannoble，’saidMrsDale。
Andsothematterhadbeendiscussedbetweenthem。Butnow，asitseemedtoMrsDale，themanhadcometodothenoblething。Atanyratehewasthereinherdrawing—room，andbeforeeitherofthemhadsatdownhehadcontrivedtomentionGrace。’Youmaynotprobablyhaveheardmyname，’
hesaid，’butIamacquaintedwithyourfriend，GraceCrawley。’
’Iknowyournameverywell，MajorGrantly。Mybrother—in—lawwholivesdownyonder，MrDale，knowsyourfatherverywell——orhedidsomeyearsago。AndIhaveheardhimsaythatheremembersyou。’
’Irecollect。HeusedtobestayingatUllathorne。Butthatisalongtimeago。Isheathomenow？’
’MrDaleisalmostalwaysathome。Heveryrarelygoesaway，andIamsurewouldbegladtoseeyou。’
Thentherewasalittlepauseintheconversation。Theyhadmanagedtoseatthemselves，andMrsDalehadsaidenoughtoputhervisitorfairlyathisease。Ifhehadanythingspecialtosaytoher，hemustsayit——anyrequestorpropositiontomakeastoGraceCrawley，hemustmakeit。Andhedidmakeitatonce。’MyobjectincomingtoAllington，’hesaid，’wastoseeMissCrawley。’
’Sheandmydaughterhavetakenalongwalktocallonafriend，andI
amafraidtheywillstayforlunch；buttheywillcertainlybehomebetweenthreeandfour，ifthatisnottoolongforyoutoremainatAllington。’
’Oh，dear，no，’saidhe。’Itwillnothurtmetowait。’
’Itcertainlywillnothurtme，MajorGrantly。Perhapsyouwilllunchwithme？’
’I’lltellyouwhat，MrsDale；ifyou’llpermitme，I’llexplaintoyouwhyIhavecomehere。Indeed，Ihaveintendedtodosoallthrough，andIcanonlyaskyoutokeepmysecret，ifafterallitshouldrequiretobekept。’
’Iwillcertainlykeepanysecretthatyoumayaskmetokeep，’saidMrsDale，takingoffherbonnet。
’Ihopetheremaybenoneedofone，’saidMajorGrantly。’Thetruthis，MrsDale，thatIhaveknownGraceCrawleyforsometime——nearlyfortwoyearsnow，and——Imayaswellspeakitoutatonce——Ihavemadeupmymindtoaskhertobemywife。ThatiswhyIamhere。’Consideringthenatureofthestatement，whichmusthavebeenembarrassing，Ithinkthatitwasmadewithfluencyandsimplicity。
’Ofcourse，MajorGrantly，youknowthatIhavenoauthoritywithouryoungfriend，’saidMrsDale。’Imeanthatsheisnotconnectedwithusbyfamilyties。Shehasafatherandmother，living，asIbelieve，inthesamecountyasyourself。’
’Iknowthat，MrsDale。’
’Andyoumay，perhaps，understandthat，asMissCrawleyisnowstayingwithme，Ioweitinameasuretoherfriendstoaskyouwhethertheyareawareofyourintention。’
’Theyarenotawareofit。’
’Iknowthatatthepresentmomenttheyareingreattrouble。’
MrsDalewasgoingon，butshewasinterruptedbyMajorGrantly。’Thatisjustit，’hesaid。’TherearecircumstancesatpresentwhichmakeitalmostimpossiblethatIshouldgotoMrCrawleyandaskhispermissiontoaddresshisdaughter。Idonotknowwhetheryouhaveheardthewholestory？’
’Asmuch，Ibelieve，asGracecouldtellme。’
’Heis，Ibelieve，insuchastateofmentaldistressastobehardlycapableofgivingmeaconsiderateanswer。AndIshouldnotknowhowtospeaktohim，orhownottospeaktohim，aboutthisunfortunateaffair。
But，MrsDale，youwill，Ithink，perceivethatthesamecircumstancesmakeitimperativeuponmetobeexplicittoMissCrawley。IthinkIamthelastmantoboastofawoman’sregard，butIhadlearnedtothinkthatIwasnotindifferenttoGrace。Ifthatbeso，whatmustshethinkofmeifIstayawayfromhernow？’
’Sheunderstandstoowelltheweightofthemisfortunewhichhasfallenuponherfather，tosupposethatanyonenotconnectedwithhercanbeboundtoshareit。’
’Thatisjustit。ShewillthinkthatIamsilentforthatreason。I
havedeterminedthatthatshallnotkeepmesilent，and，therefore，I
havecomehere。Imay，perhaps，beabletobringcomforttoherinhertrouble。Asregardsmyworldlyposition——though，indeed，itwillnotbeverygood——ashersisnotgoodeither，youwillnotthinkyourselfboundtoforbidmetoseeheronthathead。’
’Certainlynot。IneedhardlysaythatIfullyunderstandthat，asregardsmoney，youareofferingeverythingwhereyoucangetnothing。’
’Andyouunderstandmyfeeling？’
’IndeedIdo——andappreciatethegreatnobilityofyourloveforGrace。
Youshallseeherhere，ifyouwishit——andtoday，ifyouchoosetowait。’MajorGrantlysaidthathewouldwaitandwouldseeGraceonthatafternoon。MrsDaleagainsuggestedthatheshouldlunchwithher，butthishedeclined。Shethenproposedthatheshouldgoacrossandcalluponthesquire，andthusconsumehistime。Buttothishealsoobjected。Hewasnotexactlyinhumour，hesaid，torenewsooldandsoslightanacquaintanceatthattime。MrDalewouldprobablyhaveforgottenhim，andwouldbesuretoaskwhathadbroughthimtoAllington。Hewouldgoandtakeawalk，hesaid，andcomeagainatexactlyhalf—pastthree。MrsDaleagainexpressedhercertaintythattheyoungladieswouldbebackbythattime，andMajorGrantlyleftthehouse。
MrsDalewhenshewasleftalonecouldnotbutcomparethegoodfortunethatwasawaitingGrace，withtheevilfortunewhichhadfallenonherownchild。Herewasamanwhowasatallpointsagentleman。Such，atleast，wasthecharacterwhichMrsDaleatonceconcededtohim。AndGracehadchancedtocomeacrossthisman，andtopleasehiseye，andsatisfyhistaste，andbelovedbyhim。AndtheresultofthatchancewouldbethatGracewouldhaveeverythinggiventoherthattheworldhastogiveworthacceptance。Shewouldhaveacompanionforherlifewhomshecouldtrust，admire，love，andofwhomshecouldbeinfinitelyproud。MrsDalewasnotatallawarewhetherMajorGrantlymighthavefivehundredayeartospend，orfivethousand——orwhatsumintermediatebetweenthetwo——nordidshegivemuchofherthoughtsatthemomenttothatsideofthesubject。Sheknewwithoutthinkingofit——orfanciedthatsheknew，thatthereweremeanssufficientforcomfortableliving。
Itwassolelythenatureandcharacterofthemanthatwasinhermind，andthesufficiencythatwastobefoundinthemforawife’shappiness。
Butherdaughter，herLily，hadcomeacrossamanwhowasascoundrel，and，astheconsequenceofthatmeeting，allherlifewasmarred！CouldanycreditbegiventoGraceforhersuccess，oranyblameattachedtoLilyforherfailure。Surelynotthelatter！Howwashergirltohaveguardedherselffromalovesounfortunate，orhaveavoidedtherockonwhichhervesselhadbeenshipwrecked？ThenmanybitterthoughtspassedthroughMrsDale’smind，andshealmostenviedGraceCrawleyherlover。
Lilywascontentedtoremainasshewas，butLily’smothercouldnotbringherselftobesatisfiedthatherchildshouldfillalowerplaceintheworldthanothergirls。Ithadeverbeenheridea——anidealprobablyneverabsolutelyutteredeventoherself，butnotthelesspracticallyconceived——thatitisthebusinessofawomantobemarried。
ThatherLilyshouldhavebeenwonandnotworn，hadbeen，andwouldbe，atroubletoherforever。
MajorGrantlywentbacktotheinnandsawhishorsefed，andsmokedacigar，andthen，findingthatitwasstillonlyjustoneo’clock，hestartedoffforawalk。HewasnotcarefulnottogooutofAllingtonbytheroadhehadenteredit，ashehadnowishtoencounterGraceandherfriendontheirreturntothevillage；sohecrossedalittlebrookwhichrunsatthebottomofthehillonwhichthechiefstreetofAllingtonisbuilt，andturnedintoafield—pathtotheleftassoonashehadgotbeyondthehouses。Notknowingthegeographyoftheplacehedidnotunderstandthatbytakingthatpathhewasmakinghiswaybacktothesquire’shouse；butitwasso；andaftersaunteringonforaboutamileandcrossingbackagainoverthestream，ofwhichhetooknonotice，hefoundhimselfleaningacrossagate，andlookingintoapaddockontheothersideofwhichwasthehighwallofagentleman’sgarden。Toavoidthishewentonalittlefartherandfoundhimselfonafarmroad，andbeforehecouldretracehisstepssoasnottobeseen，hemetagentlemanwhomhepresumedtobetheownerofthehouse。Itwasthesquiresurveyinghishomefarm，aswashisdailycustom；butMajorGrantlyhadnotperceivedthatthehousemustofnecessitybeAllingtonHouse，havingbeenawarethathehadpassedtheentrancetotheplace，asheenteredthevillageontheotherside。’I’mafraidI’mintruding，’
hesaid，liftinghishat。’Icameupthepathyonder，notknowingthatitwouldleadmesoclosetoagentleman’shouse。’
’There’sarightofwaythroughthefieldsontotheGuestwickroad，’
saidthesquire，’andthereforeyouarenottrespassinginanysense；
butwearenotparticularaboutsuchthingsdownhere，andyouwouldbeverywelcomeiftherewerenorightofway。Ifyouareastranger，perhapsyouwouldliketoseetheoutsideoftheoldhouse。Peoplethinkitpicturesque。’
ThenMajorGrantlybecameawarethatthismustbethesquire，andhewasannoyedwithhimselfforhisownawkwardnessinhavingthuscomeuponthehouse。Hewouldhavewishedtokeephimselfaltogetherunseenifithadbeenpossible——andespeciallyunseenbythisoldgentleman，towhom，nowthathehadmethim，hewasalmostboundtointroducehimself。Buthewasnotabsolutelyboundtodoso，andhedeterminedthathewouldstillkeephispeace。Evenifthesquireshouldafterwardshearofhishavingbeenthere，whatwoulditmatter？Buttoproclaimhimselfatthepresentmomentwouldbedisagreeabletohim。Hepermittedthesquire，however，toleadhimtothefrontofthehouse，andinafewmomentswasstandingontheterracehearinganaccountofthearchitectureofthemansion。
Youcanseethedatestillinthebrickworkofoneofthechimneys——thatis，ifyoureyesareverygoodyoucanseeit——1617。Itwascompletedinthatyear，andverylittlehasbeendonetoitsince。Wethinkthechimneysarepretty。’
’Theyareverypretty，’saidthemajor。’Indeed，thehousealtogetherisasgracefulasitcanbe。’
’Thosetreesareoldtoo，’saidthesquire，pointingtotwocedarswhichstoodatthesideofthehouse。’TheysaytheyareolderthanthehousebutIdon’tfeelsureofit。Therewasamansionherebefore，verynearly，thoughnotquite，onthesamespot。’
’Yourownancestorswerelivingherebeforethat，Isuppose？’saidGrantly，meaningtobecivil。
’Well，yes；twoorthreehundredyearsbeforeit，Isuppose。Ifyoudon’tmindcomingdowntothechurchyard，you’llgetanexcellentviewofthehouse；——byfarthebestthereis。By—the—by，wouldyouliketostepinandtakeaglassofwine？’
’I’mverymuchobliged，’saidthemajor，’butindeedI’drathernot。’
Thenhefollowedthesquiredowntothechurchyard，andwasshownthechurchaswellastheviewofthehouse，andthevicarage，andaviewovertoAllingtonwoodsfromthevicaragegate，ofwhichthesquirewasveryfond，andinthiswayhewastakenbackontotheGuestwicksideofthevillage，andevendownontheroadbywhichhehadenteredit，withoutintheleastknowingwherehewas。Helookedathiswatch，andsawthatitwaspasttwo。’I’mverymuchobligedtoyou，sir，’hesaidagaintakingoffhishattothesquire，’andifIshallnotbeintruding，I’llmakemywaybacktothevillage。’
’Whatvillage？’
’ToAllington，’saidGrantly。
’ThisisAllington，’saidthesquire；andashespoke，LilyDaleandGraceCrawleyturnedthecornerfromtheGuestwickroadandcamecloseuponthem。’Well，girls，Ididnotexpecttoseeyou，’saidthesquire；
’yourmammatoldmeyouwouldn’tbebacktillitwasnearlydark，Lily。’
’Wehavecomebackearlierthanweintended，’saidLily。Sheofcoursehadseenthestrangerwithheruncle，andknowingthewaysofthesquireinsuchmattershadexpectedtobeintroducedtohim。Butthereaderwillbeawarethatnointroductionwaspossible。ItneveroccurredtoLilythatthismancouldbeMajorGrantlyofwhomsheandGracehadbeentalkingduringthewholelengthofthewalkhome。ButGraceandherloverhadofcourseknowneachotheratonce，andGrantly，thoughhewasabashedandalmostdismayedbythemeeting，ofcoursecameforwardandgavehishandtohisfriend。Graceintakingitdidnotutteraword。
’PerhapsIoughttohaveintroducedmyselftoyouasMajorGrantly，’
saidhe，turningtothesquire。
’MajorGrantly！Dearme！Ihadnoideathatyouwereexpectedintheseparts。’
’Ihavecomewithoutbeingexpected。’
’Youareverywelcome，I’msure。Ihopeyourfatheriswell？Iusedtoknowhimsomeyearsago，andIdaresayhehasnotforgottenme。’Then，whilethegirlsstoodbyinsilence，andwhileGrantlywasendeavouringtoescape，thesquireinvitedhimverywarmlytosendhisportmanteauuptothehouse。’We’llhavetheladiesupfromthehousebelow，andmakeitaslittledullforyouaspossible。’ButthiswouldnothavesuitedGrantly——atanyratewouldnotsuithimtillheshouldknowwhatanswerhewastohave。Heexcusedhimselftherefore，pleadingapositivenecessitytobeatGuestwickthatevening，andthen，explainingthathehadalreadyseenMrsDale，heexpressedhisintentionofgoingbacktotheSmallHouseincompanywiththeladies，iftheywouldallowhim。Thesquire，whodidnotyetquiteunderstanditall，badehimaformaladieu，andLilyledthewayhomedownbehindthechurchyardwallandthroughthebottomofthegardensbelongingtotheGreatHouse。Sheofcourseknewnowwhothestrangerwas，anddidallinherpowertorelieveGraceofherembarrassment。Gracehadhithertonotspokenasinglewordsinceshehadseenherlover，nordidshesayawordtohimintheirwalktothehouse。And，intruth，hewasnotmuchmorecommunicativethanGrace。Lilydidallthetalking，andwithwonderfulfemaleskillcontrivedtohavesomewordsreadyforusetilltheyallfoundthemselvestogetherinMrsDale’sdrawing—room。’Ihavecaughtamajor，mamma，andlandedhim，’saidLilylaughing，’butI’mafraid，fromwhatIhear，thatyouhadcaughthimfirst。’
CHAPTERXXIX
MISSLILYDALE’SLOGIC
LadyJuliaDeGuestalwayslunchedatoneexactly，anditwasnotmuchpasttwelvewhenJohnEamesmadehisappearanceatthecottage。Hewasofcoursetoldtostay，andofcoursesaidthathewouldstay。IthadbeenhispurposetolunchwithLadyJulia；butthenhehadnotexpectedtofindLilyDaleatthecottage。Lilyherselfwouldhavebeenquiteatherease，protectedbyLadyJulia，andsomewhatprotectedalsobyherownpowersoffence，haditnotbeenthatGracewastherealso。ButGraceCrawley，fromthemomentthatshehadheardthedescriptionofthegentlemanwholookedoutofthewindowwithhisglassinhiseye，hadbynomeansbeenatherease。Lilysawatoncethatshecouldnotbebroughttojoininanyconversation，andbothJohnandLadyJulia，intheirignoranceofthematterinhand，mademattersworse。
’SothatwasMajorGrantly，’saidJohn。’Ihaveheardofhimbefore，I
think。Heisasonoftheoldarchdeacon，ishenot？’
’Idon’tknowaboutoldarchdeacon，’saidLadyJulia。’Thearchdeaconisthesonoftheoldbishop，whomIrememberverywell。Anditisnotsoverylongsincethebishopdied，either。’
’IwonderwhatheisdoingatAllington，’saidJohn。
’Ithinkheknowsmyuncle，’saidLily。
’Buthe’sgoingtocallonyourmother，hesaid。’ThenJohnnyrememberedthatthemajorhadsaidsomethingastoknowingMissCrawley，andforthemomenthewassilent。
’Irememberwhentheytalkedofmakingthesonabishopalso，’saidLadyJulia。
’What；——thesamemanwhoisnowamajor？’saidJohnny。
’No，yougoose。Heisnotthesonof；heisthegrandson。Theyweregoingtomakethearchdeaconabishop，andIrememberhearingthathewasterriblydisappointed。Heisgettingtobeanoldmannow，I
suppose；andyet，dearme，howwellIrememberhisfather。’
’Hedidn’tlooklikeabishop’sson，’saidJohnny。
’Howdoesabishop’ssonlook，’Lilyasked。
’Isupposeheoughttohavesomesortofclericaltingeabouthim；butthisfellowhadnothingofthatkind。’
’Butthenthisfellow，asyoucallhim，’saidLily，’isonlythesonofanarchdeacon。’
’Thataccountsforit，Isuppose，’saidJohnny。
Butduringallthistime，Gracedidnotsayaword，andLilyperceivedit。Thenshebethoughtherselfastowhatshehadbetterdo。Grace，sheknew，couldnotbecomfortablewhereshewas。Nor，indeed，wasitprobablethatGracewouldbeverycomfortableinreturninghome。TherecouldnotbemucheaseforGracetillthecomingmeetingbetweenherandMajorGrantlyshouldbeover。ButitwouldbebetterthatGraceshouldgobacktoAllingtonatonce；andbetteralso，perhaps，forMajorGrantlythatitshouldbeso。’LadyJulia，’shesaid，’Idon’tthinkwe’llmindstoppingforlunchtoday。’
’Nonsense，mydear；youpromised。’
’Ithinkwemustbreakourpromise；Idoindeed。Youmustn’tbeangrywithus。’AndLilylookedatLadyJulia，asthoughthereweresomethingwhichLadyJuliaoughttounderstand，whichshe，Lily，couldnotquiteexplain。IfearthatLilywasfalse，andintendedheroldfriendtobelievethatshewasrunningawaybecauseJohnEameshadcomethere。
’Butyouwillbefamished，’saidLadyJulia。
’Weshalllivethroughit，’saidLily。
’ItisoutofthequestionthatIshouldletyouwalkallthewayherefromAllingtonandallthewaybackwithouttakingsomething。’
’Weshalljustbehomeintimeforlunchifwegonow，’saidLily。’Willnotthatbethebest，Grace？’
Gracehardlyknewwhatwouldbebest。SheonlyknewthatMajorGrantlywasatAllington，andthathehadcomethithertoseeher。Theideaofhurryingbackafterhimwasunpleasanttoher，andyetshewassoflurriedthatshefeltthankfultoLilyfortakingherawayfromthecottage。Thematterwascompromisedatlast。Theyremainedforhalf—an—hour，andatesomebiscuitsandpretendedtodrinkaglassofwine，andthentheystarted。JohnEames，whointruthbelievedthatLilyDalewasrunningawayfromhim，wasbynomeanswellpleased，andwhenthegirlsweregone，didnotmakehimselfsoagreeabletohisoldfriendasheshouldhavedone。’WhatafoolIamtocomehereatall，’hesaid，throwinghimselfintoanarm—chairassoonasthefrontdoorwasclosed。
’That’sveryciviltome，John！’
’YouknowwhatImean，LadyJulia。Iamafooltocomenearher，untilIcandosowithoutthinkingmoreofherthanIdoofanyothergirlinthecountry。’
’Idon’tthinkyouhaveanythingtocomplainofasyet，’saidLadyJulia，whohadinsomesortperceivedthatLily’sretreathadbeenonGrace’saccount，andnotonherown。’ItseemstomethatLilywasverygladtoseeyou，andwhenItoldherthatyouwerecomingtostayhere，andwouldbenearthemforsomedays，sheseemedtobequitepleased；——shedidindeed。’
’ThenwhydidsherunawaythemomentIcamein？’saidJohnny。
’IthinkitwassomethingyousaidaboutthemanwhohasgonetoAllington。’
’Whatdifferencecanthemanmaketoher？Thetruthis，Idespisemyself；——Idoindeed，LadyJulia。OnlythinkofmymeetingCrosbieatdinnertheotherday，andhishavingtheimpertinencetocomeupandshakehandswithme。’
’Isupposehedidn’tsayanythingaboutwhathappenedatthePaddingtonStation？’
’No；hedidn’tspeakaboutthat。IwishIknewwhethershecaresforhimstill。IfIthoughtshedid，Iwouldneverspeakanotherwordtoher——Imeanaboutmyself。OfcourseIamnotgoingtoquarrelwiththem。
Iamnotsuchafoolasthat。’ThenLadyJuliatriedtocomforthim，andsucceededsofarthathewasinducedtoeatthemincevealthathadbeenintendedforthecomfortandsupportofthetwoyoungladieswhohadrunaway。
’Doyouthinkitishe？’werethefirstwordswhichGracesaidwhentheywerefairlyontheirwaybacktogether。
’Ishouldthinkitmustbe。Whatothermancantherebe，ofthatsort，whowouldbelikelytocometoAllingtontoseeyou？’
’Hiscomingisnotlikely。Icannotunderstandthatheshouldcome。HeletmeleaveSilverbridgewithoutseeingme——andIthoughtthathewasquiteright。’
’AndIthinkheisquiterighttocomehere。Iamverygladhehascome。Itshowsthathehasreallysomethinglikeaheartinsidehim。Hadhenotcome，orsent，orwritten，ortakensomestepbeforethetrialcomeson，tomakeyouknowthathewasthinkingofyou，Ishouldhavesaidthathewasashard——ashardasanyothermanIhadeverheardof。
Menaresohard！ButIdon’tthinkheis，now。Iambeginningtoregardhimastheonechevaliersanspeuretsansreproche，andtofancythatyououghttogodownonyourkneesbeforehim，andkisshishighness’sshoebuckle。Injudgingofmenone’smindvacillatessoquicklybetweenthescornwhichisduetoafalsemanandtheworshipwhichisduetoatrueman。’Thenshewassilentforamoment，butGracesaidnothing，andLilycontinued，’Itellyoufairly，Grace，thatIshallexpectverymuchfromyounow。’
’Muchinwhatway，Lily？’
’Inthewayofworship。Ishallnotbecontentthatyoushouldmerelylovehim。Ifhehascomehere，ashemusthavedone，tosaythatthemomentoftheworld’sreproachisthemomenthehaschosentoaskyoutobehiswife，Ithinkthatyouwillowehimmorethanlove。’