’Ishallowehimmorethanlove，andIwillpayhimmorethanlove，’
saidGrace。TherewassomethinginthetoneofhervoiceasshespokewhichmadeLilystopherandlookupintoherface。TherewasasmiletherewhichLilyhadneverseenbefore，andwhichgaveabeautytoherwhichwaswonderfultoLily’seyes。SurelythisloverofGrace’smusthaveseenasmilelikethat，andthereforehadlovedherandwasgivingsuchwonderfulproofofhislove。’Yes，’continuedGrace，standingandlookingatherfriend，’youmaystareatme，Lily，butyoumaybesurethatIwilldoforMajorGrantlyallthegoodthatIcandoforhim。’
’NevermindwhatImean。Youareveryimperiousinmanagingyourownaffairs，andyoumustletmebesoequallyinmine。’
’ButItellyoueverything。’
’Doyousupposethatif——if——ifinrealtruthitcanpossiblybethecasethatMajorGrantlyshallhavecomeheretooffermehishandwhenweallgrounddowninthedustasweare，doyouthinkthatIwilllethimsacrificehimself？Wouldyou？’
’Certainly。Whynot？Therewillbenosacrifice。Hewillbeaskingforthatwhichhewishestoget；andyouwillbeboundtogiveittohim。’
’Ifhewantsit，whereishisnobility？Ifitbeasyousay，hewillhaveshownhimselfnoble，andhisnobilitywillhaveconsistedinthis，thathehasbeenwillingtotakethatwhichhedoesnotwant，inorderthathemaysuccourtheonewhomheloves。IalsowillsuccouronewhomIlove，asbestIknowhow。’Thenshewalkedonquicklybeforeherfriend，andLilystoodforamomentthinkingbeforeshefollowedher。
Theywerenowonafield—path，bywhichtheywereenabledtoescapetheroadbacktoAllingtonforthegreaterpartofthedistance，andGracehadreachedastile，andhadclamberedoveritbeforeLilyhadcaughther。
’Youmustnotgoawaybyyourself，’saidLily。
’Idon’twishtogoawaybymyself。’
’Iwantyoutostopamomentandlistentome。Iamsureyouarewronginthis——wrongforbothyoursakes。Youbelievethathelovesyou？’
’Ithoughthedidonce；andifhehascomeheretoseeme，Isupposehedoesstill。’
’Ifthatbethecase，andyoualsolovehim——’
’Ido。Imakenomysteryaboutthattoyou。Idolovehimwithallmyheart。Ilovehimtoday，nowthatIbelievehimtobehere，andthatI
supposeIshallseehim，perhapsthisveryafternoon。AndIlovedhimyesterday，whenIthoughtthatIshouldneverseehimagain。Idolovehim。Ido。IlovehimsowellthatIwillneverdohimaninjury。’
’Thatbeingso，ifhemakesyouanofferyouareboundtoacceptit。I
donotthinkthatyouhaveanalternative。’
’Ihaveanalternative，andIshalluseit。Whydon’tyoutakemycousinJohn？’
’BecauseIlikesomebodyelsebetter。Ifyouhavegotasgoodareason，Iwon’tsayanotherwordtoyou。’
’Andwhydon’tyoutakethatotherperson？’
’BecauseIcannottrusthislove；thatiswhy。Itisnotverykindofyou，openingmysoresafresh，whenIamtryingtohealyours。’
’Oh，Lily，Iamunkind——unkindtoyou，whohavebeensogeneroustome？’
’I’llforgiveyouallthatandadealmoreifyouwillonlylistentomeandtrytotakemyadvice。Becausethismajorofyoursdoesagenerousthing，whichisforthegoodofyouboth——theinfinitegoodofbothofyou——youaretoemulatehisgenerositybydoingathingwhichwillbeforthegoodofneitherofyou。Thatisaboutit。Yes，itis，Grace。Youcannotdoubtthathehasbeenmeaningthisforsometimepast；andofcourse，ifhelooksuponyouashisown——andIdaresay，ifthewholetruthistobetold，hedoes——’
’ButIamnothisown。’
’Yesyouare，inonesense；youhavejustsaidsowithagreatdealofenergy。Andifitisso——letmesee，wherewasI？’
’Oh，Lily，youneednotmindwhereyouwere。’
’ButIdomind，andIhatetobeinterruptedinmyarguments。Yes，justthat。Ifhesawhiscowsick，he’dtrytodoctorthecowinhersickness。Heseesthatyouaresick，andofcoursehecomestoyourrelief。’
’IamnotMajorGrantly’scow。’
’Yes，youare。’
’Norhisdog，norhisox，norhisass，noranythingthatishis，except——except，Lily，thedearestfriendthathehasonthefaceoftheearth。HecannothaveafriendthatwillgonofurtherforhimthanI
will。HewillneverknowhowfarIwillgotoservehim。Youdon’tknowhispeople。NordoIknowthem。ButIknowwhattheyare。Hissisterismarriedtoamarquis。’
’Whathasthattodowithit？’saidLily，sharply。’Ifsheweremarriedtoanarchduke，whatdifferencewouldthatmake？’
’Andtheyareproudpeople——allofthem——andrich；andtheylivewithhighpersonsintheworld。’
’Ididn’tcarethoughtheylivedwiththeroyalfamily，andhadthePrinceofWalesfortheirbosomfriend。Itonlyshowshowmuchbetterheisthantheyare。’
’Butthinkofwhatmyfamilyis——howwearesituated。WhenmyfatherwassimplypoorIdidnotcareaboutit，becausehehasbeenbornandbredagentleman。Butnowheisdisgraced。Yes，Lily，heis。Iamboundtosayso，atanyratetomyself，whenIamthinkingofMajorGrantly；
andIwillnotcarrythatdisgraceintoafamilywhichwouldfeelitsokeenlyastheywoulddo。’Lily，however，wentonwithherarguments，andwasstillarguingwhentheyturnedthecornerofthelane，andcameuponLily’suncleandthemajorhimself。
CHAPTERXXX
SHOWINGWHATMAJORGRANTLYDIDAFTERHISWALK
IngoingdownfromthechurchtotheSmallHouseLilyDalehadalltheconversationtoherself。Duringsomeportionofthewaythepathwasonlybroadenoughfortwoperson，andherMajorGrantlywalkedbyLily’sside，whileGracefollowedthem。Thentheyfoundtheirwayintothehouse，andLilymadeherlittlespeechtohermotheraboutcatchingthemajor。’Yes，mydear，IhaveseenMajorGrantlybefore，’saidMrsDale。
’Isupposehehasmetyouontheroad。ButIdidnotexpectthatanyofyouwouldhavereturnedsosoon。’Somelittleexplanationfollowedastothesquire，andastoMajorGrantly’swalk，andafterthatthegreatthingwastoleavethetwoloversalone。’Youwilldinehere，ofcourse，MajorGrantly，’MrsDalesaid。Butthishedeclined。Hehadlearned，hesaid，thattherewasanight—trainuptoLondon，andhethoughtthathewouldreturntotownbythat。Hehadintended，whenheleftLondontogetbackthereassoonaspossible。ThenMrsDale，havinghesitatedfortwoorthreeseconds，gotupandlefttheroom，andLilyfollowed。’Itseemsveryoddandabrupt，’saidMrsDaletoherdaughter，’butI
supposeitisbest。’’Ofcourse，itisbest，mamma。Doasonewouldbedoneby——that’stheonlyrule。Itwillbemuchbetterforherthatsheshouldhaveitover。’
Gracewasseatedonasofa，andMajorGrantlygotupfromhischair，andcameandstoodoppositetoher。’Grace，’hesaid，’Ihopeyouarenotangrywithmeforcomingdowntoseeyouhere。’
’No，Iamnotangry，’shesaid。
’Ihavethoughtagreatdealaboutit，andyourfriend，MissPrettyman，knewthatIwascoming。Shequiteapprovesofmycoming。’
’Shehaswrittentome，butdidnottellmeofit，’saidGrace，notknowingwhatotheranswertomake。
’No——shecouldnothavedonethat。Shehadnoauthority。Ionlymentionhernamebecauseitwillhaveweightwithyou，andbecauseI
havenotdonethatwhich，underthecircumstances，perhaps，Ishouldhavebeenboundtodo。Ihavenotseenyourfather。’
’Poorpapa，’saidGrace。
’IhavefeltthatatthepresentmomentIcouldnotdosowithanysuccess。Ithasnotcomeofanywantofrespecteitherforhimorforyou。Ofcourse，Grace，youknowwhyIamhere。’Hepaused，andthen，rememberingthathehadnorighttoexpectananswertosuchaquestion，hecontinued，’Ihavecomehere，dearestGrace，toaskyoutobemywife，andtobeamothertoEdith。IknowthatyouloveEdith。’
’Idoindeed。’
’AndIhavehopedsometimes——thoughIsupposeIoughtnottosayso——butIhavehopedandalmostthoughtsometimes，thatyouhavebeenwillingto——loveme，too。Itisbettertotellthetruthsimply，isitnot？’
’Isupposeso，’saidGrace。
’Andtherefore，andbecauseIloveyoudearlymyself，Ihavecometoaskyoutobemywife。’Sayingwhichheopenedouthishand，andheldittoher。Butshedidnottakeit。’Thereismyhand，Grace。IfyourheartisasIwouldhaveityoucangivemeyours，andIshallwantnothingelsetomakemehappy。’Butstillshemadenomotiontowardsgrantinghimhisrequest。’IfIhavebeentoosudden，’hesaid，’youmustforgivemeforthat。Ihavebeensuddenandabrupt，butasthingsare，nootherwayhasbeenopentome。Canyounotbringyourselftogivemesomeanswer，Grace？’Hishandhadnowfallenagaintohisside，buthewasstillstandingbeforeher。
Shehadsaidnowordtohimasyet，exceptthatoneinwhichshehadacknowledgedherloveforhischild，andhadexpressednosurprise，eveninhercountenance，athisproposal。Andyettheideathatheshoulddosuchathing，sincetheideathathecertainlywoulddoithadbecomecleartoher，hadfilledwithaworldofsurprise。NogirleverlivedwithanybeautybelongingtoherwhohadasmallerknowledgeofherownpossessionthanGraceCrawley。Norhadshetheslightestprideinherownacquirements。Thatshehadbeentaughtinmanythingsmorethanhadbeentaughttoothergirls，hadcomeofherpovertyandofthedesolationofherhome。ShehadlearnedtoreadGreekandItalianbecausetherehadbeennothingelseforhertodointhatsadhouse。
And，subsequently，accuracyofknowledgehadbeennecessaryfortheearningofherbread。IthinkthatGracehadattimesbeenweakenoughtoenvytheidlenessandalmostenvytheignoranceofothergirls。Herfigurewaslight，perfectinsymmetry，fullofgraceatallpoints；butshehadthoughtnothingofherfigure，rememberingonlythepovertyofherdress，butrememberingalsowithabraveresolutionthatshewouldneverbeashamedofit。AndasheracquaintancewithMajorGrantlyhadbegunandhadgrown，andasshehadlearnedtofeelunconsciouslythathiscompanywaspleasantertoherthanthatofanyotherpersonsheknew，shehadstilltoldherselfthatanythinglikelovemustbeoutofthequestion。Butthenwordshadbeenspoken，andtherehadbeenglancesinhiseye，andatoneinhisvoice，andatouchuponhisfingers，ofwhichshecouldnotaltogetherrefusetoacceptthemeaning。Andothershadspokenofit，thetwoMissPrettymansandherfriendLily。Yetshewouldnotadmittoherselfthatitcouldbeso，andshewouldnotallowherselftoconfesstoherselfthatshelovedhim。Thenhadcomethelastkillingmiserytowhichherfatherhadbeensubjected。Hehadbeenaccusedofstealingmoney，andhadbeencommittedtobetriedforthetheft。Fromthatmoment，atanyrate，anyhope，iftherehadbeenahope，mustbecrushed。Butshesworetoherselfbravelythattherehadbeennosuchhope。Andsheassuredherselfalsothatnothinghadpassedwhichhadentitledhertoexpectanythingbeyondordinaryfriendshipfromthemanofwhomshecertainlyhadthoughtmuch。Evenifthosetouchesandthosetonesandthoseglanceshadmeantanything，allsuchmeaningmustbeannihilatedbythisdisgracewhichhadcomeuponher。
Shemightknowthatherfatherwasinnocent；buttheworldthoughtdifferently，andshe，herbrothersandsister，andhermotherandherpoorfather，mustbendtotheworld’sopinion。Ifthosedangerousjoyshadmeantanything，theymustbetakenasmeaningnothingmore。
Thusshehadarguedwithherself，and，fortifiedbysuchself—
teachings，shehadcomedowntoAllington。Sinceshehadbeenwithherfriendstherehadcomeuponherfromdaytodayaclearconvictionthatherargumentshadbeenundoubtedlytrue——aclearconvictionwhichhadbeenverycoldtoherheartinspiteofallhercourage。Shehadexpectednothing，hopedfornothing，andyetwhennothingcameshewassad。Shethoughtofonespecialhalf—hourinwhichhehadsaidalmostallthathemighthavesaid——morethanheoughttohavesaid；——ofamomentduringwhichherhandhadremainedinhis；ofacertainpressurewithwhichhehadputhershawluponhershoulders。Ifhehadonlywrittentoheronewordtotellherthathebelievedherfatherwasinnocent！Butno；shehadnorighttoexpectanythingfromhim。AndthenLilyhadceasedtotalkofhim，andshedidexpectnothing。Nowhewastherebeforeher，askinghertocometohimandbehiswife。Yes；shewouldkisshisshoebuckles，onlythatthekissingofhisshoebuckleswouldbringuponhimthatinjurywhichheshouldneversufferfromherhands！Hehadbeengenerous，andherself—pridewassatisfied。Butherotherpridewastouched，andshealsowouldbegenerous。’Canyounotbringyourselftogivemesomeanswer？’hehadsaidtoher。Ofcourseshemustgivehimananswer，buthowwouldshegiveit？
’Youareverykind，’shesaid。
’Iwouldbemorethankind。’
’Soyouare。Kindisacoldwordwhenusedtosuchafriendatsuchatime。’
’Iwouldbeeverythingonearthtoyouthatamancanbetoawoman。’
’IknowIoughttothankyouifIknewhow。Myheartisfullofthanks；
itisindeed。’
’Andistherenoroomforlovethere？’
’Thereisnoroomforloveinourhouse，MajorGrantly。Youhavenotseenpapa。’
’No；butifyouwish，Iwilldosoatonce。’
’Itwouldtodonogood；——none。Ionlyaskedyoubecauseyoucanhardlyknowhowsadisourstateathome。’
’ButIcannotseethatthatneeddeteryou，ifyoucanloveme。’
’Canyounot？Ifyousawhim，andthehouse，andmymother，youwouldnotsayso。IntheBibleitissaidofsomeseasonthatitisnotatimeformarrying，orgivinginmarriage。Andsoitiswithus。’
’Iamnotpressingyouastoaday。Ionlyaskyoutosaythatyouwillbeengagedtome——sothatImaytellmyownpeople，andletitbeknown。’
’Iunderstandallthat。Iknowhowgoodyouare。But，MajorGrantly，youmustunderstandmealsowhenIassureyouthatitcannotbeso。’
’Doyoumeantorefusemealtogether？’
’Yes；altogether。’
’Andwhy？’
’MustIanswerthatquestion？OughtItobemadetoanswerit？ButI
willtellyoufairly，withouttouchingonanythingelse，thatIfeelthatwearealldisgraced，andthatIwillnottakethatdisgraceintoanotherfamily。’
’Grace，doyouloveme？’
’Ilovenoonenow——thatis，asyoumean。Icanlovenoone。Ihavenoroomforanyfeelingexceptformyfatherandmother，andforusall。I
shouldnotbeherenowbutthatIsavemymotherthebreadthatIshouldeatathome。’
’Isitasbadasthat？’
’Yes，itisasbadasthat。Itismuchworsethanthat，ifyouknewitall。Youcannotconceivehowlowwehavefallen。Andnowtheytellmethatmyfatherwillbefoundguilty，andwillbesenttoprison。Puttingourselvesoutofthequestion，whatwouldyouthinkofagirlwhocouldengageherselftoanymanundersuchcircumstances？Whatwouldyouthinkofagirlwhowouldallowherselftobeinloveinsuchaposition？HadIbeententimesengagedtoyou，Iwouldhavebrokenitoff。’Andthenshegotuptoleavehim。
Buthestoppedher，holdingherbythearm。’WhatyouhavesaidwillmakemesaywhatIcertainlyshouldhavesaidwithoutit。Ideclarethatweareengaged。’
’No，wearenot，’saidGrace。
’Youhavetoldmethatyoulovedme。’
’Inevertoldyouso。’
’Thereareotherwaysofspeakingthanthevoice；andIwillboasttoyou，thoughtonooneelse，thatyouhavetoldmeso。Ibelieveyouloveme。Ishallholdmyselfengagedtoyou，andIshallthinkyoufalseifI
hearthatyoulistentoanotherman。Now，good—bye，Grace；——myownGrace。’
’No，Iamnotyourown，’shesaid，throughhertears。
’Youaremyown，myveryown。Godblessyou，dear，dear，dearestGrace。
Youshallhearfrommeinadayortwo，andshallseemeassoonasthishorridtrialisover。’Thenhetookherinhisarmsbeforeshecouldescapefromhim，andkissedherforeheadandherlips，whileshestruggledinhisarms。Afterthathelefttheroomandthehouseasquicklyashecould，andwasseennomoreoftheDalesuponthatoccasion。
CHAPTERXXXI
SHOWINGHOWMAJORGRANTLYRETURNEDTOGUESTWICK
Grace，whenshewasleftalone，threwherselfuponthesofa，andhidherfaceinherhands。Shewasweepingalmosthysterically，andhadbeenutterlydismayedandfrightenedbyherlover’simpetuosity。Thingshadgoneafterafashionwhichherimaginationhadnotpaintedtoheraspossible。Surelyshehadthepowertorefusethemanifshepleased。Andyetshefeltasshelaythereweepingthatshedidintruthbelongtohimaspartofhisgoods，andthathergenerosityhadbeenfoiled。Shehadespeciallyresolvedthatshewouldnotconfessanylovetohim。Shehadmadenosuchconfession。Shehadguardedherselfagainstdoingsowithallthecarewhichsheknewhowtouse。Butheassumedthefact，andshehadbeenunabletodenyit。Couldshehaveliedtohim，andswornthatshedidnotlovehim？Couldshehavesoperjuredherself，eveninsupportofhergenerosity？Yes，shewouldhavedoneso——soshetoldherself——ifamomenthadbeengiventoherforthought。Sheoughttohavedoneso，andsheblamedherselfforbeingsolittlepreparedfortheoccasion。Theliewouldbeuselessnow。Indeed，shewouldhavenoopportunityfortellingit；forofcourseshewouldnotanswer——wouldnotevenreadhisletter。Thoughhemightknowthatshelovedhim，yetshewouldnotbehiswife。Hehadforcedhersecretfromher，buthecouldnotforcehertomarryhim。Shedidlovehim，butheshouldneverbedisgracedbyherlove。
Afterawhileshewasabletothinkofhisconduct，andshebelievedthatsheoughttobeveryangrywithhim。Hehadtakenherroughlyinhisarms，andhadinsultedher。Hehadforcedakissfromher。Shehadfelthisarmswarmandcloseandstrongabouther，andhadnotknownwhethershewasinparadiseorinpurgatory。Shewasveryangrywithhim。Shewouldsendbackhislettertohimwithoutreadingit——withoutopeningit，ifthatmightbepossible。Hehaddonethattoherwhichnothingcouldjustify。Butyet——yet——yethowdearlyshelovedhim！Washenottheprinceofmen？Hehadbehavedbadly，ofcourse；buthadanymaneverbehavedsobadlybeforeinsodivineaway？Wasitnotathousandpitiesthatsheshouldbedriventodenyanythingtoaloverwhosorichlydeservedeverythingthatcouldbegiventohim？Hehadkissedherhandashelethergo，andnow，notknowingwhatshedid，shekissedthespotonwhichshehadfelthislips。Hisarmhadbeenroundherwaist，andtheoldfrockwhichsheworeshouldbekeptbyherforever，becauseithadbeensograced。
WhatwasshenowtosaytoLilyandLily’smother？Ofonethingtherewasnodoubt。Shewouldnevertellthemofherlover’swickedaudacity。
Thatwasasecretnevertobeimpartedtoanyears。Shewouldkeepherresentmenttoherself，andnotasktheprotectionofanyvicariouswrath。Hecouldneversosinagain，thatwascertain；andshewouldkeepallherknowledgeandmemoryofthesinforherownpurposes。Buthowcoulditbethatsuchamanasthat，onesogoodthoughsosinful，sogloriousthoughsogreatatrespasser，shouldhavecometosuchagirlasherandhaveaskedforherlove？Thenshethoughtofherfather’spovertyandthemiseryofherowncondition，anddeclaredtoherselfthatitwasverywonderful。
Lilywasthefirsttoentertheroom，andshe，beforeshedidso，learnedfromtheservantthatMajorGrantlyhadleftthehouse。’Iheardthedoor，miss，andthenIsawthetopofhishatoutofthepantrywindow。’Armedwiththiscertaininformation，Lilyenteredthedrawing—room，andfoundGraceintheactofrisingfromthesofa。
’AmIdisturbingyou，’saidLily。
’No；notatall。Iamgladyouhavecome。Kissme，andbegoodtome。’
AndshetwinedherarmsaboutLilyandembracedher。
’AmInotalwaysgoodtoyou，yousimpleton？Hashebeengood？’
’Idon’tknowwhatyoumean？’
’Andhaveyoubeengoodtohim？’
’AsgoodasIknewhow，Lily。’
’Andwhereishe？’
’Hehasgoneaway。Ishallneverseehimanymore，Lily。’
Thenshehidherfaceuponherfriend’sshoulderandbrokeforthagainintohystericaltears。
’Buttellme，Grace，whathesaid；——thatis，ifyoumeantotellme！’
’Iwilltellyoueverything；——thatis，everythingIcan。’AndGraceblushedasshethoughtoftheonesecretwhichshecertainlywouldnottell。
’Hashe——hashedonewhatIsaidhewoulddo？Come，speakoutboldly。
Hasheaskedyoutobehiswife？’
’Yes，’saidGrace，barelywhisperingtheword。
’Andyouhaveacceptedhim？’
’No，Lily，Ihavenot。Indeed，Ihavenot。Ididnotknowhowtospeak，becauseIwassurprised；——andhe，ofcourse，couldsaywhatheliked。ButItoldhimaswellasIcould，thatIwouldnotmarryhim。’
’Andwhy；——didyoutellhimwhy？’
’Yes；becauseofpapa！’
’Then，ifheisthemanItakehimtobe，thatanswerwillgofornothing。Ofcourseheknewallthatbeforehecamehere。Hedidnotthinkyouwereanheiresswithfortythousandpounds。Ifheisinearnest，thatwillgofornothing。AndIthinkheisinearnest。’
’AndsowasIinearnest。’
’Well，Grace；——weshallsee。’
’IsupposeImayhaveawillofmyown，Lily。’
’Donotbesureofthat。Womenarenotallowedtohavewillsoftheirownonalloccasions。Somemancomesinagirl’sway，andshegetstobefondofhim，justbecausehedoescomeinherway。Well；whenthathastakenplace，shehasnoalternativebuttobetakenifhechoosestotakeher；ortobeleft，ifhechoosestoleaveher。’
’Lily，don’tsaythat。’
’ButIdosayit。Amanmayassurehimselfthathewillfindforhimselfawifewhoshallbelearned，orbeautiful，orsixfeethigh，ifhewishesit，orwhohasredhair，orredeyes，orredcheeks——justwhathepleases；andhemaygoabouttillhefindsit，asyoucangoaboutandmatchyourworsteds。Youareafoolifyoubuyacolouryoudon’twant。Butwecannevermatchourworstedsforthatotherpieceofwork，butareobligedtotakeanycolourthatcomes——and，therefore，itisthatwemakesuchajumbleofit！Here’smamma。Wemustnotbephilosophicalbeforeher。Mamma，MajorGrantlyhas——skedaddled。’
’Oh，Lily，whataword！’
’But，oh，mamma，whatathing！Fancyhisgoingawayandnotsayingawordtoanybody！’
’IfhehadanythingtosaytoGrace，Isupposehesaidit。’
’Heaskedhertomarryhim，ofcourse。Wenoneofushadanydoubtaboutthat。Hesworetoherthatsheandnonebutsheshouldbehiswife——andallthatkindofthing。Butheseemstohavedoneitinthemostprosaicway；——andnowhehasgoneawaywithoutsayingawordtoanyofus。Ishallneverspeaktohimagain——unlessGraceasksme。’
’Grace，mydear，mayIcongratulateyou？’saidMrsDale。
Gracedidnotanswer，asLilywastooquickforher。’Oh，shehasrefusedhim，ofcourse。But，MajorGrantlyisamanoftoomuchsensetoexpectthatheshouldsucceedthefirsttime。Letmesee；thisisthefourteenth。Theseclocksrunfourteendays，andtherefore，youmayexpecthimagainaboutthetwenty—eighth。Formyself，Ithinkyouaregivinghimanimmensedealofunnecessarytrouble，andthatifheleftyouinthelurchitwouldonlyserveyouright；butyouhavetheworldwithyou，I’mtold。Agirlissupposedtotellamantwofibsbeforeshemaytellhimonetruth。’
’Itoldhimnofib，Lily。ItoldhimthatIwouldnotmarryhimandI
willnot。’