notbeen
of
this
nature
.
They
had
spoken
of
George
as
a
man
with
whom
any
closer
connection
than
that
which
existed
at
present
was
impossible
,
and
had
been
written
with
the
view
of
begging
Kate
to
desist
from
making
futile
attempts
in
that
direction
.
"
I
feel
myself
driven
,
"
Alice
had
said
,
"
to
write
all
this
,
as
otherwise
,
—
if
I
were
simply
to
tell
you
that
I
have
resolved
to
part
from
Mr.
Grey
,
—
you
would
think
that
the
other
thing
might
follow
.
The
other
thing
cannot
follow
.
I
should
think
myself
untrue
in
my
friendship
to
you
if
I
did
not
tell
you
about
Mr.
Grey
;
and
you
will
be
untrue
in
your
friendship
to
me
if
you
take
advantage
of
my
confidence
by
saying
more
about
your
brother
.
"
This
part
of
Alice
's
letter
Kate
had
not
sent
to
George
Vavasor
;
—
"
But
the
other
thing
shall
follow
,
"
Kate
had
said
,
as
she
read
the
words
for
the
second
time
,
and
then
put
the
papers
into
her
desk
.
"
It
shall
follow
.
"
To
give
Kate
Vavasor
her
due
,
she
was
,
at
any
rate
,
unselfish
in
her
intrigues
.
She
was
obstinately
persistent
,
and
she
was
moreover
unscrupulous
,
but
she
was
not
selfish
.
Many
years
ago
she
had
made
up
her
mind
that
George
and
Alice
should
be
man
and
wife
,
feeling
that
such
a
marriage
would
be
good
at
any
rate
for
her
brother
.
It
had
been
almost
brought
about
,
and
had
then
been
hindered
altogether
through
a
fault
on
her
brother
's
part
.
But
she
had
forgiven
him
this
sin
as
she
had
forgiven
many
others
,
and
she
was
now
at
work
in
his
behalf
again
,
determined
that
they
two
should
be
married
,
even
though
neither
of
them
might
be
now
anxious
that
it
should
be
so
.
The
intrigue
itself
was
dear
to
her
,
and
success
in
it
was
necessary
to
her
self-respect
.
She
answered
Alice
's
letter
with
a
pleasant
,
gossiping
epistle
,
which
shall
be
recorded
,
as
it
will
tell
us
something
of
Mrs.
Greenow
's
proceedings
at
Yarmouth
.
Kate
had
promised
to
stay
at
Yarmouth
for
a
month
,
but
she
had
already
been
there
six
weeks
,
and
was
still
under
her
aunt
's
wing
.
Yarmouth
,
October
,
186
–
–
.
Dearest
Alice
,
Of
course
I
am
delighted
.
It
is
no
good
saying
that
I
am
not
.
I
know
how
difficult
it
is
to
deal
with
you
,
and
therefore
I
sit
down
to
answer
your
letter
with
fear
and
trembling
,
lest
I
should
say
a
word
too
much
,
and
thereby
drive
you
back
,
or
not
say
quite
enough
and
thereby
fail
to
encourage
you
on
.
Of
course
I
am
glad
.
I
have
long
thought
that
Mr.
Grey
could
not
make
you
happy
,
and
as
I
have
thought
so
,
how
can
I
not
be
glad
?
It
is
no
use
saying
that
he
is
good
and
noble
,
and
all
that
sort
of
thing
.
I
have
never
denied
it
.
But
he
was
not
suited
to
you
,
and
his
life
would
have
made
you
wretched
.
Ergo
,
I
rejoice
.
And
as
you
are
the
dearest
friend
I
have
,
of
course
I
rejoice
mightily
.
I
can
understand
accurately
the
sort
of
way
in
which
the
interview
went
.
Of
course
he
had
the
best
of
it
.
I
can
see
him
so
plainly
as
he
stood
up
in
unruffled
self-possession
,
ignoring
all
that
you
said
,
suggesting
that
you
were
feverish
or
perhaps
bilious
,
waving
his
hand
over
you
a
little
,
as
though
that
might
possibly
do
you
some
small
good
,
and
then
taking
his
leave
with
an
assurance
that
it
would
be
all
right
as
soon
as
the
wind
changed
.
I
suppose
it
's
very
noble
in
him
,
not
taking
you
at
your
word
,
and
giving
you
,
as
it
were
,
another
chance
;
but
there
is
a
kind
of
nobility
which
is
almost
too
great
for
this
world
.
I
think
very
well
of
you
,
my
dear
,
as
women
go
,
but
I
do
not
think
well
enough
of
you
to
believe
that
you
are
fit
to
be
Mr.
John
Grey
's
wife
.
Of
course
I
'm
very
glad
.
You
have
known
my
mind
from
the
first
to
the
last
,
and
,
therefore
,
what
would
be
the
good
of
my
mincing
matters
?
No
woman
wishes
her
dearest
friend
to
marry
a
man
to
whom
she
herself
is
antipathetic
.
You
would
have
been
as
much
lost
to
me
,
had
you
become
Mrs.
Grey
of
Nethercoats
,
Cambridgeshire
,
as
though
you
had
gone
to
heaven
.
I
do
n't
say
but
what
Nethercoats
may
be
a
kind
of
heaven
,
—
but
then
one
does
n't
wish
one
's
friend
that
distant
sort
of
happiness
.
A
flat
Eden
I
can
fancy
it
,
hemmed
in
by
broad
dykes
,
in
which
cream
and
eggs
are
very
plentiful
,
where
an
Adam
and
an
Eve
might
drink
the
choicest
tea
out
of
the
finest
china
,
with
toast
buttered
to
perfection
,
from
year
's
end
to
year
's
end
;
into
which
no
money
troubles
would
ever
find
their
way
,
nor
yet
any
naughty
novels
.
But
such
an
Eden
is
not
tempting
to
me
,
nor
,
as
I
think
,
to
you
.
I
can
fancy
you
stretching
your
poor
neck
over
the
dyke
,
longing
to
fly
away
that
you
might
cease
to
be
at
rest
,
but
knowing
that
the
matrimonial
dragon
was
too
strong
for
any
such
flight
.
If
ever
bird
banged
his
wings
to
pieces
against
gilded
bars
,
you
would
have
banged
yours
to
pieces
in
that
cage
.
You
say
that
you
have
failed
to
make
him
understand
that
the
matter
is
settled
.
I
need
not
say
that
of
course
it
is
settled
,
and
that
he
must
be
made
to
understand
it
.
You
owe
it
to
him
now
to
put
him
out
of
all
doubt
.
He
is
,
I
suppose
,
accessible
to
the
words
of
a
mortal
,
god
though
he
be
.
But
I
do
not
fear
about
this
,
for
,
after
all
,
you
have
as
much
firmness
about
you
as
most
people
;
—
perhaps
as
much
as
he
has
at
bottom
,
though
you
may
not
have
so
many
occasions
to
show
it
.
As
to
that
other
matter
I
can
only
say
that
you
shall
be
obliged
,
as
far
as
it
is
in
my
power
to
obey
you
.
For
what
may
come
out
from
me
by
word
of
mouth
when
we
are
together
,
I
will
not
answer
with
certainty
.
But
my
pen
is
under
better
control
,
and
it
shall
not
write
the
offending
name
.
And
now
I
must
tell
you
a
little
about
myself
;
—
or
rather
,
I
am
inclined
to
spin
a
yarn
,
and
tell
you
a
great
deal
.
I
have
got
such
a
lover
!
But
I
did
describe
him
before
.
Of
course
it
's
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
If
I
were
to
say
he
has
n't
declared
himself
,
I
should
hardly
give
you
a
fair
idea
of
my
success
.
And
yet
he
has
not
declared
himself
,
—
and
,
which
is
worse
,
is
very
anxious
to
marry
a
rival
.
But
it
's
a
strong
point
in
my
favour
that
my
rival
wants
him
to
take
me
,
and
that
he
will
assuredly
be
driven
to
make
me
an
offer
sooner
or
later
,
in
obedience
to
her
orders
.
My
aunt
is
my
rival
,
and
I
do
not
feel
the
least
doubt
as
to
his
having
offered
to
her
half
a
dozen
times
.
But
then
she
has
another
lover
,
Captain
Bellfield
,
and
I
see
that
she
prefers
him
.
He
is
a
penniless
scamp
and
looks
as
though
he
drank
.
He
paints
his
whiskers
too
,
which
I
do
n't
like
;
and
,
being
forty
,
tries
to
look
like
twenty-five
.
Otherwise
he
is
agreeable
enough
,
and
I
rather
approve
of
my
aunt
's
taste
in
preferring
him
.
But
my
lover
has
solid
attractions
,
and
allures
me
on
by
a
description
of
the
fat
cattle
which
he
sends
to
market
.
He
is
a
man
of
substance
,
and
should
I
ever
become
Mrs.
Cheesacre
,
I
have
reason
to
think
that
I
shall
not
be
left
in
want
.
We
went
up
to
his
place
on
a
visit
the
other
day
.
Oileymead
is
the
name
of
my
future
home
;
—
not
so
pretty
as
Nethercoats
,
is
it
?
And
we
had
such
a
time
there
!
We
reached
the
place
at
ten
and
left
it
at
four
,
and
he
managed
to
give
us
three
meals
.
I
'm
sure
we
had
before
our
eyes
at
different
times
every
bit
of
china
,
delf
,
glass
,
and
plate
in
the
establishment
.
He
made
us
go
into
the
cellar
,
and
told
us
how
much
wine
he
had
got
there
,
and
how
much
beer
.
"
It
's
all
paid
for
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
every
bottle
of
it
,
"
he
said
,
turning
round
to
my
aunt
,
with
a
pathetic
earnestness
,
for
which
I
had
hardly
given
him
credit
.
"
Everything
in
this
house
is
my
own
;
it
's
all
paid
for
.
I
do
n't
call
anything
a
man
's
own
till
it
's
paid
for
.
Now
that
jacket
that
Bellfield
swells
about
with
on
the
sands
at
Yarmouth
,
—
that
's
not
his
own
,
—
and
it
's
not
like
to
be
either
.
"
And
then
he
winked
his
eye
as
though
bidding
my
aunt
to
think
of
that
before
she
encouraged
such
a
lover
as
Bellfield
.
He
took
us
into
every
bedroom
,
and
disclosed
to
us
all
the
glories
of
his
upper
chambers
.
It
would
have
done
you
good
to
see
him
lifting
the
counterpanes
,
and
bidding
my
aunt
feel
the
texture
of
the
blankets
!
And
then
to
see
her
turn
round
to
me
and
say
:
—
"
Kate
,
it
's
simply
the
best-furnished
house
I
ever
went
over
in
my
life
!
"
—
"
It
does
seem
very
comfortable
,
"
said
I
.
"
Comfortable
!
"
said
he
.
"
Yes
,
I
do
n't
think
there
's
anybody
can
say
that
Oileymead
is
n't
comfortable
.
"
I
did
so
think
of
you
and
Nethercoats
.
The
attractions
are
the
same
;
—
only
in
the
one
place
you
would
have
a
god
for
your
keeper
,
and
in
the
other
a
brute
.
For
myself
,
if
ever
I
'm
to
have
a
keeper
at
all
,
I
shall
prefer
a
man
.
But
when
we
got
to
the
farmyard
his
eloquence
reached
the
highest
pitch
.
"
Mrs.
Greenow
,
"
said
he
,
"
look
at
that
,
"
and
he
pointed
to
heaps
of
manure
raised
like
the
streets
of
a
little
city
.
"
Look
at
that
!
"
"
There
's
a
great
deal
,
"
said
my
aunt
.
"
I
believe
you
,
"
said
he
.
"
I
've
more
muck
upon
this
place
here
than
any
farmer
in
Norfolk
,
gentle
or
simple
;
I
do
n't
care
who
the
other
is
.
"
Only
fancy
,
Alice
;
it
may
all
be
mine
;
the
blankets
,
the
wine
,
the
muck
,
and
the
rest
of
it
.
So
my
aunt
assured
me
when
we
got
home
that
evening
.
When
I
remarked
that
the
wealth
had
been
exhibited
to
her
and
not
to
me
,
she
did
not
affect
to
deny
it
,
but
treated
that
as
a
matter
of
no
moment
.
"
He
wants
a
wife
,
my
dear
,
"
she
said
,
"
and
you
may
pick
him
up
to-morrow
by
putting
out
your
hand
.
"
When
I
remarked
that
his
mind
seemed
to
be
intent
on
low
things
,
and
specially
named
the
muck
,
she
only
laughed
at
me
.
"
Money
's
never
dirty
,
"
she
said
,
"
nor
yet
what
makes
money
.
"
She
talks
of
taking
lodgings
in
Norwich
for
the
winter
,
saying
that
in
her
widowed
state
she
will
be
as
well
there
as
anywhere
else
,
and
she
wants
me
to
stay
with
her
up
to
Christmas
.
Indeed
she
first
proposed
the
Norwich
plan
on
the
ground
that
it
might
be
useful
to
me
,
—
with
a
view
to
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
of
course
;
but
I
fancy
that
she
is
unwilling
to
tear
herself
away
from
Captain
Bellfield
.
At
any
rate
to
Norwich
she
will
go
,
and
I
have
promised
not
to
leave
her
before
the
second
week
in
November
.
With
all
her
absurdities
I
like
her
.
Her
faults
are
terrible
faults
,
but
she
has
not
the
fault
of
hiding
them
by
falsehood
.
She
is
never
stupid
,
and
she
is
very
good-natured
.
She
would
have
allowed
me
to
equip
myself
from
head
to
foot
at
her
expense
,
if
I
would
have
accepted
her
liberality
,
and
absolutely
offered
to
give
me
my
trousseau
if
I
would
marry
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
I
live
in
the
hope
that
you
will
come
down
to
the
old
place
at
Christmas
.
I
wo
n't
offend
you
more
than
I
can
help
.
At
any
rate
he
wo
n't
be
there
.
And
if
I
do
n't
see
you
there
,
where
am
I
to
see
you
?
If
I
were
you
I
would
certainly
not
go
to
Cheltenham
.
You
are
never
happy
there
.
Do
you
ever
dream
of
the
river
at
Basle
?
I
do
;
—
so
often
.
Most
affectionately
yours
,
Kate
Vavasor
.
Alice
had
almost
lost
the
sensation
created
by
the
former
portion
of
Kate
's
letter
by
the
fun
of
the
latter
,
before
she
had
quite
made
that
sensation
her
own
.
The
picture
of
the
Cambridgeshire
Eden
would
have
displeased
her
had
she
dwelt
upon
it
,
and
the
allusion
to
the
cream
and
toast
would
have
had
the
very
opposite
effect
to
that
which
Kate
had
intended
.
Perhaps
Kate
had
felt
this
,
and
had
therefore
merged
it
all
in
her
stories
about
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
"
I
will
go
to
Cheltenham
,
"
she
said
to
herself
.
"
He
has
recommended
it
.
I
shall
never
be
his
wife
;
—
but
,
till
we
have
parted
altogether
,
I
will
show
him
that
I
think
well
of
his
advice
.
"
That
same
afternoon
she
told
her
father
that
she
would
go
to
Lady
Macleod
's
at
Cheltenham
before
the
end
of
the
month
.
She
was
,
in
truth
,
prompted
to
this
by
a
resolution
,
of
which
she
was
herself
hardly
conscious
,
that
she
would
not
at
this
period
of
her
life
be
in
any
way
guided
by
her
cousin
.
Having
made
up
her
mind
about
Mr.
Grey
,
it
was
right
that
she
should
let
her
cousin
know
her
purpose
;
but
she
would
never
be
driven
to
confess
to
herself
that
Kate
had
influenced
her
in
the
matter
.
She
would
go
to
Cheltenham
.
Lady
Macleod
would
no
doubt
vex
her
by
hourly
solicitations
that
the
match
might
be
renewed
;
but
,
if
she
knew
herself
,
she
had
strength
to
withstand
Lady
Macleod
.
She
received
one
letter
from
Mr.
Grey
before
the
time
came
for
her
departure
,
and
she
answered
it
,
telling
him
of
her
intention
;
—
telling
him
also
that
she
now
felt
herself
bound
to
explain
to
her
father
her
present
position
.
"
I
tell
you
this
,
"
she
said
,
"
in
consequence
of
what
you
said
to
me
on
the
matter
.
My
father
will
know
it
to-morrow
,
and
on
the
following
morning
I
shall
start
for
Cheltenham
.
I
have
heard
from
Lady
Macleod
and
she
expects
me
.
"
On
the
following
morning
she
did
tell
her
father
,
standing
by
him
as
he
sat
at
his
breakfast
.
"
What
!
"
said
he
,
putting
down
his
tea-cup
and
looking
up
into
her
face
;
"
What
!
not
marry
John
Grey
!
"
"
No
,
papa
;
I
know
how
strange
you
must
think
it
.
"
"
And
you
say
that
there
has
been
no
quarrel
.
"
"
No
;
—
there
has
been
no
quarrel
.
By
degrees
I
have
learned
to
feel
that
I
should
not
make
him
happy
as
his
wife
.
"
"
It
's
d
–
–
–
–
d
nonsense
,
"
said
Mr.
Vavasor
.
Now
such
an
expression
as
this
from
him
,
addressed
to
his
daughter
,
showed
that
he
was
very
deeply
moved
.
"
Oh
,
papa
!
do
n't
talk
to
me
in
that
way
.
"
"
But
it
is
.
I
never
heard
such
trash
in
my
life
.
If
he
comes
to
me
I
shall
tell
him
so
.
Not
make
him
happy
!
Why
ca
n't
you
make
him
happy
?
"
"
We
are
not
suited
to
each
other
.
"
"
But
what
's
the
matter
with
him
?
He
's
a
gentleman
.
"
"
Yes
;
he
's
a
gentleman
.
"
"
And
a
man
of
honour
,
and
with
good
means
,
and
with
all
that
knowledge
and
reading
which
you
profess
to
like
.
Look
here
,
Alice
;
I
am
not
going
to
interfere
,
nor
shall
I
attempt
to
make
you
marry
anyone
.
You
are
your
own
mistress
as
far
as
that
is
concerned
.
But
I
do
hope
,
for
your
sake
and
for
mine
,
—
I
do
hope
that
there
is
nothing
again
between
you
and
your
cousin
.
"
"
There
is
nothing
,
papa
.
"
"
I
did
not
like
your
going
abroad
with
him
,
though
I
did
n't
choose
to
interrupt
your
plan
by
saying
so
.
But
if
there
were
anything
of
that
kind
going
on
,
I
should
be
bound
to
tell
you
that
your
cousin
's
position
at
present
is
not
a
good
one
.
Men
do
not
speak
well
of
him
.
"
"
There
is
nothing
between
us
,
papa
;
but
if
there
were
,
men
speaking
ill
of
him
would
not
deter
me
.
"
"
And
men
speaking
well
of
Mr.
Grey
will
not
do
the
other
thing
.
I
know
very
well
that
women
can
be
obstinate
.
"
"
I
have
n't
come
to
this
resolution
without
thinking
much
about
it
,
papa
.
"
"
I
suppose
not
.
Well
;
—
I
ca
n't
say
anything
more
.
You
are
your
own
mistress
,
and
your
fortune
is
in
your
own
keeping
.
I
ca
n't
make
you
marry
John
Grey
.
I
think
you
very
foolish
,
and
if
he
comes
to
me
I
shall
tell
him
so
.
You
are
going
down
to
Cheltenham
,
are
you
?
"
"
Yes
,
papa
;
I
have
promised
Lady
Macleod
.
"
"
Very
well
.
I
'd
sooner
it
should
be
you
than
me
;
that
's
all
I
can
say
.
"
Then
he
took
up
his
newspaper
,
thereby
showing
that
he
had
nothing
further
to
say
on
the
matter
,
and
Alice
left
him
alone
.
The
whole
thing
was
so
vexatious
that
even
Mr.
Vavasor
was
disturbed
by
it
.
As
it
was
not
term
time
he
had
no
signing
to
do
in
Chancery
Lane
,
and
could
not
,
therefore
,
bury
his
unhappiness
in
his
daily
labour
,
—
or
rather
in
his
labour
that
was
by
no
means
daily
.
So
he
sat
at
home
till
four
o'clock
,
expressing
to
himself
in
various
phrases
his
wonder
that
"
any
man
alive
should
ever
rear
a
daughter
.
"
And
when
he
got
to
his
club
the
waiters
found
him
quite
unmanageable
about
his
dinner
,
which
he
ate
alone
,
rejecting
all
proposition
of
companionship
.
But
later
in
the
evening
he
regained
his
composure
over
a
glass
of
whiskey-toddy
and
a
cigar
.
"
She
's
got
her
own
money
,
"
he
said
to
himself
,
"
and
what
does
it
matter
?
I
do
n't
suppose
she
'll
marry
her
cousin
.
I
do
n't
think
she
's
fool
enough
for
that
.
And
after
all
she
'll
probably
make
it
up
again
with
John
Grey
.
"
And
in
this
way
he
determined
that
he
might
let
this
annoyance
run
off
him
,
and
that
he
need
not
as
a
father
take
the
trouble
of
any
interference
.
But
while
he
was
at
his
club
there
came
a
visitor
to
Queen
Anne
Street
,
and
that
visitor
was
the
dangerous
cousin
of
whom
,
according
to
his
uncle
's
testimony
,
men
at
present
did
not
speak
well
.
Alice
had
not
seen
him
since
they
had
parted
on
the
day
of
their
arrival
in
London
,
—
nor
,
indeed
,
had
heard
of
his
whereabouts
.
In
the
consternation
of
her
mind
at
this
step
which
she
was
taking
,
—
a
step
which
she
had
taught
herself
to
regard
as
essentially
her
duty
before
it
was
taken
,
but
which
seemed
to
herself
to
be
false
and
treacherous
the
moment
she
had
taken
it
,
—
she
had
become
aware
that
she
had
been
wrong
to
travel
with
her
cousin
.
She
felt
sure
,
—
she
thought
that
she
was
sure
,
—
that
her
doing
so
had
in
nowise
affected
her
dealings
with
Mr.
Grey
.
She
was
very
certain
,
—
she
thought
that
she
was
certain
,
—
that
she
would
have
rejected
him
just
the
same
had
she
never
gone
to
Switzerland
.
But
every
one
would
say
of
her
that
her
journey
to
Switzerland
with
such
companions
had
produced
that
result
.
It
had
been
unlucky
and
she
was
sorry
for
it
,
and
she
now
wished
to
avoid
all
communication
with
her
cousin
till
this
affair
should
be
altogether
over
.
She
was
especially
unwilling
to
see
him
;
but
she
had
not
felt
it
necessary
to
give
any
special
injunctions
as
to
his
admittance
;
and
now
,
before
she
had
time
to
think
of
it
,
—
on
the
eve
of
her
departure
for
Cheltenham
,
—
he
was
in
the
room
with
her
,
just
as
the
dusk
of
the
October
evening
was
coming
on
.
She
was
sitting
away
from
the
fire
,
almost
behind
the
window-curtains
,
thinking
of
John
Grey
and
very
unhappy
in
her
thoughts
,
when
George
Vavasor
was
announced
.
It
will
of
course
be
understood
that
Vavasor
had
at
this
time
received
his
sister
's
letter
.
He
had
received
it
,
and
had
had
time
to
consider
the
matter
since
the
Sunday
morning
on
which
we
saw
him
in
his
own
rooms
in
Cecil
Street
.
"
She
can
turn
it
all
into
capital
to-morrow
,
if
she
pleases
,
"
he
had
said
to
himself
when
thinking
of
her
income
.
But
he
had
also
reminded
himself
that
her
grandfather
would
probably
enable
him
to
settle
an
income
out
of
the
property
upon
Alice
,
in
the
event
of
their
being
married
.
And
then
he
had
also
felt
that
he
could
have
no
greater
triumph
than
"
walking
atop
of
John
Grey
,
"
as
he
called
it
.
His
return
for
the
Chelsea
Districts
would
hardly
be
sweeter
to
him
than
that
.
"
You
must
have
thought
I
had
vanished
out
of
the
world
,
"
said
George
,
coming
up
to
her
with
his
extended
hand
.
Alice
was
confused
,
and
hardly
knew
how
to
address
him
.
"
Somebody
told
me
that
you
were
shooting
,
"
she
said
after
a
pause
.
"
So
I
was
,
but
my
shooting
is
not
like
the
shooting
of
your
great
Nimrods
,
—
men
who
are
hunters
upon
the
earth
.
Two
days
among
the
grouse
and
two
more
among
the
partridges
are
about
the
extent
of
it
.
Capel
Court
is
the
preserve
in
which
I
am
usually
to
be
found
.
"
Alice
knew
nothing
of
Capel
Court
,
and
said
,
"
Oh
,
indeed
.
"
"
Have
you
heard
from
Kate
?
"
George
asked
.
"
Yes
,
once
or
twice
;
she
is
still
at
Yarmouth
with
Aunt
Greenow
.
"
"
And
is
going
to
Norwich
,
as
she
says
.
Kate
seems
to
have
made
a
league
with
Aunt
Greenow
.
I
,
who
do
n't
pretend
to
be
very
disinterested
in
money
matters
,
think
that
she
is
quite
right
.
No
doubt
Aunt
Greenow
may
marry
again
,
but
friends
with
forty
thousand
pounds
are
always
agreeable
.
"
"
I
do
n't
believe
that
Kate
thinks
much
of
that
,
"
said
Alice
.
"
Not
so
much
as
she
ought
,
I
dare
say
.
Poor
Kate
is
not
a
rich
woman
,
or
,
I
fear
,
likely
to
become
one
.
She
does
n't
seem
to
dream
of
getting
married
,
and
her
own
fortune
is
less
than
a
hundred
a
year
.
"
"
Girls
who
never
dream
of
getting
married
are
just
those
who
make
the
best
marriages
at
last
,
"
said
Alice
.
"
Perhaps
so
,
but
I
wish
I
was
easier
about
Kate
.
She
is
the
best
sister
a
man
ever
had
.
"
"
Indeed
she
is
.
"
"
And
I
have
done
nothing
for
her
as
yet
.
I
did
think
,
while
I
was
in
that
wine
business
,
that
I
could
have
done
anything
I
pleased
for
her
.
But
my
grandfather
's
obstinacy
put
me
out
of
that
;
and
now
I
'm
beginning
the
world
again
,
—
that
is
,
comparatively
.
I
wonder
whether
you
think
I
'm
wrong
in
trying
to
get
into
Parliament
?
"
"
No
;
quite
right
.
I
admire
you
for
it
.
It
is
just
what
I
would
do
in
your
place
.
You
are
unmarried
,
and
have
a
right
to
run
the
risk
.
"
"
I
am
so
glad
to
hear
you
speak
like
that
,
"
said
he
.
He
had
now
managed
to
take
up
that
friendly
,
confidential
,
almost
affectionate
tone
of
talking
which
he
had
so
often
used
when
abroad
with
her
,
and
which
he
had
failed
to
assume
when
first
entering
the
room
.
"
I
have
always
thought
so
.
"
"
But
you
have
never
said
it
.
"
"
Have
n't
I
?
I
thought
I
had
.
"
"
Not
heartily
like
that
.
I
know
that
people
abuse
me
;
—
my
own
people
,
my
grandfather
,
and
probably
your
father
,
—
saying
that
I
am
reckless
and
the
rest
of
it
.
I
do
risk
everything
for
my
object
;
but
I
do
not
know
that
any
one
can
blame
me
,
—
unless
it
be
Kate
.
To
whom
else
do
I
owe
anything
?
"
"
Kate
does
not
blame
you
.
"
"
No
;
she
sympathizes
with
me
;
she
,
and
she
only
,
unless
it
be
you
.
"
Then
he
paused
for
an
answer
,
but
she
made
him
none
.
"
She
is
brave
enough
to
give
me
her
hearty
sympathy
.
But
perhaps
for
that
very
reason
I
ought
to
be
the
more
chary
in
endangering
the
only
support
that
she
is
like
to
have
.
What
is
ninety
pounds
a
year
for
the
maintenance
of
a
single
lady
?
"
"
I
hope
that
Kate
will
always
live
with
me
,
"
said
Alice
;
"
that
is
,
as
soon
as
she
has
lost
her
home
at
Vavasor
Hall
.
"
He
had
been
very
crafty
and
had
laid
a
trap
for
her
.
He
had
laid
a
trap
for
her
,
and
she
had
fallen
into
it
.
She
had
determined
not
to
be
induced
to
talk
of
herself
;
but
he
had
brought
the
thing
round
so
cunningly
that
the
words
were
out
of
her
mouth
before
she
remembered
whither
they
would
lead
her
.
She
did
remember
this
as
she
was
speaking
them
,
but
then
it
was
too
late
.
"
What
;
—
at
Nethercoats
?
"
said
he
.
"
Neither
she
nor
I
doubt
your
love
,
but
few
men
would
like
such
an
intruder
as
that
into
their
household
,
and
of
all
men
Mr.
Grey
,
whose
nature
is
retiring
,
would
like
it
the
least
.
"
"
I
was
not
thinking
of
Nethercoats
,
"
said
Alice
.
"
Ah
,
no
;
that
is
it
,
you
see
.
Kate
says
so
often
to
me
that
when
you
are
married
she
will
be
alone
in
the
world
.
"
"
I
do
n't
think
she
will
ever
find
that
I
shall
separate
myself
from
her
.
"
"
No
;
not
by
any
will
of
your
own
.
Poor
Kate
!
You
cannot
be
surprised
that
she
should
think
of
your
marriage
with
dread
.
How
much
of
her
life
has
been
made
up
of
her
companionship
with
you
;
—
and
all
the
best
of
it
too
!
You
ought
not
to
be
angry
with
her
for
regarding
your
withdrawal
into
Cambridgeshire
with
dismay
.
"
Alice
could
not
act
the
lie
which
now
seemed
to
be
incumbent
on
her
.
She
could
not
let
him
talk
of
Nethercoats
as
though
it
were
to
be
her
future
home
.
She
made
the
struggle
,
and
she
found
that
she
could
not
do
it
.
She
was
unable
to
find
the
words
which
should
tell
no
lie
to
the
ear
,
and
which
should
yet
deceive
him
.
"
Kate
may
still
live
with
me
,
"
she
said
slowly
.
"
Everything
is
over
between
me
and
Mr.
Grey
.
"
"
Alice
!
—
is
that
true
?
"
"
Yes
,
George
;
it
is
true
.
If
you
will
allow
me
to
say
so
,
I
would
rather
not
talk
about
it
;
—
not
just
at
present
.
"
"
And
does
Kate
know
it
?
"
"
Yes
,
Kate
knows
it
.
"
"
And
my
uncle
?
"
"
Yes
,
papa
knows
it
also
.
"
"
Alice
,
how
can
I
help
speaking
of
it
?
How
can
I
not
tell
you
that
I
am
rejoiced
that
you
are
saved
from
a
thraldom
which
I
have
long
felt
sure
would
break
your
heart
?
"
"
Pray
do
not
talk
of
it
further
.
"
"
Well
;
if
I
am
forbidden
I
shall
of
course
obey
.
But
I
own
it
is
hard
to
me
.
How
can
I
not
congratulate
you
?
"
To
this
she
answered
nothing
,
but
beat
with
her
foot
upon
the
floor
as
though
she
were
impatient
of
his
words
.
"
Yes
,
Alice
,
I
understand
.
You
are
angry
with
me
,
"
he
continued
.
"
And
yet
you
have
no
right
to
be
surprised
that
when
you
tell
me
this
I
should
think
of
all
that
passed
between
us
in
Switzerland
.
Surely
the
cousin
who
was
with
you
then
has
a
right
to
say
what
he
thinks
of
this
change
in
your
life
;
at
any
rate
he
may
do
so
,
if
as
in
this
case
he
approves
altogether
of
what
you
are
doing
.
"
"
I
am
glad
of
your
approval
,
George
;
but
pray
let
that
be
an
end
to
it
.
"
After
that
the
two
sat
silent
for
a
minute
or
two
.
She
was
waiting
for
him
to
go
,
but
she
could
not
bid
him
leave
the
house
.
She
was
angry
with
herself
,
in
that
she
had
allowed
herself
to
tell
him
of
her
altered
plans
,
and
she
was
angry
with
him
because
he
would
not
understand
that
she
ought
to
be
spared
all
conversation
on
the
subject
.
So
she
sat
looking
through
the
window
at
the
row
of
gaslights
as
they
were
being
lit
,
and
he
remained
in
his
chair
with
his
elbow
on
the
table
and
his
head
resting
on
his
hand
.
"
Do
you
remember
asking
me
whether
I
ever
shivered
,
"
he
said
at
last
;
"
—
whether
I
ever
thought
of
things
that
made
me
shiver
?
Do
n't
you
remember
;
on
the
bridge
at
Basle
?
"
"
Yes
;
I
remember
.
"
"
Well
,
Alice
;
—
one
cause
for
my
shivering
is
over
.
I
wo
n't
say
more
than
that
now
.
Shall
you
remain
long
at
Cheltenham
?
"
"
Just
a
month
.
"
"
And
then
you
come
back
here
?
"
"
I
suppose
so
.
Papa
and
I
will
probably
go
down
to
Vavasor
Hall
before
Christmas
.
How
much
before
I
cannot
say
.
"
"
I
shall
see
you
at
any
rate
after
your
return
from
Cheltenham
?
Of
course
Kate
will
know
,
and
she
will
tell
me
.
"
"
Yes
;
Kate
will
know
.
I
suppose
she
will
stay
here
when
she
comes
up
from
Norfolk
.
Good-bye
.
"
"
Good-bye
,
Alice
.
I
shall
have
fewer
fits
of
that
inward
shivering
that
you
spoke
of
,
—
many
less
,
on
account
of
what
I
have
now
heard
.
God
bless
you
,
Alice
;
good-bye
.
"
"
Good-bye
,
George
.
"
As
he
went
he
took
her
hand
and
pressed
it
closely
between
his
own
.
In
those
days
when
they
were
lovers
,
—
engaged
lovers
,
a
close
,
long-continued
pressure
of
her
hand
had
been
his
most
eloquent
speech
of
love
.
He
had
not
been
given
to
many
kisses
,
—
not
even
to
many
words
of
love
.
But
he
would
take
her
hand
and
hold
it
,
even
as
he
looked
away
from
her
,
and
she
remembered
well
the
touch
of
his
palm
.
It
was
ever
cool
,
—
cool
,
and
with
a
surface
smooth
as
a
woman
's
,
—
a
small
hand
that
had
a
firm
grip
.
There
had
been
days
when
she
had
loved
to
feel
that
her
own
was
within
it
,
when
she
trusted
in
it
,
and
intended
that
it
should
be
her
staff
through
life
.
Now
she
distrusted
it
;
and
as
the
thoughts
of
the
old
days
came
upon
her
,
and
the
remembrance
of
that
touch
was
recalled
,
she
drew
her
hand
away
rapidly
.
Not
for
that
had
she
driven
from
her
as
honest
a
man
as
had
ever
wished
to
mate
with
a
woman
.
He
,
George
Vavasor
,
had
never
so
held
her
hand
since
the
day
when
they
had
parted
,
and
now
on
this
first
occasion
of
her
freedom
she
felt
it
again
.
What
did
he
think
of
her
?
Did
he
suppose
that
she
could
transfer
her
love
in
that
way
,
as
a
flower
may
be
taken
from
one
buttonhole
and
placed
in
another
?
He
read
it
all
,
and
knew
that
he
was
hurrying
on
too
quickly
.
"
I
can
understand
well
,
"
he
said
in
a
whisper
,
"
what
your
present
feelings
are
;
but
I
do
not
think
you
will
be
really
angry
with
me
because
I
have
been
unable
to
repress
my
joy
at
what
I
cannot
but
regard
as
your
release
from
a
great
misfortune
.
"
Then
he
went
.
"
My
release
!
"
she
said
,
seating
herself
on
the
chair
from
which
he
had
risen
.
"
My
release
from
a
misfortune
!
No
;
—
but
my
fall
from
heaven
!
Oh
,
what
a
man
he
is
!
That
he
should
have
loved
me
,
and
that
I
should
have
driven
him
away
from
me
!
"
Her
thoughts
travelled
off
to
the
sweetness
of
that
home
at
Nethercoats
,
to
the
excellence
of
that
master
who
might
have
been
hers
;
and
then
in
an
agony
of
despair
she
told
herself
that
she
had
been
an
idiot
and
a
fool
,
as
well
as
a
traitor
.
What
had
she
wanted
in
life
that
she
should
have
thus
quarrelled
with
as
happy
a
lot
as
ever
had
been
offered
to
a
woman
?
Had
she
not
been
mad
,
when
she
sent
from
her
side
the
only
man
that
she
loved
,
—
the
only
man
that
she
had
ever
truly
respected
?
For
hours
she
sat
there
,
all
alone
,
putting
out
the
candles
which
the
servant
had
lighted
for
her
,
and
leaving
untasted
the
tea
that
was
brought
to
her
.
Poor
Alice
!
I
hope
that
she
may
be
forgiven
.
It
was
her
special
fault
,
that
when
at
Rome
she
longed
for
Tibur
,
and
when
at
Tibur
she
regretted
Rome
.
Not
that
her
cousin
George
is
to
be
taken
as
representing
the
joys
of
the
great
capital
,
though
Mr.
Grey
may
be
presumed
to
form
no
inconsiderable
part
of
the
promised
delights
of
the
country
.
Now
that
she
had
sacrificed
her
Tibur
,
because
it
had
seemed
to
her
that
the
sunny
quiet
of
its
pastures
lacked
the
excitement
necessary
for
the
happiness
of
life
,
she
was
again
prepared
to
quarrel
with
the
heartlessness
of
Rome
,
and
already
was
again
sighing
for
the
tranquillity
of
the
country
.
Sitting
there
,
full
of
these
regrets
,
she
declared
to
herself
that
she
would
wait
for
her
father
's
return
,
and
then
,
throwing
herself
upon
his
love
and
upon
his
mercy
,
would
beg
him
to
go
to
Mr.
Grey
and
ask
for
pardon
for
her
.
"
I
should
be
very
humble
to
him
,
"
she
said
;
"
but
he
is
so
good
,
that
I
may
dare
to
be
humble
before
him
.
"
So
she
waited
for
her
father
.
She
waited
till
twelve
,
till
one
,
till
two
;
—
but
still
he
did
not
come
.
Later
than
that
she
did
not
dare
to
wait
for
him
.
She
feared
to
trust
him
on
such
business
returning
so
late
as
that
,
—
after
so
many
cigars
;
after
,
perhaps
,
some
superfluous
beakers
of
club
nectar
.
His
temper
at
such
a
moment
would
not
be
fit
for
such
work
as
hers
.
But
if
he
was
late
in
coming
home
,
who
had
sent
him
away
from
his
home
in
unhappiness
?
Between
two
and
three
she
went
to
bed
,
and
on
the
following
morning
she
left
Queen
Anne
Street
for
the
Great
Western
Station
before
her
father
was
up
.
CHAPTER
XV
.
Paramount
Crescent
.
Lady
Macleod
lived
at
No.
3
,
Paramount
Crescent
,
in
Cheltenham
,
where
she
occupied
a
very
handsome
first-floor
drawing-room
,
with
a
bedroom
behind
it
,
looking
over
a
stable-yard
,
and
a
small
room
which
would
have
been
the
dressing-room
had
the
late
Sir
Archibald
been
alive
,
but
which
was
at
present
called
the
dining-room
:
and
in
it
Lady
Macleod
did
dine
whenever
her
larger
room
was
to
be
used
for
any
purposes
of
evening
company
.
The
vicinity
of
the
stable-yard
was
not
regarded
by
the
tenant
as
among
the
attractions
of
the
house
;
but
it
had
the
effect
of
lowering
the
rent
,
and
Lady
Macleod
was
a
woman
who
regarded
such
matters
.
Her
income
,
though
small
,
would
have
sufficed
to
enable
her
to
live
removed
from
such
discomforts
;
but
she
was
one
of
those
women
who
regard
it
as
a
duty
to
leave
something
behind
them
,
—
even
though
it
be
left
to
those
who
do
not
at
all
want
it
;
and
Lady
Macleod
was
a
woman
who
wilfully
neglected
no
duty
.
So
she
pinched
herself
,
and
inhaled
the
effluvia
of
the
stables
,
and
squabbled
with
the
cabmen
,
in
order
that
she
might
bequeath
a
thousand
pounds
or
two
to
some
Lady
Midlothian
,
who
cared
,
perhaps
,
little
for
her
,
and
would
hardly
thank
her
memory
for
the
money
.
Had
Alice
consented
to
live
with
her
,
she
would
have
merged
that
duty
of
leaving
money
behind
her
in
that
other
duty
of
finding
a
home
for
her
adopted
niece
.
But
Alice
had
gone
away
,
and
therefore
the
money
was
due
to
Lady
Midlothian
rather
than
to
her
.
The
saving
,
however
,
was
postponed
whenever
Alice
would
consent
to
visit
Cheltenham
;
and
a
bedroom
was
secured
for
her
which
did
not
look
out
over
the
stables
.
Accommodation
was
also
found
for
her
maid
much
better
than
that
provided
for
Lady
Macleod
's
own
maid
.
She
was
a
hospitable
,
good
old
woman
,
painfully
struggling
to
do
the
best
she
could
in
the
world
.
It
was
a
pity
that
she
was
such
a
bore
,
a
pity
that
she
was
so
hard
to
cabmen
and
others
,
a
pity
that
she
suspected
all
tradesmen
,
servants
,
and
people
generally
of
a
rank
of
life
inferior
to
her
own
,
a
pity
that
she
was
disposed
to
condemn
for
ever
and
ever
so
many
of
her
own
rank
because
they
played
cards
on
week
days
,
and
did
not
go
to
church
on
Sundays
,
—
and
a
pity
,
as
I
think
above
all
,
that
while
she
was
so
suspicious
of
the
poor
she
was
so
lenient
to
the
vices
of
earls
,
earl
's
sons
,
and
such
like
.
Alice
,
having
fully
considered
the
matter
,
had
thought
it
most
prudent
to
tell
Lady
Macleod
by
letter
what
she
had
done
in
regard
to
Mr.
Grey
.
There
had
been
many
objections
to
the
writing
of
such
a
letter
,
but
there
appeared
to
be
stronger
objection
to
that
telling
it
face
to
face
which
would
have
been
forced
upon
her
had
she
not
written
.
There
would
in
such
case
have
arisen
on
Lady
Macleod
's
countenance
a
sternness
of
rebuke
which
Alice
did
not
choose
to
encounter
.
The
same
sternness
of
rebuke
would
come
upon
the
countenance
on
receipt
of
the
written
information
;
but
it
would
come
in
its
most
aggravated
form
on
the
immediate
receipt
of
the
letter
,
and
some
of
its
bitterness
would
have
passed
away
before
Alice
's
arrival
.
I
think
that
Alice
was
right
.
It
is
better
for
both
parties
that
any
great
offence
should
be
confessed
by
letter
.
But
Alice
trembled
as
the
cab
drew
up
at
No.
3
,
Paramount
Crescent
.
She
met
her
aunt
,
as
was
usual
,
just
inside
the
drawing-room
door
,
and
she
saw
at
once
that
if
any
bitterness
had
passed
away
from
that
face
,
the
original
bitterness
must
indeed
have
been
bitter
.
She
had
so
timed
her
letter
that
Lady
Macleod
should
have
no
opportunity
of
answering
it
.
The
answer
was
written
there
in
the
mingled
anger
and
sorrow
of
those
austere
features
.
"
Alice
!
"
she
said
,
as
she
took
her
niece
in
her
arms
and
kissed
her
;
"
oh
,
Alice
,
what
is
this
?
"
"
Yes
,
aunt
;
it
is
very
bad
,
I
know
,
"
and
poor
Alice
tried
to
make
a
jest
of
it
.
"
Young
ladies
are
very
wicked
when
they
do
n't
know
their
own
minds
.
But
if
they
have
n't
known
them
and
have
been
wicked
,
what
can
they
do
but
repent
?
"
"
Repent
!
"
said
Lady
Macleod
.
"
Yes
;
I
hope
you
will
repent
.
Poor
Mr.
Grey
;
—
what
must
he
think
of
it
?
"
"
I
can
only
hope
,
aunt
,
that
he
wo
n't
think
of
it
at
all
for
very
long
.
"
"
That
's
nonsense
,
my
dear
,
Of
course
he
'll
think
of
it
,
and
of
course
you
'll
marry
him
.
"
"
Shall
I
,
aunt
?
"
"
Of
course
you
will
.
Why
,
Alice
,
has
n't
it
been
all
settled
among
families
?
Lady
Midlothian
knew
all
the
particulars
of
it
just
as
well
as
I
did
.
And
is
not
your
word
pledged
to
him
?
I
really
do
n't
understand
what
you
mean
.
I
do
n't
see
how
it
is
possible
you
should
go
back
.
Gentlemen
when
they
do
that
kind
of
thing
are
put
out
of
society
;
—
but
I
really
think
it
is
worse
in
a
woman
.
"
"
Then
they
may
if
they
please
put
me
out
of
society
;
—
only
that
I
do
n't
know
that
I
'm
particularly
in
it
.
"
"
And
the
wickedness
of
the
thing
,
Alice
!
I
'm
obliged
to
say
so
.
"
"
When
you
talk
to
me
about
society
,
aunt
,
and
about
Lady
Midlothian
,
I
give
up
to
you
,
willingly
;
—
the
more
willingly
,
perhaps
,
because
I
do
n't
care
much
for
one
or
the
other
.
"
Here
Lady
Macleod
tried
to
say
a
word
;
but
she
failed
,
and
Alice
went
on
,
boldly
looking
up
into
her
aunt
's
face
,
which
became
a
shade
more
bitter
than
ever
.
"
But
when
you
tell
me
about
wickedness
and
my
conscience
,
then
I
must
be
my
own
judge
.
It
is
my
conscience
,
and
the
fear
of
committing
wickedness
,
that
has
made
me
do
this
.
"
"
You
should
submit
to
be
guided
by
your
elders
,
Alice
.
"
"
No
;
my
elders
in
such
a
matter
as
this
cannot
teach
me
.
It
cannot
be
right
that
I
should
go
to
a
man
's
house
and
be
his
wife
,
if
I
do
not
think
that
I
can
make
him
happy
.
"
"
Then
why
did
you
accept
him
?
"
"
Because
I
was
mistaken
.
I
am
not
going
to
defend
that
.
If
you
choose
to
scold
me
for
that
,
you
may
do
so
,
aunt
,
and
I
will
not
answer
you
.
But
as
to
marrying
him
or
not
marrying
him
now
,
—
as
to
that
,
I
must
judge
for
myself
.
"
"
It
was
a
pity
you
did
not
know
your
own
mind
earlier
.
"
"
It
was
a
pity
,
—
a
great
pity
.
I
have
done
myself
an
injury
that
is
quite
irretrievable
;
—
I
know
that
,
and
am
prepared
to
bear
it
.
I
have
done
him
,
too
,
an
injustice
which
I
regret
with
my
whole
heart
.
I
can
only
excuse
myself
by
saying
that
I
might
have
done
him
a
worse
injustice
.
"
All
this
was
said
at
the
very
moment
of
her
arrival
,
and
the
greeting
did
not
seem
to
promise
much
for
the
happiness
of
the
next
month
;
but
perhaps
it
was
better
for
them
both
that
the
attack
and
the
defence
should
thus
be
made
suddenly
,
at
their
first
meeting
.
It
is
better
to
pull
the
string
at
once
when
you
are
in
the
shower-bath
,
and
not
to
stand
shivering
,
thinking
of
the
inevitable
shock
which
you
can
only
postpone
for
a
few
minutes
.
Lady
Macleod
in
this
case
had
pulled
the
string
,
and
thus
reaped
the
advantage
of
her
alacrity
.
"
Well
,
my
dear
,
"
said
her
ladyship
,
"
I
suppose
you
will
like
to
go
up-stairs
and
take
off
your
bonnet
.
Mary
shall
bring
you
some
tea
when
you
come
down
.
"
So
Alice
escaped
,
and
when
she
returned
to
the
comfort
of
her
cup
of
tea
in
the
drawing-room
,
the
fury
of
the
storm
had
passed
away
.
She
sat
talking
of
other
things
till
dinner
;
and
though
Lady
Macleod
did
during
the
evening
make
one
allusion
to
"
poor
Mr.
Grey
,
"
the
subject
was
allowed
to
drop
.
Alice
was
very
tender
as
to
her
aunt
's
ailments
,
was
more
than
ordinarily
attentive
to
the
long
list
of
Cheltenham
iniquities
which
was
displayed
to
her
,
and
refrained
from
combating
any
of
her
aunt
's
religious
views
.
After
a
while
they
got
upon
the
subject
of
Aunt
Greenow
,
for
whose
name
Lady
Macleod
had
a
special
aversion
,
—
as
indeed
she
had
for
all
the
Vavasor
side
of
Alice
's
family
;
and
then
Alice
offered
to
read
,
and
did
read
to
her
aunt
many
pages
out
of
one
of
those
terrible
books
of
wrath
,
which
from
time
to
time
come
forth
and
tell
us
that
there
is
no
hope
for
us
.
Lady
Macleod
liked
to
be
so
told
;
and
as
she
now
,
poor
woman
,
could
not
read
at
nights
herself
,
she
enjoyed
her
evening
.
Lady
Macleod
no
doubt
did
enjoy
her
niece
's
sojourn
at
Cheltenham
,
but
I
do
not
think
it
could
have
been
pleasant
to
Alice
.
On
the
second
day
nothing
was
said
about
Mr.
Grey
,
and
Alice
hoped
that
by
her
continual
readings
in
the
book
of
wrath
her
aunt
's
heart
might
be
softened
towards
her
.
But
it
seemed
that
Lady
Macleod
measured
the
periods
of
respite
,
for
on
the
third
day
and
on
the
fifth
she
returned
to
the
attack
.
"
Did
John
Grey
still
wish
that
the
match
should
go
on
?
"
she
asked
,
categorically
.
It
was
in
vain
that
Alice
tried
to
put
aside
the
question
,
and
begged
that
the
matter
might
not
be
discussed
.
Lady
Macleod
insisted
on
her
right
to
carry
on
the
examination
,
and
Alice
was
driven
to
acknowledge
that
she
believed
he
did
wish
it
.
She
could
hardly
say
otherwise
,
seeing
that
she
had
at
that
moment
a
letter
from
him
in
her
pocket
,
in
which
he
still
spoke
of
his
engagement
as
being
absolutely
binding
on
him
,
and
expressed
a
hope
that
this
change
from
London
to
Cheltenham
would
bring
her
round
and
set
everything
to
rights
.
He
certainly
did
,
in
a
fashion
,
wave
his
hand
over
her
,
as
Kate
had
said
of
him
.
This
letter
Alice
had
resolved
that
she
would
not
answer
.
He
would
probably
write
again
,
and
she
would
beg
him
to
desist
.
Instead
of
Cheltenham
bringing
her
round
,
Cheltenham
had
made
her
firmer
than
ever
in
her
resolution
.
I
am
inclined
to
think
that
the
best
mode
of
bringing
her
round
at
this
moment
would
have
been
a
course
of
visits
from
her
cousin
George
,
and
a
series
of
letters
from
her
cousin
Kate
.
Lady
Macleod
's
injunctions
would
certainly
not
bring
her
round
.
After
ten
days
,
ten
terrible
days
,
devoted
to
discussions
on
matrimony
in
the
morning
,
and
to
the
book
of
wrath
in
the
evening
,
—
relieved
by
two
tea-parties
,
in
which
the
sins
of
Cheltenham
were
discussed
at
length
,
—
Lady
Macleod
herself
got
a
letter
from
Mr.
Grey
.
Mr.
Grey
's
kindest
compliments
to
Lady
Macleod
.
He
believed
that
Lady
Macleod
was
aware
of
the
circumstances
of
his
engagement
with
Miss
Vavasor
.
Might
he
call
on
Miss
Vavasor
at
Lady
Macleod
's
house
in
Cheltenham
?
and
might
he
also
hope
to
have
the
pleasure
of
making
Lady
Macleod
's
acquaintance
?
Alice
had
been
in
the
room
when
her
aunt
received
this
letter
,
but
her
aunt
had
said
nothing
,
and
Alice
had
not
known
from
whom
the
letter
had
come
.
When
her
aunt
crept
away
with
it
after
breakfast
she
had
suspected
nothing
,
and
had
never
imagined
that
Lady
Macleod
,
in
the
privacy
of
her
own
room
looking
out
upon
the
stables
,
had
addressed
a
letter
to
Nethercoats
.
But
such
a
letter
had
been
addressed
to
Nethercoats
,
and
Mr.
Grey
had
been
informed
that
he
would
be
received
in
Paramount
Crescent
with
great
pleasure
.
Mr.
Grey
had
even
indicated
the
day
on
which
he
would
come
,
and
on
the
morning
of
that
day
Lady
Macleod
had
presided
over
the
two
teacups
in
a
state
of
nervous
excitement
which
was
quite
visible
to
Alice
.
More
than
once
Alice
asked
little
questions
,
not
supposing
that
she
was
specially
concerned
in
the
matter
which
had
caused
her
aunt
's
fidgety
restlessness
,
but
observing
it
so
plainly
that
it
was
almost
impossible
not
to
allude
to
it
.
"
There
's
nothing
the
matter
,
my
dear
,
at
all
,
"
at
last
Lady
Macleod
said
;
but
as
she
said
so
she
was
making
up
her
mind
that
the
moment
had
not
come
in
which
she
must
apprise
Alice
of
Mr.
Grey
's
intended
visit
.
As
Alice
had
questioned
her
at
the
breakfast
table
she
would
say
nothing
about
it
then
,
but
waited
till
the
teacups
were
withdrawn
,
and
till
the
maid
had
given
her
last
officious
poke
to
the
fire
.
Then
she
began
.
She
had
Mr.
Grey
's
letter
in
her
pocket
,
and
as
she
prepared
herself
to
speak
,
she
pulled
it
out
and
held
it
on
the
little
table
before
her
.
"
Alice
,
"
she
said
,
"
I
expect
a
visitor
here
to-day
.
"
Alice
knew
instantly
who
was
the
expected
visitor
.
Probably
any
girl
under
such
circumstances
would
have
known
equally
well
.
"
A
visitor
,
aunt
,
"
she
said
,
and
managed
to
hide
her
knowledge
admirably
.
"
Yes
,
Alice
a
visitor
.
I
should
have
told
you
before
,
only
I
thought
,
—
I
thought
I
had
better
not
.
It
is
Mr.
—
Mr.
Grey
.
"
"
Indeed
,
aunt
!
Is
he
coming
to
see
you
?
"
"
Well
;
—
he
is
desirous
no
doubt
of
seeing
you
more
especially
;
but
he
has
expressed
a
wish
to
make
my
acquaintance
,
which
I
cannot
,
under
the
circumstances
,
think
is
unnatural
.
Of
course
,
Alice
,
he
must
want
to
talk
over
this
affair
with
your
friends
.
"
"
I
wish
I
could
have
spared
them
,
"
said
Alice
,
—
"
I
wish
I
could
.
"
"
I
have
brought
his
letter
here
,
and
you
can
see
it
if
you
please
.
It
is
very
nicely
written
,
and
as
far
as
I
am
concerned
I
should
not
think
of
refusing
to
see
him
.
And
now
comes
the
question
.
What
are
we
to
do
with
him
?
Am
I
to
ask
him
to
dinner
?
I
take
it
for
granted
that
he
will
not
expect
me
to
offer
him
a
bed
,
as
he
knows
that
I
live
in
lodgings
.
"
"
Oh
no
,
aunt
;
he
certainly
will
not
expect
that
.
"
"
But
ought
I
to
ask
him
to
dinner
?
I
should
be
most
happy
to
entertain
him
,
though
you
know
how
very
scanty
my
means
of
doing
so
are
;
—
but
I
really
do
not
know
how
it
might
be
,
—
between
you
and
him
,
I
mean
.
"
"
We
should
not
fight
,
aunt
.
"
"
No
,
I
suppose
not
;
—
but
if
you
cannot
be
affectionate
in
your
manner
to
him
—
"
"
I
will
not
answer
for
my
manners
,
aunt
;
but
you
may
be
sure
of
this
,
—
that
I
should
be
affectionate
in
my
heart
.
I
shall
always
regard
him
as
a
dearly
loved
friend
;
though
for
many
years
,
no
doubt
,
I
shall
be
unable
to
express
my
friendship
.
"
"
That
may
be
all
very
well
,
Alice
,
but
it
will
not
be
what
he
will
want
.
I
think
upon
the
whole
that
I
had
better
not
ask
him
to
dinner
.
"
"
Perhaps
not
,
aunt
.
"
"
It
is
a
period
of
the
day
in
which
any
special
constraint
among
people
is
more
disagreeable
than
at
any
other
time
,
and
then
at
dinner
the
servants
must
see
it
.
I
think
there
might
be
some
awkwardness
if
he
were
to
dine
here
.
"
"
I
really
think
there
would
,
"
said
Alice
,
anxious
to
have
the
subject
dropped
.
"
I
hope
he
wo
n't
think
that
I
am
inhospitable
.
I
should
be
so
happy
to
do
the
best
I
could
for
him
,
for
I
regard
him
,
Alice
,
quite
as
though
he
were
to
be
your
husband
.
And
when
anybody
at
all
connected
with
me
has
come
to
Cheltenham
I
always
have
asked
them
to
dine
,
and
then
I
have
Gubbins
's
man
to
come
and
wait
at
table
,
—
as
you
know
.
"
"
Of
all
men
in
the
world
Mr.
Grey
is
the
last
to
think
about
it
.
"
"
That
should
only
make
me
the
more
careful
.
But
I
think
it
would
perhaps
be
more
comfortable
if
he
were
to
come
in
the
evening
.
"
"
Much
more
comfortable
,
aunt
.
"
"
I
suppose
he
will
be
here
in
the
afternoon
,
before
dinner
,
and
we
had
better
wait
at
home
for
him
.
I
dare
say
he
'll
want
to
see
you
alone
,
and
therefore
I
'll
retire
to
my
own
rooms
,
"
—
looking
over
the
stables
!
Dear
old
lady
.
"
But
if
you
wish
it
,
I
will
receive
him
first
—
and
then
Martha
,
"
—
Martha
was
Alice
's
maid
—
"
can
fetch
you
down
.
"
This
discussion
as
to
the
propriety
or
impropriety
of
giving
her
lover
a
dinner
had
not
been
pleasant
to
Alice
,
but
,
nevertheless
,
when
it
was
over
she
felt
grateful
to
Lady
Macleod
.
There
was
an
attempt
