Butitwasluncheontime，andnotonlyhadhenotasyetsaidawordofallthatwhichhehadcometosay，buthadnotasyetmadeanymovetowardsgettingitsaid。HowwashetoarrangethatLilyshouldbeleftalonewithhim？LadyJuliahadsaidthatsheshouldnotexpecthimbacktilldinner—time，andhehadansweredherlackadaisically，’Idon’tsupposeIshallbethereabovetenminutes。TheminuteswillsayallI’vegottosay，anddoallI’vegottodo。AndthenIsupposeIshallgoandcutnamesaboutbridges——eh，LadyJulia？’LadyJuliaunderstoodthewords；foronce，uponaformeroccasion，shehadfoundhimcuttingLily’snameontherailofawoodenbridgeinherbrother’sgrounds。ButhehadnowbeenacoupleofhoursattheSmallHouse，andhadnotsaidawordofthatwhichhehadcometosay。
’Areyougoingtowalkoutwithusafterlunch？’saidLily。
’Hewillhavehadwalkingenough，’saidMrsDale。
’We’llconvoyhimpartoftheway，’saidLily。
’I’mnotgoingyet，’saidJohnny，’unlessyouturnmeout。’
’Butwemusthaveourwalkbeforeitisdark，’saidLily。
’Youmightgoupwithhimtoyouruncle，’saidMrsDale。’Indeed，I
promisedtogouptheremyself，andsodidyou，Grace，toseethemicroscope。IheardMrDalegiveordersthatoneofthoselong—leggedreptilesshouldbecaughtonpurposeforyourinspection。’
MrsDale’slittleschemeforbringingthetwotogetherwasverytransparent，butitwasnotthelesswiseonthataccount。Schemeswilloftenbesuccessful，letthembeeversotransparent。Littleintriguesbecomenecessary，nottoconquerunwillingpeople，butpeoplewhoarewillingenough，who，nevertheless，cannotgivewayexceptunderthemachinationsofanintrigue。
’Idon’tthinkImindlookingatthelong—leggedcreature，today，’saidJohnny。
’Imustgoofcourse，’saidGrace。
Lilysaidnothingatthemoment，eitheraboutthelong—leggedcreatureorthewalk。Thatwhichmustbe，mustbe。SheknewwellwhyJohnEameshadcomethere。SheknewthatthevisitstohismotherandtoLadyJuliawouldneverhavebeenmade，butthathemighthavethisinterview。Andhehadarighttodemand，atanyrate，asmuchasthat。Thatwhichmustbe，mustbe。AndthereforewhenbothMrsDaleandGracestoutlymaintainedtheirpurposeofgoinguptothesquire，LilyneitherattemptedtopersuadeJohntoaccompanythemnorsaidthatshewoulddosoherself。
’Iwillconvoyyouhomemyself，’shesaid，’andGrace，whenshehasdonewiththebeetle，shallcomeandmeetme。Won’tyou，Grace？’
’Certainly。’
’Wearenothelplessyoungladiesintheseparts，noryettimorous，’
continuedLily。’Wecanwalkaboutwithoutbeingafraidofghosts，robbers，wildbulls，youngmen，orgypsies。Comethefieldpath，Grace。
Iwillgoasfarasthebigoakwithhim，andthenIshallturnback，andIshallcomeinbythestileoppositethechurchgate，andthroughthegarden。Soyoucan’tmissme。’
’Idaresayhe’llcomebackwithyou，’saidGrace。
’No，hewon’t。Hewilldonothingofthekind。He’llhavetogoonandopenLadyJulia’sbottleofportwineforhisowndrinking。’
AllthiswasverygoodonLily’spart，andverygoodalsoonthepartofMrsDale；andJohnwasofcourseverymuchobligedtothem。Buttherewasalackofromanceinitall，whichdidnotseemtohimtoarguewellastohissuccess。Hedidnotthinkmuchaboutit，buthefeltthatLilywouldnothavebeensoreadytoarrangetheirwalkhadsheintendedtoyieldtohisentreaty。Nodoubtintheselatterdaysplaingoodsensehadbecometheprevailingmarkofhercharacter——perhaps，asJohnnythought，alittletoostronglyprevailing；butevenwithallherplaingoodsenseanddeterminationtodispensewiththeabsurditiesofromanceintheaffairsofherlife，shewouldnothaveproposedherselfashiscompanionforawalkacrossthefieldsmerelythatshemighthaveanopportunityofacceptinghishand。Hedidnotsayallthistohimself，butheinstinctivelyfeltthatitwasso。Andhefeltalsothatitshouldhavebeenhisdutytoarrangethewalk，ortheproperopportunityforthescenethatwastocome。Shehaddoneitinstead——sheandhermotherbetweenthem，therebyforcinguponhimapainfulconvictionthathehimselfhadnotbeenequaltotheoccasion。’Ialwaysmakeamullofit，’hesaidtohimself，whenthegirlswentuptogettheirhats。
Theywentdowntogetherthroughthegarden，andpartedwherethepathsledaway，onetothegreathouseandtheothertowardsthechurch。’I’llcertainlycomeandcalluponthesquirebeforeIgobacktoLondon，’
saidJohnny。
We’lltellhimso，’saidMrsDale。’Hewouldbesuretohearthatyouhadbeenwithus，evenifwesaidnothingaboutit。’
’Ofcoursehewould，’saidLily；’Hopkinshasseenhim。’Thentheyseparated，andLilyandJohnEamesweretogether。
Hardlyawordwassaid，perhapsnotaword，tilltheyhadcrossedtheroadandgotintothefieldoppositetothechurch。Andinthisfirstfieldtherewasmorethanonepath，andthechildrenofthevillagewereoftenthere，andithadaboutitsomethingofapublicnature。JohnEamesfeltthatitwasbynomeansafittingfieldtosaythatwhichhehadtosay。Incrossingit，therefore，hemerelyremarkedthatthedaywasveryfineforwalking。Thenheaddedonespecialword，’Anditissogoodofyou，Lily，tocomewithme。’
’Iamverygladtocomewithyou。Iwoulddomorethanthat，John，toshowhowgladIamtoseeyou。’Thentheyhadcometothesecondlittlegate，andbeyondthatthefieldswerereallyfields，andtherewerestilesinsteadofwicket—gates，andthebusinessofthedaymustbebegun。
’Lily，wheneverIcomehereyousaythatyouaregladtoseeme？’
’AndsoIam——veryglad。Onlyyouwouldtakeitasmeaningwhatitdoesnotmean，Iwouldtellyou，thatofallmyfriendslivingawayfromthereachofmydailylife，youaretheonewhosecomingiseverthemostpleasanttome。’
’Oh，Lily！’
’Itwas，Ithink，onlyyesterdaythatIwastellingGracethatyouaremorelikeabrothertomethananyoneelse。Iwishitmightbeso。I
whichwemightsweartobebrotherandsister。I’ddomoreforyouthenthanwalkacrossthefieldswithyoutoGuestwickCottage。YourprosperitywouldthenbethethingintheworldforwhichIshouldbemostanxious。Andifyoushouldmarry——’
’Itcanneverbelikethatbetweenus，’saidJohnny。
’Canitnot？Ithinkitcan。Perhapsnotthisyear，ornextyear；
perhapsnotinthenextfiveyears。ButImakemyselfhappywiththinkingthatitmaybesosomeday。Ishallwaitforitpatiently，verypatiently，eventhoughyoushouldrebuffmeagainandagain——asyouhavedonenow。’
’Ihavenotrebuffedyou。’
’Notmaliciously，orinjuriously，oroffensively。Iwillbeverypatientandtakelittlerebuffswithoutcomplaining。Thisistheworstofitall。WhenGraceandIaretogetherwecannevermanageitwithouttearingourselvesalltopieces。Itismuchnicertohaveyoutohelpme。’
’Letmehelpyoualways，’hesaid，keepingherhandsinhisafterhehadaidedhertojumpfromthestiletotheground。
’Yes，asmybrother。’
’Thatisnonsense，Lily。’
’Isitnonsense？Nonsenseisahardword。’
’Itisnonsenseascomingfromyoutome。Lily，IsometimesthinkthatIampersecutingyou，writingtoyou，comingafteryou，asIamdoingnow——tellingthesamewhiningstory——asking，asking，andaskingforthatwhichyousayyouwillnevergiveme。AndthenIfeelashamedofmyself，andswearthatIwilldoitnomore。’
’Donotbeashamedofyourself；butyetdoitnomore。’
’Andthen，’hecontinued，withoutmindingherwords，’atothertimesI
feelthatitmustbemyownfault；thatifIonlyperseveredwithsufficientenergy，Imustbesuccessful。AtsuchtimesIswearIwillnevergiveitup。’
’Oh，John，ifyoucouldonlyknowhowlittleworthyofsuchpursuititis。’
’Leavemetobethejudgeofthat，dear。Whenamanhastakenamonth，orperhapsonlyaweek，orperhapsnotmorethanhalf—an—hour，tomakeuphismind，itmaybeverywelltotellhimthathedoesn’tknowwhatheisabout。I’vebeenintheofficenowforoversevenyears，andthefirstdayIwentIputanoathintoabookthatIwouldcomebackandgetyouformywifewhenIhadgotenoughtoliveupon。’
’Didyou，John？’
’Yes。Icanshowittoyou。Iusedtocomeandhoverabouttheplaceintheolddays，beforeIwentuptoLondon，whenIwassuchafoolthatIcouldn’tspeaktoyouifImetyou。Iamspeakingofatimelongbefore——beforethatmancamedownhere。’
’Donotspeakofhim，John。’
’Imustspeakofhim。Amanisn’ttoholdhistonguewheneverythinghehasintheworldisatstake。Isupposehelovedyouafterafashion，once。’
’Pray，pray，donotspeakillofhim，John。’
’Iamnotgoingtoabusehim。Youcanjudgeofhimbyhisdeeds。I
cannotsayanythingworseofhimthanwhattheysay。Isupposehelovedyou；buthecertainlydidnotloveyouasIhavedone。Ihaveatanyratebeentruetoyou。Yes，Lily，Ihavebeentruetoyou。Iamtruetoyou。Hedidnotknowwhathewasabout。Ido。IamjustifiedinsayingthatIdo。Iwantyoutobemywife。ItisnouseyourtalkingaboutitasthoughIonlyhalfwantedit。’
’Ididnotsaythat。’
’Isnotamantohaveanyreward？Ofcourseifyouhadmarriedhimtherewouldhavebeenanendofit。Hehadcomeinbetweenmeandmyhappiness，andImusthaveborneit，asothermenbearsuchsorrows。Butyouhavenotmarriedhim；and，ofcourse，IcannotbutfeelthatImayyethaveachance。Lily，answermethis。DoyoubelievethatIloveyou？’Butshedidnotanswerhim。’Youcanatanyratetellmethat。DoyouthinkthatIaminearnest？’
’Yes，Ithinkyouareinearnest。’
’AnddoyoubelievethatIloveyouwithallmyheartandallmystrengthandallmysoul？’
’Oh，John！’
’Butdoyou？’
’Ithinkyouloveme。’
’Think！WhatamItosayortodotomakeyouunderstandthatmyonlyideaofhappinessistheideathatsoonerorlaterImaygetyoutobemywife？Lily，willyousaythatitshallbeso？Speak，Lily。Thereisnoonethatwillnotbeglad。Yourunclewillconsent——hasconsented。
Yourmotherwishesit。Bellwishesit。Mymotherwishesit。LadyJuliawishesit。Youwouldbedoingwhateverybodyaroundyouwantsyoutodo。
Andwhyshouldyounotdoit？Itisn’tthatyoudislikeme。Youwouldn’ttalkaboutbeingmysister，ifyouhadnotsomesortofregardforme。’
’Ihavearegardforyou。’
’Thenwhywillyounotbemywife？Oh，Lily，saythewordnow，here，atonce。Saytheword，andyou’llmakemethehappiestfellowinallEngland。’Ashespokehetookherbybotharms，andheldherfast。Shedidnotstruggletogetawayfromhim，butstoodquitestill，lookingintohisface，whilethefirstsparkleofasalttearformeditselfineacheye。’Lily，onelittlewordwilldoit——halfaword，anod，asmile。JusttouchmyarmwithyourhandandIwilltakeitforayes。’I
thinkthatshealmosttriedtotouchhim；thatthewordwasinherthroat，andthatshealmoststrovetospeakit。Buttherewasnosyllablespoken，andherfingersdidnotloosethemselvestofalluponhissleeve。’Lily，Lily，whatcanIsaytoyou？’
’IwishIcould，’shewhispered；——butthewhisperwassohoarsethathehardlyrecognizedthevoice。
’Andwhycanyounot？Whatistheretohinderyou？Thereisnothingtohinderyou，Lily。’
’Yes，John；thereisthatwhichmusthinderme。’
’Andwhatisit？’
’Iwilltellyou。Youaresogoodandsotrue，andsoexcellent——suchadear，dearfriend，thatIwilltellyoueverything，sothatyoumayreadmyheart。IwilltellyouasItellmamma——youandherandnooneelse；——foryouarethechoicefriendofmyheart。IcannotbeyourwifebecauseoftheloveIbearforanotherman。’
’Andthatmanishe——hewhocamehere？’
’Ofcourseitishe。Ithink，Johnny，youandIarealikeinthis，thatwhenwehaveloved，wecannotbringourselvestochange。Youwillnotchange，thoughitwouldbesomuchbetteryoushoulddoso。’
’No；Iwillneverchange。’
’NorcanI。WhenIsleepIdreamofhim。WhenIamaloneIcannotbanishhimfrommythoughts。Icannotdefinewhatitistolovehim。I
wantnothingfromhim——nothing，nothing。ButImoveaboutthroughmylittleworldthinkingofhim，andIshalldosotilltheend。Iusedtofeelproudofmylove，thoughitmademesowretchedthatIthoughtitwouldkillme。Iamnotproudofitanylonger。Itisafoolishpoor—spiritedweakness——asthoughmyhearthasbeenonlyhalfformedinthemaking。Doyoubestronger，John。Amanshouldbestrongerthanawoman。’
’Ihavenoneofthatsortofstrength。’
’NorhaveI。Whatcanwedobutpityeachother，andswearthatwewillbefriends——dearfriends。Thereistheoak—treeandIhavegottoturnback。Wehavesaideverythingthatwecansay——unlessyouwilltellmethatyouwillbemybrother。’
’No；Iwillnottellyouthat。’
’Good—bye，then，Johnny。’
Hepaused，holdingherbythehandandthinkingofanotherquestionwhichhelongedtoputtoher——consideringwhetherhewouldaskherthatquestionornot。Hehardlyknewwhetherhewereentitledtoaskit；——whetherornotheaskingofitwouldbeungenerous。Shehadsaidthatshewouldtellhimeverything——asshehadtoldeverythingtohermother。’Ofcourse，’hesaid，’Ihavenorighttoexpecttoknowanythingofyourfutureintentions。’
’Youmayknowthemall——asfarasIknowthemmyself。Ihavesaidthatyoushouldreadmyheart。’
’Ifthisman，whosenameIcannotbeartomention，shouldcomeagain——’
’Ifheweretocomeagainhewouldcomeinvain，John。’Shedidnotsaythathehadcomeagain。Shecouldtellherownsecret，butnotthatofanotherperson。
’Youwouldnotmarryhim，nowthatheisfree？’
Shestoodandthoughtforawhilebeforesheansweredhim。’No，I
shouldnotmarryhimnow。Ithinknot。’Thenshepausedagain。’Nay，I
amsureIwouldnot。Afterwhathaspassed，Icouldnottrustmyselftodoit。Thereismyhandonit。Iwillnot。’
’No，Lily，Idonotwantthat。’
’ButIinsist。IwillnotmarryMrCrosbie。Butyoumustnotmisunderstandme，John。There；——allthatisoverformenow。Allthosedreamsaboutlove，andmarriage，andofahouseofmyown，andchildren——andacrosshusband，andawedding—ringgrowingalwaystighterasIgrowfatandolder。Ihavedreamedofsuchthingsasothergirlsdo——moreperhapsthanothergirls，morethanIshouldhavedone。AndnowIacceptthethingasfinished。Youwrotesomethinginyourbook，youdearJohn——somethingthatcouldnotbemadetocometrue。DearJohn，I
wishforyoursakeitwasotherwise。IwillgohomeandIwillwriteinmybook，thisveryday，LilyDale，OldMaid。IfeverImakethatfalse，doyoucomeandaskmeforthepage。’
’LetitremaintheretillIamallowedtotearitforyou。’
’Iwillwriteit，anditshallneverbetornout。YouIcannotmarry。
HimIwillnotmarry。Youmaybelieveme，Johnny，whenIsaytherecanneverbeathird。’
’Andisthattobetheendofit？’
’Yes；——thatistobetheendofit。Nottheendofourfriendship。Oldmaidshavefriends。’
’Itshallnotbetheendofit。Thereshallbenoendofitwithme。’
’But，John——’
’DonotsupposethatIwilltroubleyouagain——atanyratenotforawhile。Infiveyearsperhaps——’
’Now，Johnny，youarelaughingatme。Andofcourseitisthebestway。
IfthereisnotGrace，andshehascaughtmebeforeIhaveturnedback。
Good—bye，dearJohn。Godblessyou。Ithinkyouthefinestfellowintheworld。Ido，anddodoesmamma。RememberalwaysthatthereisatempleatAllingtoninwhichyourworshipisneverforgotten。’ThenshepressedhishandandturnedawayfromhimtomeetGraceCrawley。Johndidnotstoptospeakawordtohiscousin，butpursuedhiswayalone。
’Thatcousinofyours，’saidLily，’issimplythedearest，warmest—hearted，finestcreaturethateverwasseenintheshapeofaman。’
’Haveyoutoldhimthatyouthinkhimso？’saidGrace。
’Indeed，Ihave，’saidLily。
’Buthaveyoutoldthisfinest，warmest，dearestcreaturethatheshallberewardedwiththeprizehecovets？’
’No，Grace。Ihavetoldhimnothingofthekind。Ithinkheunderstandsitallnow。Ifhedoesnot，itisnotforthewantofmytellinghim。Idon’tsupposeanyladywasevermoreopen—spokentoagentlemanthatIhavebeentohim。’
’Andwhyhaveyousenthimawaydisappointed？Youknowyoulovehim。’
’Yousee，mydear，’saidLily，’youallowyourself，forthesakeofyourargument，touseawordinadoublesense，andyouattempttoconfoundmebydoingso。ButIamagreatdealtoocleverforyou，andhavethoughttoomuchaboutit，tobetakenininthatway。IcertainlyloveyourcousinJohn；andsodoIloveMrBoyce，thevicar。’
’YouloveJohnnymuchbetterthanyoudoMrBoyce。’
’True；verymuchbetter；butitisofthesamesortoflove。However，itisagreatdealtoodeepforyoutounderstand。You’retooyoung，andI
shan’ttrytoexplainit。Butthelongandtheshortofitis——Iamnotgoingtomarryyourcousin。’
’Iwishyouwere，’saidGrace，’withallmyheart。’
JohnEamesashereturnedtothecottagewasbynomeansabletofallbackuponthoseresolutionsastohisfuturelife，whichhehadformedforhimselfandcommunicatedtohisfriendDalrymple，andwhichhehadintendedtobringatonceintoforceintheeventofhisbeingrejectedbyLilyDale。’Iwillcleansemymindofitaltogether，’hehadsaid，’andthoughImaynotforgether，Iwillliveasthoughshewereforgotten。Ifshedeclinesmyproposalagain，Iwillacceptherwordasfinal。Iwillnotgoabouttheworldanylongerasastrickendeer——tobepitiedorelsebulliedbytherestoftheherd。’OnhiswaydowntoGuestwickhehadsworntwentytimesthatitshouldbeso。Hewouldmakeonemoreeffort，andthenhewouldgiveitup。Butnow，afterhisinterviewwithLily，hewasaslittledisposedtogiveitupasever。
HesatuponagateinapaddockthroughwhichtherewasabackentranceintoLadyJulia’sgarden，andtheresworeathousandoathsthathewouldnevergiveherup。Hewas，atanyrate，surethatshewouldneverbecomethewifeofanyoneelse。Hewasequallysurethathewouldneverbecomethehusbandofanyotherwife。Hecouldtrusther。Yes；hewassureofthat。Butcouldhetrusthimself？Communingwithhimself，hetoldhimselfthatafterallhewasbutapoorcreature。Circumstanceshadbeenverygoodtohim，buthehaddonenothingforhimself。Hewasvain，andfoolish，andunsteady。Sohetoldhimselfwhilesittinguponthegate。Buthehad，atanyrate，beenconstanttoLily，andconstanthewouldremain。
Hewouldnevermorementionhernametoanyone——unlessitweretoLadyJuliatonight。ToDalrymplehewouldnotopenhismouthabouther，butwouldplainlyaskhisfriendtobesilentonthatsubjectifhernameshouldbementionedbyhim。Butmorningandeveninghewouldprayforher，andinhisprayershewouldalwaysthinkofherashiswife。HewouldneverspeaktoanothergirlwithoutrememberingthathewasboundtoLily。Hewouldgonowhereintosocietywithoutrecallingtomindthefactthathewasboundbythechainsofasolemnengagement。IfheknewhimselfhewouldbeconstanttoLily。
Andthenheconsideredinwhatmanneritwouldbebestandmostbecomingthatheshouldstillprosecutehisendeavourandrepeathisoffer。Hethoughtthathewouldwritetohereveryyear，onthesamedayoftheyear，yearafteryear，itmightbeforthenexttwentyyears。Andhisletterswouldbeverysimple。Sittingthereonthegateheplannedthewordingofhisletters；——ofhisfirstletter，andofhissecond，andofhisthird。Theyshouldbeveryliketoeachother——shouldhardlybemorethanarepetitionofthesamewords。’Ifnowyouarereadyforme，thenLily，amI，asever，stillreadyforyou。’Andthen，’ifnow’againandagain，’ifnow；——andstill’ifnow’。Whenhishairshouldbegrey，andthewrinklesonhischeeks——ay，thoughtheyshouldbeonhers，hewouldstillcontinuetotellherfromyeartoyearthathewasreadytotakeher。Surelysomedaythat’ifnow’wouldprevail。Andshoulditneverprevail，themeritofhisconstancyshouldbeitsownreward。
Suchlettersasthoseshewouldsurelykeep。Thenhelookedforward，downintothevalleyofcomingyears，andfanciedherasshemightsitreadingtheminthetwilightofsomelongevening——letterswhichhadbeenwrittenallinvain。Hethoughtthathecouldlookforwardwithsomesatisfactiontowardsthecloseofhisowncareer，inhavingbeentheheroofsuchalove—story。Atanyrate，ifsuchastoryweretobehisstory，themelancholyattachedtoitshouldarisefromnofaultofhisown。Hewouldstillpresshertobehiswife。Andthenasherememberedthathewasonlytwenty—sevenandthatshewastwenty—four，hebegantomarvelatthefeelingofgreyoldagewhichhadcomeuponhim，andtriedtomakehimselfbelievethathewouldhaveheryetbeforethebloomwasoffhercheeks。
HewentintothecottageandmadehiswayatonceintotheroominwhichLadyJuliawassitting。Shedidnotspeakatfirst，butlookedanxiouslyabouthisface。Andhedidnotspeak，butturnedtoatablenearthewindowandtookupabook——thoughtheroomwastoodarkforhimtoseetoreadthewords。’John，’atlastsaidLadyJulia。
’Well，mylady？’
’Haveyounothingtotellme，John？’
’Nothingonearth——exceptthesameoldstory，whichhasnowbecomeamatterofcourse。’
’But，John，willyounottellmewhatshesaid？’
’LadyJulia，shehassaidno；simplyno。Itisaveryeasywordtosay，andshehassaiditsooftenthatitseemstocomefromherquitenaturally。’Thenhegotacandleandsatdownoverthefirewithavolumeofanovel。Itwasnotyetpastfive，andLadyJuliadidnotgoupstairstodresstillsix，andthereforetherewasanhourduringwhichtheyweretogether。Johnhadatfirstbeenrathergrandtohisoldfriend，andveryuncommunicative。Butbeforethedressing—bellhadrunghehadbeencoaxedintoaconfidentialstrainandhadtoldeverything。
’Isupposeitiswrongandselfish，’hesaid。’IsupposeIamadoginamanger。ButIdoownthatthereisaconsolationtomeintheassurancethatshewillneverbethewifeofthatscoundrel。’
’Icouldneverforgiveherifsheweretomarryhimnow，’saidLadyJulia。
’Icouldneverforgivehim。Butshehassaidthatshewillnot，andI
knowthatshewillnotforswearherself。Ishallgoonwithit，LadyJulia。Ihavemadeupmymindtothat。Isupposeitwillnevercometoanything，butIshallsticktoit。Icanliveanoldbacheloraswellasanotherman。AtanyrateIshallsticktoit。’Thenthegoodsillyoldwomancomfortedhimandapplaudedhimasthoughhewereaheroamongmen，anddidrewardhim，asLilyhadpredicted，byoneofthosenowrarebottlesofsuper—excellentportwhichhadcometoherfromherbrother’scellar。
JohnEamesstayedouthistimeatthecottage，andwentovermorethanonceagaintoAllington，andcalledonthesquire，ononeoccasiondiningwithhimandmeetingthethreeladiesfromtheSmallHouse；andhewalkedwiththegirls，comportinghimselflikeanyordinaryman。ButhewasnotagainalonewithLilyDale，nordidhelearnwhethershehadintruthwrittenthosetwowordsinherbook。Butthereadermaybeknowthatshedidwritethemthereontheeveningofthedayonwhichthepromisewasmade。’LilianDale——OldMaid’。
AndwhenJohn’sholidaywasover，hereturnedtohisdutiesattheelbowofSirRaffleBuffle。