thislittle
thing
,
and
I
hope
you
like
it
.
I
think
somebody
said
something
about
liberality
.
I
beg
to
assure
you
that
I
do
n't
think
of
that
for
a
moment
.
Somebody
must
pay
for
these
sort
of
things
,
and
I
'm
always
very
glad
to
take
my
turn
.
I
dare
say
Bellfield
will
give
us
the
next
picnic
,
and
if
he
'll
appoint
a
day
before
the
end
of
the
month
,
I
shall
be
happy
to
be
one
of
the
party
.
"
Then
he
sat
down
with
some
inward
satisfaction
,
fully
convinced
that
he
had
given
his
enemy
a
fatal
blow
.
"
Nothing
on
earth
would
give
me
so
much
pleasure
,
"
said
Bellfield
.
After
that
he
turned
again
to
Mrs.
Greenow
and
went
on
with
his
private
conversation
.
There
was
no
more
speaking
,
nor
was
there
much
time
for
other
after-dinner
ceremonies
.
The
three
horns
,
the
cymbals
,
the
triangle
,
and
the
drum
were
soon
heard
tuning-up
behind
the
banqueting-hall
,
and
the
ladies
went
to
the
further
end
of
the
old
boat
to
make
their
preparations
for
the
dance
.
Then
it
was
that
the
thoughtful
care
of
Mrs.
Greenow
,
in
having
sent
Jeannette
with
brushes
,
combs
,
clean
handkerchiefs
,
and
other
little
knick-knackeries
,
became
so
apparent
.
It
was
said
that
the
widow
herself
actually
changed
her
cap
,
—
which
was
considered
by
some
to
be
very
unfair
,
as
there
had
been
an
understanding
that
there
should
be
no
dressing
.
On
such
occasions
ladies
are
generally
willing
to
forego
the
advantage
of
dressing
on
the
condition
that
other
ladies
shall
forego
the
same
advantage
;
but
when
this
compact
is
broken
by
any
special
lady
,
the
treason
is
thought
to
be
very
treacherous
.
It
is
as
though
a
fencer
should
remove
the
button
from
the
end
of
his
foil
.
But
Mrs.
Greenow
was
so
good-natured
in
tendering
the
services
of
Jeannette
to
all
the
young
ladies
,
and
was
so
willing
to
share
with
others
those
good
things
of
the
toilet
which
her
care
had
provided
,
that
her
cap
was
forgiven
her
by
the
most
of
those
present
.
When
ladies
have
made
up
their
minds
to
dance
they
will
dance
let
the
circumstances
of
the
moment
be
ever
so
antagonistic
to
that
exercise
.
A
ploughed
field
in
February
would
not
be
too
wet
,
nor
the
side
of
a
house
too
uneven
.
In
honest
truth
the
sands
of
the
seashore
are
not
adapted
for
the
exercise
.
It
was
all
very
well
for
Venus
to
make
the
promise
,
but
when
making
it
she
knew
that
Adonis
would
not
keep
her
to
her
word
.
Let
any
lightest-limbed
nymph
try
it
,
and
she
will
find
that
she
leaves
most
palpable
footing
.
The
sands
in
question
were
doubtless
compact
,
firm
,
and
sufficiently
moist
to
make
walking
on
them
comfortable
;
but
they
ruffled
themselves
most
uncomfortably
under
the
unwonted
pressure
to
which
they
were
subjected
.
Nevertheless
our
friends
did
dance
on
the
sands
;
finding
,
however
,
that
quadrilles
and
Sir
Roger
de
Coverley
suited
them
better
than
polkas
and
waltzes
.
"
No
,
my
friend
,
no
,
"
Mrs.
Greenow
said
to
Mr.
Cheesacre
when
that
gentleman
endeavoured
to
persuade
her
to
stand
up
;
"
Kate
will
be
delighted
I
am
sure
to
join
you
,
—
but
as
for
me
,
you
must
excuse
me
.
"
But
Mr.
Cheesacre
was
not
inclined
at
that
moment
to
ask
Kate
Vavasor
to
dance
with
him
.
He
was
possessed
by
an
undefined
idea
that
Kate
had
snubbed
him
,
and
as
Kate
's
fortune
was
,
as
he
said
,
literally
nothing
,
he
was
not
at
all
disposed
to
court
her
favour
at
the
expense
of
such
suffering
to
himself
.
"
I
'm
not
quite
sure
that
I
'll
dance
myself
,
"
said
he
,
seating
himself
in
a
corner
of
the
tent
by
Mrs.
Greenow
's
side
.
Captain
Bellfield
at
that
moment
was
seen
leading
Miss
Vavasor
away
to
a
new
place
on
the
sands
,
whither
he
was
followed
by
a
score
of
dancers
;
and
Mr.
Cheesacre
saw
that
now
at
last
he
might
reap
the
reward
for
which
he
had
laboured
.
He
was
alone
with
the
widow
,
and
having
been
made
bold
by
wine
,
had
an
opportunity
of
fighting
his
battle
,
than
which
none
better
could
ever
be
found
.
He
was
himself
by
no
means
a
poor
man
,
and
he
despised
poverty
in
others
.
It
was
well
that
there
should
be
poor
gentry
,
in
order
that
they
might
act
as
satellites
to
those
who
,
like
himself
,
had
money
.
As
to
Mrs.
Greenow
's
money
,
there
was
no
doubt
.
He
knew
it
all
to
a
fraction
.
She
had
spread
for
herself
,
or
some
one
else
had
spread
for
her
,
a
report
that
her
wealth
was
almost
unlimited
;
but
the
forty
thousand
pounds
was
a
fact
,
and
any
such
innocent
fault
as
that
little
fiction
might
well
be
forgiven
to
a
woman
endorsed
with
such
substantial
virtues
.
And
she
was
handsome
too
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
as
he
regarded
her
matured
charms
,
sometimes
felt
that
he
should
have
been
smitten
even
without
the
forty
thousand
pounds
.
"
By
George
!
there
's
flesh
and
blood
,
"
he
had
once
said
to
his
friend
Bellfield
before
he
had
begun
to
suspect
that
man
's
treachery
.
His
admiration
must
then
have
been
sincere
,
for
at
that
time
the
forty
thousand
pounds
was
not
an
ascertained
fact
.
Looking
at
the
matter
in
all
its
bearings
Mr.
Cheesacre
thought
that
he
could
n't
do
better
.
His
wooing
should
be
fair
,
honest
,
and
above
board
.
He
was
a
thriving
man
,
and
what
might
not
they
two
do
in
Norfolk
if
they
put
their
wealth
together
?
"
Oh
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
you
should
join
them
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
;
"
they
'll
not
half
enjoy
themselves
without
you
.
Kate
will
think
that
you
mean
to
neglect
her
.
"
"
I
sha
n't
dance
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
unless
you
like
to
stand
up
for
a
set
.
"
"
No
,
my
friend
,
no
;
I
shall
not
do
that
.
I
fear
you
forget
how
recent
has
been
my
bereavement
.
Your
asking
me
is
the
bitterest
reproach
to
me
for
having
ventured
to
join
your
festive
board
.
"
"
Upon
my
honour
I
did
n't
mean
it
,
Mrs.
Greenow
.
I
did
n't
mean
it
,
indeed
.
"
"
I
do
not
suspect
you
.
It
would
have
been
unmanly
.
"
"
And
nobody
can
say
that
of
me
.
There
is
n't
a
man
or
woman
in
Norfolk
that
would
n't
say
I
was
manly
.
"
"
I
'm
quite
sure
of
that
.
"
"
I
have
my
faults
,
I
'm
aware
.
"
"
And
what
are
your
faults
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
?
"
"
Well
;
perhaps
I
'm
extravagant
.
But
it
's
only
in
these
kind
of
things
you
know
,
when
I
spend
a
little
money
for
the
sake
of
making
my
friends
happy
.
When
I
'm
about
,
on
the
lands
at
home
,
I
ai
n't
extravagant
,
I
can
tell
you
.
"
"
Extravagance
is
a
great
vice
.
"
"
Oh
,
I
ai
n't
extravagant
in
that
sense
;
—
not
a
bit
in
the
world
.
But
when
a
man
's
enamoured
,
and
perhaps
looking
out
for
a
wife
,
he
does
like
to
be
a
little
free
,
you
know
.
"
"
And
are
you
looking
out
for
a
wife
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
?
"
"
If
I
told
you
I
suppose
you
'd
only
laugh
at
me
.
"
"
No
;
indeed
I
would
not
.
I
am
not
given
to
joking
when
any
one
that
I
regard
speaks
to
me
seriously
.
"
"
Ai
n't
you
though
?
I
'm
so
glad
of
that
.
When
one
has
really
got
a
serious
thing
to
say
,
one
does
n't
like
to
have
fun
poked
at
one
.
"
"
And
,
besides
,
how
could
I
laugh
at
marriages
,
seeing
how
happy
I
have
been
in
that
condition
?
—
so
—
very
—
happy
,
"
and
Mrs.
Greenow
put
up
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
.
"
So
happy
that
you
'll
try
it
again
some
day
;
wo
n't
you
?
"
"
Never
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
;
never
.
Is
that
the
way
you
talk
of
serious
things
without
joking
?
Anything
like
love
—
love
of
that
sort
—
is
over
for
me
.
It
lies
buried
under
the
sod
with
my
poor
dear
departed
saint
.
"
"
But
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
"
—
and
Cheesacre
,
as
he
prepared
to
argue
the
question
with
her
,
got
nearer
to
her
in
the
corner
behind
the
table
,
—
"
But
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
care
killed
a
cat
,
you
know
.
"
"
And
sometimes
I
think
that
care
will
kill
me
.
"
"
No
,
by
George
;
not
if
I
can
prevent
it
.
"
"
You
're
very
kind
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
;
but
there
's
no
preventing
such
care
as
mine
.
"
"
Is
n't
there
though
?
I
'll
tell
you
what
,
Mrs.
Greenow
;
I
'm
in
earnest
,
I
am
indeed
.
If
you
'll
inquire
,
you
'll
find
there
is
n't
a
fellow
in
Norfolk
pays
his
way
better
than
I
do
,
or
is
better
able
to
do
it
.
I
do
n't
pay
a
sixpence
of
rent
,
and
I
sit
upon
seven
hundred
acres
of
as
good
land
as
there
is
in
the
county
.
There
's
not
an
acre
that
wo
n't
do
me
a
bullock
and
a
half
.
Just
put
that
and
that
together
,
and
see
what
it
comes
to
.
And
,
mind
you
,
some
of
these
fellows
that
farm
their
own
land
are
worse
off
than
if
they
'd
rent
to
pay
.
They
've
borrowed
so
much
to
carry
on
with
,
that
the
interest
is
more
than
rent
.
I
do
n't
owe
a
sixpence
to
ere
a
man
or
ere
a
company
in
the
world
.
I
can
walk
into
every
bank
in
Norwich
without
seeing
my
master
.
There
ai
n't
any
of
my
paper
flying
about
,
Mrs.
Greenow
.
I
'm
Samuel
Cheesacre
of
Oileymead
,
and
it
's
all
my
own
.
"
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
as
he
thus
spoke
of
his
good
fortunes
and
firm
standing
in
the
world
,
became
impetuous
in
the
energy
of
the
moment
,
and
brought
down
his
fist
powerfully
on
the
slight
table
before
them
.
The
whole
fabric
rattled
,
and
the
boat
resounded
,
but
the
noise
he
had
made
seemed
to
assist
him
.
"
It
's
all
my
own
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
and
the
half
of
it
shall
be
yours
if
you
'll
please
to
take
it
;
"
then
he
stretched
out
his
hand
to
her
,
not
as
though
he
intended
to
grasp
hers
in
a
grasp
of
love
,
but
as
if
he
expected
some
hand-pledge
from
her
as
a
token
that
she
accepted
the
bargain
.
"
If
you
'd
known
Greenow
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
—
"
"
I
've
no
doubt
he
was
a
very
good
sort
of
man
.
"
"
If
you
'd
known
him
,
you
would
not
have
addressed
me
in
this
way
.
"
"
What
difference
would
that
make
?
My
idea
is
that
care
killed
a
cat
,
as
I
said
before
.
I
never
knew
what
was
the
good
of
being
unhappy
.
If
I
find
early
mangels
do
n't
do
on
a
bit
of
land
,
then
I
sow
late
turnips
;
and
never
cry
after
spilt
milk
.
Greenow
was
the
early
mangels
;
I
'll
be
the
late
turnips
.
Come
then
,
say
the
word
.
There
ai
n't
a
bedroom
in
my
house
,
—
not
one
of
the
front
ones
,
—
that
is
n't
mahogany
furnished
!
"
"
What
's
furniture
to
me
?
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
,
with
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
.
Just
at
this
moment
Maria
's
mother
stepped
in
under
the
canvas
.
It
was
most
inopportune
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
felt
that
he
was
progressing
well
,
and
was
conscious
that
he
had
got
safely
over
those
fences
in
the
race
which
his
bashfulness
would
naturally
make
difficult
to
him
.
He
knew
that
he
had
done
this
under
the
influence
of
the
champagne
,
and
was
aware
that
it
might
not
be
easy
to
procure
again
a
combination
of
circumstances
that
would
be
so
beneficial
to
him
.
But
now
he
was
interrupted
just
as
he
was
expecting
success
.
He
was
interrupted
,
and
felt
himself
to
be
looking
like
a
guilty
creature
under
the
eye
of
the
strange
lady
.
He
had
not
a
word
to
say
;
but
drawing
himself
suddenly
a
foot
and
half
away
from
the
widow
's
side
,
sat
there
confessing
his
guilt
in
his
face
.
Mrs.
Greenow
felt
no
guilt
,
and
was
afraid
of
no
strange
eyes
.
"
Mr.
Cheesacre
and
I
are
talking
about
farming
,
"
she
said
.
"
Oh
;
farming
!
"
answered
Maria
's
mother
.
"
Mr.
Cheesacre
thinks
that
turnips
are
better
than
early
mangels
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
Yes
,
I
do
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
"
I
prefer
the
early
mangels
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
I
do
n't
think
nature
ever
intended
those
late
crops
.
What
do
you
say
,
Mrs.
Walker
?
"
"
I
daresay
Mr.
Cheesacre
understands
what
he
's
about
when
he
's
at
home
,
"
said
the
lady
.
"
I
know
what
a
bit
of
land
can
do
as
well
as
any
man
in
Norfolk
,
"
said
the
gentleman
.
"
It
may
be
very
well
in
Norfolk
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
,
rising
from
her
seat
;
"
but
the
practice
is
n't
thought
much
of
in
the
other
counties
with
which
I
am
better
acquainted
.
"
"
I
'd
just
come
in
to
say
that
I
thought
we
might
be
getting
to
the
boats
,
"
said
Mrs.
Walker
.
"
My
Ophelia
is
so
delicate
.
"
At
this
moment
the
delicate
Ophelia
was
to
be
seen
,
under
the
influence
of
the
music
,
taking
a
distant
range
upon
the
sands
with
Joe
Fairstairs
'
arm
round
her
waist
.
The
attitude
was
justified
by
the
tune
that
was
in
progress
,
and
there
is
no
reason
why
a
galop
on
the
sands
should
have
any
special
termination
in
distance
,
as
it
must
have
in
a
room
.
But
,
under
such
circumstances
,
Mrs.
Walker
's
solicitude
was
not
unreasonable
.
The
erratic
steps
of
the
distant
dancers
were
recalled
and
preparations
were
made
for
the
return
journey
.
Others
had
strayed
besides
the
delicate
Ophelia
and
the
idle
Joe
,
and
some
little
time
was
taken
up
in
collecting
the
party
.
The
boats
had
to
be
drawn
down
,
and
the
boatmen
fetched
from
their
cans
and
tobacco-pipes
.
"
I
hope
they
're
sober
,
"
said
Mrs.
Walker
,
with
a
look
of
great
dismay
.
"
Sober
as
judges
,
"
said
Bellfield
,
who
had
himself
been
looking
after
the
remains
of
Mr.
Cheesacre
's
hampers
,
while
that
gentleman
had
been
so
much
better
engaged
in
the
tent
.
"
Because
,
"
continued
Mrs.
Walker
,
"
I
know
that
they
play
all
manner
of
tricks
when
they
're
—
in
liquor
.
They
'd
think
nothing
of
taking
us
out
to
sea
,
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
"
Oh
,
I
do
wish
they
would
,
"
said
Ophelia
.
"
Ophelia
,
mind
you
come
in
the
boat
with
me
,
"
said
her
mother
,
and
she
looked
very
savage
when
she
gave
the
order
.
It
was
Mrs.
Walker
's
intention
that
that
boat
should
not
carry
Joe
Fairstairs
.
But
Joe
and
her
daughter
together
were
too
clever
for
her
.
When
the
boats
went
off
she
found
herself
to
be
in
that
one
over
which
Mr.
Cheesacre
presided
,
while
the
sinning
Ophelia
with
her
good-for-nothing
admirer
were
under
the
more
mirthful
protection
of
Captain
Bellfield
.
"
Mamma
will
be
so
angry
,
"
said
Ophelia
,
"
and
it
was
all
your
fault
.
I
did
mean
to
go
into
the
other
boat
.
Do
n't
,
Mr.
Fairstairs
.
"
Then
they
got
settled
down
in
their
seats
,
to
the
satisfaction
,
let
us
hope
,
of
them
both
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
had
vainly
endeavoured
to
arrange
that
Mrs.
Greenow
should
return
with
him
.
But
not
only
was
Captain
Bellfield
opposed
to
such
a
change
in
their
positions
,
but
so
also
was
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
I
think
we
'd
better
go
back
as
we
came
,
"
she
said
,
giving
her
hand
to
the
Captain
.
"
Oh
,
certainly
,
"
said
Captain
Bellfield
.
"
Why
should
there
be
any
change
?
Cheesacre
,
old
fellow
,
mind
you
look
after
Mrs.
Walker
.
Come
along
,
my
hearty
.
"
It
really
almost
appeared
that
Captain
Bellfield
was
addressing
Mrs.
Greenow
as
"
his
hearty
,
"
but
it
must
be
presumed
that
the
term
of
genial
endearment
was
intended
for
the
whole
boat
's
load
.
Mrs.
Greenow
took
her
place
on
the
comfortable
broad
bench
in
the
stern
,
and
Bellfield
seated
himself
beside
her
,
with
the
tiller
in
his
hand
.
"
If
you
're
going
to
steer
,
Captain
Bellfield
,
I
beg
that
you
'll
be
careful
.
"
"
Careful
,
—
and
with
you
on
board
!
"
said
the
Captain
.
"
Do
n't
you
know
that
I
would
sooner
perish
beneath
the
waves
than
that
a
drop
of
water
should
touch
you
roughly
?
"
"
But
you
see
,
we
might
perish
beneath
the
waves
together
.
"
"
Together
!
What
a
sweet
word
that
is
;
—
perish
together
!
If
it
were
not
that
there
might
be
something
better
even
than
that
,
I
would
wish
to
perish
in
such
company
.
"
"
But
I
should
not
wish
anything
of
the
kind
,
Captain
Bellfield
,
and
therefore
pray
be
careful
.
"
There
was
no
perishing
by
water
on
that
occasion
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
's
boat
reached
the
pier
at
Yarmouth
first
,
and
gave
up
its
load
without
accident
.
Very
shortly
afterwards
Captain
Bellfield
's
crew
reached
the
same
place
in
the
same
state
of
preservation
.
"
There
,
"
said
he
,
as
he
handed
out
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
I
have
brought
you
to
no
harm
,
at
any
rate
as
yet
.
"
"
And
,
as
I
hope
,
will
not
do
so
hereafter
.
"
"
May
the
heavens
forbid
it
,
Mrs.
Greenow
!
Whatever
may
be
our
lots
hereafter
,
—
yours
I
mean
and
mine
,
—
I
trust
that
yours
may
be
free
from
all
disaster
.
Oh
,
that
I
might
venture
to
hope
that
,
at
some
future
day
,
the
privilege
might
be
mine
of
protecting
you
from
all
danger
!
"
"
I
can
protect
myself
very
well
,
I
can
assure
you
.
Good
night
,
Captain
Bellfield
.
We
wo
n't
take
you
and
Mr.
Cheesacre
out
of
your
way
;
—
will
we
,
Kate
?
We
have
had
a
most
pleasant
day
.
"
They
were
now
upon
the
esplanade
,
and
Mrs.
Greenow
's
house
was
to
the
right
,
whereas
the
lodgings
of
both
the
gentlemen
were
to
the
left
.
Each
of
them
fought
hard
for
the
privilege
of
accompanying
the
widow
to
her
door
;
but
Mrs.
Greenow
was
self-willed
,
and
upon
this
occasion
would
have
neither
of
them
.
"
Mr.
Joe
Fairstairs
must
pass
the
house
,
"
said
she
,
"
and
he
will
see
us
home
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
good
night
.
Indeed
you
shall
not
;
—
not
a
step
.
"
There
was
that
in
her
voice
which
induced
Mr.
Cheesacre
to
obey
her
,
and
which
made
Captain
Bellfield
aware
that
he
would
only
injure
his
cause
if
he
endeavoured
to
make
further
progress
in
it
on
the
present
occasion
.
"
Well
,
Kate
,
what
do
you
think
of
the
day
?
"
the
aunt
said
when
she
was
alone
with
her
niece
.
"
I
never
think
much
about
such
days
,
aunt
.
It
was
all
very
well
,
but
I
fear
I
have
not
the
temperament
fitted
for
enjoying
the
fun
.
I
envied
Ophelia
Walker
because
she
made
herself
thoroughly
happy
.
"
"
I
do
like
to
see
girls
enjoy
themselves
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
,
"
I
do
,
indeed
;
—
and
young
men
too
.
It
seems
so
natural
;
why
should
n't
young
people
flirt
?
"
"
Or
old
people
either
for
the
matter
of
that
?
"
"
Or
old
people
either
,
—
if
they
do
n't
do
any
harm
to
anybody
.
I
'll
tell
you
what
it
is
,
Kate
;
people
have
become
so
very
virtuous
,
that
they
're
driven
into
all
manner
of
abominable
resources
for
amusement
and
occupation
.
If
I
had
sons
and
daughters
I
should
think
a
little
flirting
the
very
best
thing
for
them
as
a
safety
valve
.
When
people
get
to
be
old
,
there
's
a
difficulty
.
They
want
to
flirt
with
the
young
people
and
the
young
people
do
n't
want
them
.
If
the
old
people
would
be
content
to
flirt
together
,
I
do
n't
see
why
they
should
ever
give
it
up
;
—
till
they
're
obliged
to
give
up
every
thing
,
and
go
away
.
"
That
was
Mrs.
Greenow
's
doctrine
on
the
subject
of
flirtation
.
CHAPTER
X
.
Nethercoats
.
We
will
leave
Mrs.
Greenow
with
her
niece
and
two
sisters
at
Yarmouth
,
and
returning
by
stages
to
London
,
will
call
upon
Mr.
Grey
at
his
place
in
Cambridgeshire
as
we
pass
by
.
I
believe
it
is
conceded
by
all
the
other
counties
,
that
Cambridgeshire
possesses
fewer
rural
beauties
than
any
other
county
in
England
.
It
is
very
flat
;
it
is
not
well
timbered
;
the
rivers
are
merely
dikes
;
and
in
a
very
large
portion
of
the
county
the
farms
and
fields
are
divided
simply
by
ditches
—
not
by
hedgerows
.
Such
arrangements
are
,
no
doubt
,
well
adapted
for
agricultural
purposes
,
but
are
not
conducive
to
rural
beauty
.
Mr.
Grey
's
residence
was
situated
in
a
part
of
Cambridgeshire
in
which
the
above-named
characteristics
are
very
much
marked
.
It
was
in
the
Isle
of
Ely
,
some
few
miles
distant
from
the
Cathedral
town
,
on
the
side
of
a
long
straight
road
,
which
ran
through
the
fields
for
miles
without
even
a
bush
to
cheer
it
.
The
name
of
his
place
was
Nethercoats
,
and
here
he
lived
generally
throughout
the
year
,
and
here
he
intended
to
live
throughout
his
life
.
His
father
had
held
a
prebendal
stall
at
Ely
in
times
when
prebendal
stalls
were
worth
more
than
they
are
at
present
,
and
having
also
been
possessed
of
a
living
in
the
neighbourhood
,
had
amassed
a
considerable
sum
of
money
.
With
this
he
had
during
his
life
purchased
the
property
of
Nethercoats
,
and
had
built
on
it
the
house
in
which
his
son
now
lived
.
He
had
married
late
in
life
,
and
had
lost
his
wife
soon
after
the
birth
of
an
only
child
.
The
house
had
been
built
in
his
own
parish
,
and
his
wife
had
lived
there
for
a
few
months
and
had
died
there
.
But
after
that
event
the
old
clergyman
had
gone
back
to
his
residence
in
the
Close
at
Ely
,
and
there
John
Grey
had
had
the
home
of
his
youth
.
He
had
been
brought
up
under
his
father
's
eye
,
having
been
sent
to
no
public
school
.
But
he
had
gone
to
Cambridge
,
had
taken
college
honours
,
and
had
then
,
his
father
dying
exactly
at
this
time
,
declined
to
accept
a
fellowship
.
His
father
had
left
to
him
an
income
of
some
fifteen
hundred
a
year
,
and
with
this
he
sat
himself
down
,
near
to
his
college
friends
,
near
also
to
the
old
cathedral
which
he
loved
,
in
the
house
which
his
father
had
built
.
But
though
Nethercoats
possessed
no
beauty
of
scenery
,
though
the
country
around
it
was
in
truth
as
uninteresting
as
any
country
could
be
,
it
had
many
delights
of
its
own
.
The
house
itself
was
as
excellent
a
residence
for
a
country
gentleman
of
small
means
as
taste
and
skill
together
could
construct
.
I
doubt
whether
prettier
rooms
were
ever
seen
than
the
drawing-room
,
the
library
,
and
the
dining-room
at
Nethercoats
.
They
were
all
on
the
ground-floor
,
and
all
opened
out
on
to
the
garden
and
lawn
.
The
library
,
which
was
the
largest
of
the
three
,
was
a
handsome
chamber
,
and
so
filled
as
to
make
it
well
known
in
the
University
as
one
of
the
best
private
collections
in
that
part
of
England
.
But
perhaps
the
gardens
of
Nethercoats
constituted
its
greatest
glory
.
They
were
spacious
and
excellently
kept
up
,
and
had
been
originally
laid
out
with
that
knowledge
of
gardening
without
which
no
garden
,
merely
as
a
garden
,
can
be
effective
.
And
such
,
of
necessity
,
was
the
garden
of
Nethercoats
.
Fine
single
forest
trees
there
were
none
there
,
nor
was
it
possible
that
there
should
have
been
any
such
.
Nor
could
there
be
a
clear
rippling
stream
with
steep
green
banks
,
and
broken
rocks
lying
about
its
bed
.
Such
beauties
are
beauties
of
landscape
,
and
do
not
of
their
nature
belong
to
a
garden
.
But
the
shrubs
of
Nethercoats
were
of
the
rarest
kind
,
and
had
been
long
enough
in
their
present
places
to
have
reached
the
period
of
their
beauty
.
Nothing
had
been
spared
that
a
garden
could
want
.
The
fruit-trees
were
perfect
in
their
kind
,
and
the
glass-houses
were
so
good
and
so
extensive
that
John
Grey
in
his
prudence
was
some
times
tempted
to
think
that
he
had
too
much
of
them
.
It
must
be
understood
that
there
were
no
grounds
,
according
to
the
meaning
usually
given
to
that
word
,
belonging
to
the
house
at
Nethercoats
.
Between
the
garden
and
the
public
road
there
was
a
paddock
belonging
to
the
house
,
along
the
side
of
which
,
but
divided
from
it
by
a
hedge
and
shrubbery
,
ran
the
private
carriageway
up
to
the
house
.
This
swept
through
the
small
front
flower-garden
,
dividing
it
equally
;
but
the
lawns
and
indeed
the
whole
of
that
which
made
the
beauty
of
the
place
lay
on
the
back
of
the
house
,
on
which
side
opened
the
windows
from
the
three
sitting-rooms
.
Down
on
the
public
road
there
stood
a
lodge
at
which
lived
one
of
the
gardeners
.
There
was
another
field
of
some
six
or
seven
acres
,
to
which
there
was
a
gate
from
the
corner
of
the
front
paddock
,
and
which
went
round
two
sides
of
the
garden
.
This
was
Nethercoats
,
and
the
whole
estate
covered
about
twelve
acres
.
It
was
not
a
place
for
much
bachelor
enjoyment
of
that
sort
generally
popular
with
bachelors
;
nevertheless
Mr.
Grey
had
been
constant
in
his
residence
there
for
the
seven
years
which
had
now
elapsed
since
he
had
left
his
college
.
His
easy
access
to
Cambridge
had
probably
done
much
to
mitigate
what
might
otherwise
have
been
the
too
great
tedium
of
his
life
;
and
he
had
,
prompted
thereto
by
early
associations
,
found
most
of
his
society
in
the
Close
of
Ely
Cathedral
.
But
,
with
all
the
delight
he
could
derive
from
these
two
sources
,
there
had
still
been
many
solitary
hours
in
his
life
,
and
he
had
gradually
learned
to
feel
that
he
of
all
men
wanted
a
companion
in
his
home
.
His
visits
to
London
had
generally
been
short
and
far
between
,
occasioned
probably
by
some
need
in
the
library
,
or
by
the
necessity
of
some
slight
literary
transaction
with
the
editor
or
publisher
of
a
periodical
.
In
one
of
these
visits
he
had
met
Alice
Vavasor
,
and
had
remained
in
Town
,
—
I
will
not
say
till
Alice
had
promised
to
share
his
home
in
Cambridgeshire
,
but
so
long
that
he
had
resolved
before
he
went
that
he
would
ask
her
to
do
so
.
He
had
asked
her
,
and
we
know
that
he
had
been
successful
.
He
had
obtained
her
promise
,
and
from
that
moment
all
his
life
had
been
changed
for
him
.
Hitherto
at
Nethercoats
his
little
smoking-room
,
his
books
,
and
his
plants
had
been
everything
to
him
.
Now
he
began
to
surround
himself
with
an
infinity
of
feminine
belongings
,
and
to
promise
himself
an
infinity
of
feminine
blessings
,
wondering
much
that
he
should
have
been
content
to
pass
so
long
a
portion
of
his
life
in
the
dull
seclusion
which
he
had
endured
.
He
was
not
by
nature
an
impatient
man
;
but
now
he
became
impatient
,
longing
for
the
fruition
of
his
new
idea
of
happiness
,
—
longing
to
have
that
as
his
own
which
he
certainly
loved
beyond
all
else
in
the
world
,
and
which
,
perhaps
,
was
all
he
had
ever
loved
with
the
perfect
love
of
equality
.
But
though
impatient
,
and
fully
aware
of
his
own
impatience
,
he
acknowledged
to
himself
that
Alice
could
not
be
expected
to
share
it
.
He
could
plan
nothing
now
,
—
could
have
no
pleasure
in
life
that
she
was
not
expected
to
share
.
But
as
yet
it
could
not
be
so
with
her
.
She
had
her
house
in
London
,
her
town
society
,
and
her
father
.
And
,
inasmuch
as
the
change
for
her
would
be
much
greater
than
it
would
be
for
him
,
it
was
natural
that
she
should
require
some
small
delay
.
He
had
not
pressed
her
.
At
least
he
had
not
pressed
her
with
that
eager
pressure
which
a
girl
must
resist
with
something
of
the
opposition
of
a
contest
,
if
she
resist
it
at
all
.
But
in
truth
his
impatience
was
now
waxing
strong
,
and
during
the
absence
in
Switzerland
of
which
we
have
spoken
,
he
resolved
that
a
marriage
very
late
in
the
autumn
,
—
that
a
marriage
even
in
winter
,
would
be
better
than
a
marriage
postponed
till
the
following
year
.
It
was
not
yet
late
in
August
when
the
party
returned
from
their
tour
.
Would
not
a
further
delay
of
two
months
suffice
for
his
bride
?
Alice
had
written
to
him
occasionally
from
Switzerland
,
and
her
first
two
letters
had
been
very
charming
.
They
had
referred
almost
exclusively
to
the
tour
,
and
had
been
made
pleasant
with
some
slightly
coloured
account
of
George
Vavasor
's
idleness
,
and
of
Kate
's
obedience
to
her
brother
's
behests
.
Alice
had
never
written
much
of
love
in
her
love-letters
,
and
Grey
was
well
enough
contented
with
her
style
,
though
it
was
not
impassioned
.
As
for
doubting
her
love
,
it
was
not
in
the
heart
of
the
man
to
do
so
after
it
had
been
once
assured
to
him
by
her
word
.
He
could
not
so
slightly
respect
himself
or
her
as
to
leave
room
for
such
a
doubt
in
his
bosom
.
He
was
a
man
who
could
never
have
suggested
to
himself
that
a
woman
loved
him
till
the
fact
was
there
before
him
;
but
who
having
ascertained
,
as
he
might
think
,
the
fact
,
could
never
suggest
to
himself
that
her
love
would
fail
him
.
Her
first
two
letters
from
Switzerland
had
been
very
pleasant
;
but
after
that
there
had
seemed
to
have
crept
over
her
a
melancholy
which
she
unconsciously
transferred
to
her
words
,
and
which
he
could
not
but
taste
in
them
,
—
at
first
unconsciously
,
also
,
but
soon
with
so
plain
a
flavour
that
he
recognised
it
,
and
made
it
a
matter
of
mental
inquiry
.
During
the
three
or
four
last
days
of
the
journey
,
while
they
were
at
Basle
and
on
their
way
home
,
she
had
not
written
.
But
she
did
write
on
the
day
after
her
arrival
,
having
then
received
from
Mr.
Grey
a
letter
,
in
which
he
told
her
how
very
much
she
would
add
to
his
happiness
if
she
would
now
agree
that
their
marriage
should
not
be
postponed
beyond
the
end
of
October
.
This
letter
she
found
in
her
room
on
her
return
,
and
this
she
answered
at
once
.
And
she
answered
it
in
such
words
that
Mr.
Grey
resolved
that
he
would
at
once
go
to
her
in
London
.
I
will
give
her
letter
at
length
,
as
I
shall
then
be
best
able
to
proceed
with
my
story
quickly
.
Queen
Anne
Street
,
–
–
August
,
186
–
–
.
Dearest
John
,
—
We
reached
home
yesterday
tired
enough
,
as
we
came
through
from
Paris
without
stopping
.
I
may
indeed
say
that
we
came
through
from
Strasbourg
,
as
we
only
slept
in
Paris
.
I
do
n't
like
Strasbourg
.
A
steeple
,
after
all
,
is
not
everything
,
and
putting
the
steeple
aside
,
I
do
n't
think
the
style
is
good
.
But
the
hotel
was
uncomfortable
,
which
goes
for
so
much
;
—
and
then
we
were
saturated
with
beauty
of
a
better
kind
.
I
got
your
letter
directly
I
came
in
last
night
,
and
I
suppose
I
had
better
dash
at
it
at
once
.
I
would
so
willingly
delay
doing
so
,
saying
nice
little
things
the
while
,
did
I
not
know
that
this
would
be
mere
cowardice
.
Whatever
happens
I
wo
n't
be
a
coward
,
and
therefore
I
will
tell
you
at
once
that
I
cannot
let
you
hope
that
we
should
be
married
this
year
.
Of
course
you
will
ask
me
why
,
as
you
have
a
right
to
do
,
and
of
course
I
am
bound
to
answer
.
I
do
not
know
that
I
can
give
any
answer
with
which
you
will
not
have
a
right
to
complain
.
If
it
be
so
,
I
can
only
ask
your
pardon
for
the
injury
I
am
doing
you
.
Marriage
is
a
great
change
in
life
,
—
much
greater
to
me
than
to
you
,
who
will
remain
in
your
old
house
,
will
keep
your
old
pursuits
,
will
still
be
your
own
master
,
and
will
change
in
nothing
,
—
except
in
this
,
that
you
will
have
a
companion
who
probably
may
not
be
all
that
you
expect
.
But
I
must
change
everything
.
It
will
be
to
me
as
though
I
were
passing
through
a
grave
to
a
new
world
.
I
shall
see
nothing
that
I
have
been
accustomed
to
see
,
and
must
abandon
all
the
ways
of
life
that
I
have
hitherto
adopted
.
Of
course
I
should
have
thought
of
this
before
I
accepted
you
;
and
I
did
think
of
it
.
I
made
up
my
mind
that
,
as
I
truly
loved
you
,
I
would
risk
the
change
;
—
that
I
would
risk
it
for
your
sake
and
for
mine
,
hoping
that
I
might
add
something
to
your
happiness
,
and
that
I
might
secure
my
own
.
Dear
John
,
do
not
suppose
that
I
despair
that
it
may
be
so
;
but
,
indeed
,
you
must
not
hurry
me
.
I
must
tune
myself
to
the
change
that
I
have
to
make
.
What
if
I
should
wake
some
morning
after
six
months
living
with
you
,
and
tell
you
that
the
quiet
of
your
home
was
making
me
mad
?
You
must
not
ask
me
again
till
the
winter
shall
have
passed
away
.
If
in
the
meantime
I
shall
find
that
I
have
been
wrong
,
I
will
humbly
confess
that
I
have
wronged
you
,
and
ask
you
to
forgive
me
.
And
I
will
freely
admit
this
.
If
the
delay
which
I
now
purpose
is
so
contrary
to
your
own
plans
as
to
make
your
marriage
,
under
such
circumstances
,
not
that
which
you
had
expected
,
I
know
that
you
are
free
to
tell
me
so
,
and
to
say
that
our
engagement
shall
be
over
.
I
am
well
aware
that
I
can
have
no
right
to
bind
you
to
a
marriage
at
one
period
which
you
had
only
contemplated
as
to
take
place
at
another
period
.
I
think
I
may
promise
that
I
will
obey
any
wish
you
may
express
in
anything
,
—
except
in
that
one
thing
which
you
urged
in
your
last
letter
.
Kate
is
going
down
to
Yarmouth
with
Mrs.
Greenow
,
and
I
shall
see
no
more
of
her
probably
till
next
year
,
as
she
will
be
due
in
Westmoreland
after
that
.
George
left
me
at
the
door
when
he
brought
me
home
,
and
declared
that
he
intended
to
vanish
out
of
London
.
Whether
in
town
or
out
,
he
is
never
to
be
seen
at
this
period
of
the
year
.
Papa
offers
to
go
to
Ramsgate
for
a
fortnight
,
but
he
looks
so
wretched
when
he
makes
the
offer
,
that
I
shall
not
have
the
heart
to
hold
him
to
it
.
Lady
Macleod
very
much
wants
me
to
go
to
Cheltenham
.
I
very
much
want
not
to
go
,
simply
because
I
can
never
agree
with
her
about
anything
;
but
it
will
probably
end
in
my
going
there
for
a
week
or
two
.
Over
and
beyond
that
,
I
have
no
prospects
before
Christmas
which
are
not
purely
domestic
.
There
is
a
project
that
we
shall
all
eat
our
Christmas
dinner
at
Vavasor
Hall
,
—
of
course
not
including
George
,
—
but
this
project
is
quite
in
the
clouds
,
and
,
as
far
as
I
am
concerned
,
will
remain
there
.
Dear
John
,
let
me
hear
that
this
letter
does
not
make
you
unhappy
.
Most
affectionately
yours
,
Alice
Vavasor
.
At
Nethercoats
,
the
post
was
brought
in
at
breakfast-time
,
and
Mr.
Grey
was
sitting
with
his
tea
and
eggs
before
him
,
when
he
read
Alice
's
letter
.
He
read
it
twice
before
he
began
to
think
what
he
would
do
in
regard
to
it
,
and
then
referred
to
one
or
two
others
which
he
had
received
from
Switzerland
,
—
reading
them
also
very
carefully
.
After
that
,
he
took
up
the
slouch
hat
which
he
had
been
wearing
in
the
garden
before
he
was
called
to
his
breakfast
,
and
,
with
the
letters
in
his
hand
,
sauntered
down
among
the
shrubs
and
lawns
.
He
knew
,
he
thought
he
knew
,
that
there
was
more
in
Alice
's
mind
than
a
mere
wish
for
delay
.
There
was
more
in
it
than
that
hesitation
to
take
at
once
a
step
which
she
really
desired
to
take
,
if
not
now
,
then
after
some
short
interval
.
He
felt
that
she
was
unhappy
,
and
unhappy
because
she
distrusted
the
results
of
her
marriage
;
but
it
never
for
a
moment
occurred
to
him
that
,
therefore
,
the
engagement
between
them
should
be
broken
.
In
the
first
place
he
loved
her
too
well
to
allow
of
his
admitting
such
an
idea
without
terrible
sorrow
to
himself
.
He
was
a
constant
,
firm
man
,
somewhat
reserved
,
and
unwilling
to
make
new
acquaintances
,
and
,
therefore
,
specially
unwilling
to
break
away
from
those
which
he
had
made
.
Undoubtedly
,
had
he
satisfied
himself
that
Alice
's
happiness
demanded
such
a
sacrifice
of
himself
,
he
would
have
made
it
,
and
made
it
without
a
word
of
complaint
.
The
blow
would
not
have
prostrated
him
,
but
the
bruise
would
have
remained
on
his
heart
,
indelible
,
not
to
be
healed
but
by
death
.
He
would
have
submitted
,
and
no
man
would
have
seen
that
he
had
been
injured
.
But
it
did
not
once
occur
to
him
that
such
a
proceeding
on
his
part
would
be
beneficial
to
Alice
.
Without
being
aware
of
it
,
he
reckoned
himself
to
be
the
nobler
creature
of
the
two
,
and
now
thought
of
her
as
of
one
wounded
,
and
wanting
a
cure
.
Some
weakness
had
fallen
on
her
,
and
strength
must
be
given
to
her
from
another
.
He
did
not
in
the
least
doubt
her
love
,
but
he
knew
that
she
had
been
associated
,
for
a
few
weeks
past
,
with
two
persons
whose
daily
conversation
would
be
prone
to
weaken
the
tone
of
her
mind
.
He
no
more
thought
of
giving
her
up
than
a
man
thinks
of
having
his
leg
cut
off
because
he
has
sprained
his
sinews
.
He
would
go
up
to
town
and
see
her
,
and
would
not
even
yet
abandon
all
hope
that
she
might
be
found
sitting
at
his
board
when
Christmas
should
come
.
By
that
day
's
post
he
wrote
a
short
note
to
her
.
"
Dearest
Alice
,
"
he
said
,
"
I
have
resolved
to
go
to
London
at
once
.
I
will
be
with
you
in
the
evening
at
eight
,
the
day
after
to-morrow
.
"
Yours
,
J
.
G
.
"
There
was
no
more
in
the
letter
than
that
.
"
And
now
,
"
she
said
,
when
she
received
it
,
"
I
must
dare
to
tell
him
the
whole
truth
.
"
CHAPTER
XI
.
John
Grey
Goes
to
London
.
And
what
was
the
whole
truth
?
Alice
Vavasor
,
when
she
declared
to
herself
that
she
must
tell
her
lover
the
whole
truth
,
was
expressing
to
herself
her
intention
of
putting
an
end
to
her
engagement
with
Mr.
Grey
.
She
was
acknowledging
that
that
which
had
to
be
told
was
not
compatible
with
the
love
and
perfect
faith
which
she
owed
to
the
man
who
was
her
affianced
husband
.
And
yet
,
why
should
it
be
so
?
She
did
not
intend
to
tell
him
that
she
had
been
false
in
her
love
to
him
.
It
was
not
that
her
heart
had
again
veered
itself
round
and
given
itself
to
that
wild
cousin
of
hers
.
Though
she
might
feel
herself
constrained
to
part
from
John
Grey
,
George
Vavasor
could
never
be
her
husband
.
Of
that
she
assured
herself
fifty
times
during
the
two
days
'
grace
which
had
been
allowed
her
.
Nay
,
she
went
farther
than
that
with
herself
,
and
pronounced
a
verdict
against
any
marriage
as
possible
to
her
if
she
now
decided
against
this
marriage
which
had
for
some
months
past
been
regarded
as
fixed
by
herself
and
all
her
friends
.
People
often
say
that
marriage
is
an
important
thing
,
and
should
be
much
thought
of
in
advance
,
and
marrying
people
are
cautioned
that
there
are
many
who
marry
in
haste
and
repent
at
leisure
.
I
am
not
sure
,
however
,
that
marriage
may
not
be
pondered
over
too
much
;
nor
do
I
feel
certain
that
the
leisurely
repentance
does
not
as
often
follow
the
leisurely
marriages
as
it
does
the
rapid
ones
.
That
some
repent
no
one
can
doubt
;
but
I
am
inclined
to
believe
that
most
men
and
women
take
their
lots
as
they
find
them
,
marrying
as
the
birds
do
by
force
of
nature
,
and
going
on
with
their
mates
with
a
general
,
though
not
perhaps
an
undisturbed
satisfaction
,
feeling
inwardly
assured
that
Providence
,
if
it
have
not
done
the
very
best
for
them
,
has
done
for
them
as
well
as
they
could
do
for
themselves
with
all
the
thought
in
the
world
.
I
do
not
know
that
a
woman
can
assure
to
herself
,
by
her
own
prudence
and
taste
,
a
good
husband
any
more
than
she
can
add
two
cubits
to
her
stature
;
but
husbands
have
been
made
to
be
decently
good
,
—
and
wives
too
,
for
the
most
part
,
in
our
country
,
—
so
that
the
thing
does
not
require
quite
so
much
thinking
as
some
people
say
.
That
Alice
Vavasor
had
thought
too
much
about
it
,
I
feel
quite
sure
.
She
had
gone
on
thinking
of
it
till
she
had
filled
herself
with
a
cloud
of
doubts
which
even
the
sunshine
of
love
was
unable
to
drive
from
her
heavens
.
That
a
girl
should
really
love
the
man
she
intends
to
marry
,
—
that
,
at
any
rate
,
may
be
admitted
.
But
love
generally
comes
easily
enough
.
With
all
her
doubts
Alice
never
doubted
her
love
for
Mr.
Grey
.
Nor
did
she
doubt
his
character
,
nor
his
temper
,
nor
his
means
.
But
she
had
gone
on
thinking
of
the
matter
till
her
mind
had
become
filled
with
some
undefined
idea
of
the
importance
to
her
of
her
own
life
.
What
should
a
woman
do
with
her
life
?
There
had
arisen
round
her
a
flock
of
learned
ladies
asking
that
question
,
to
whom
it
seems
that
the
proper
answer
has
never
yet
occurred
.
Fall
in
love
,
marry
the
man
,
have
two
children
,
and
live
happy
ever
afterwards
.
I
maintain
that
answer
has
as
much
wisdom
in
it
as
any
other
that
can
be
given
;
—
or
perhaps
more
.
The
advice
contained
in
it
cannot
,
perhaps
,
always
be
followed
to
the
letter
;
but
neither
can
the
advice
of
the
other
kind
,
which
is
given
by
the
flock
of
learned
ladies
who
ask
the
question
.
A
woman
's
life
is
important
to
her
,
—
as
is
that
of
a
man
to
him
,
—
not
chiefly
in
regard
to
that
which
she
shall
do
with
it
.
The
chief
thing
for
her
to
look
to
is
the
manner
in
which
that
something
shall
be
done
.
It
is
of
moment
to
a
young
man
when
entering
life
to
decide
whether
he
shall
make
hats
or
shoes
;
but
not
of
half
the
moment
that
will
be
that
other
decision
,
whether
he
shall
make
good
shoes
or
bad
.
And
so
with
a
woman
;
—
if
she
shall
have
recognised
the
necessity
of
truth
and
honesty
for
the
purposes
of
her
life
,
I
do
not
know
that
she
need
ask
herself
many
questions
as
to
what
she
will
do
with
it
.
Alice
Vavasor
was
ever
asking
herself
that
question
,
and
had
by
degrees
filled
herself
with
a
vague
idea
that
there
was
a
something
to
be
done
;
a
something
over
and
beyond
,
or
perhaps
altogether
beside
that
marrying
and
having
two
children
;
—
if
she
only
knew
what
it
was
.
She
had
filled
herself
,
or
had
been
filled
by
her
cousins
,
with
an
undefined
ambition
that
made
her
restless
without
giving
her
any
real
food
for
her
mind
.
When
she
told
herself
that
she
would
have
no
scope
for
action
in
that
life
in
Cambridgeshire
which
Mr.
Grey
was
preparing
for
her
,
she
did
not
herself
know
what
she
meant
by
action
.
Had
any
one
accused
her
of
being
afraid
to
separate
herself
from
London
society
,
she
would
have
declared
that
she
went
very
little
into
society
and
disliked
that
little
.
Had
it
been
whispered
to
her
that
she
loved
the
neighbourhood
of
the
shops
,
she
would
have
scorned
the
whisperer
.
Had
it
been
suggested
that
the
continued
rattle
of
the
big
city
was
necessary
to
her
happiness
,
she
would
have
declared
that
she
and
her
father
had
picked
out
for
their
residence
the
quietest
street
in
London
because
she
could
not
bear
noise
;
—
and
yet
she
told
herself
that
she
feared
to
be
taken
into
the
desolate
calmness
of
Cambridgeshire
.
When
she
did
contrive
to
find
any
answer
to
that
question
as
to
what
she
should
do
with
her
life
,
—
or
rather
what
she
would
wish
to
do
with
it
if
she
were
a
free
agent
,
it
was
generally
of
a
political
nature
.
She
was
not
so
far
advanced
as
to
think
that
women
should
be
lawyers
and
doctors
,
or
to
wish
that
she
might
have
the
privilege
of
the
franchise
for
herself
;
but
she
had
undoubtedly
a
hankering
after
some
second-hand
political
manœuvering
.
She
would
have
liked
,
I
think
,
to
have
been
the
wife
of
the
leader
of
a
Radical
opposition
,
in
the
time
when
such
men
were
put
into
prison
,
and
to
have
kept
up
for
him
his
seditious
correspondence
while
he
lay
in
the
Tower
.
She
would
have
carried
the
answers
to
him
inside
her
stays
,
—
and
have
made
long
journeys
down
into
northern
parts
without
any
money
,
if
the
cause
required
it
.
She
would
have
liked
to
have
around
her
ardent
spirits
,
male
or
female
,
who
would
have
talked
of
"
the
cause
,
"
and
have
kept
alive
in
her
some
flame
of
political
fire
.
As
it
was
,
she
had
no
cause
.
Her
father
's
political
views
were
very
mild
.
Lady
Macleod
's
were
deadly
conservative
.
Kate
Vavasor
was
an
aspiring
Radical
just
now
,
because
her
brother
was
in
the
same
line
;
but
during
the
year
of
the
love-passages
between
George
and
Alice
,
George
Vavasor
's
politics
had
been
as
conservative
as
you
please
.
He
did
not
become
a
Radical
till
he
had
quarrelled
with
his
grandfather
.
Now
,
indeed
,
he
was
possessed
of
very
advanced
views
,
—
views
with
which
Alice
felt
that
she
could
sympathize
.
But
what
would
be
the
use
of
sympathizing
down
in
Cambridgeshire
?
John
Grey
had
,
so
to
speak
,
no
politics
.
He
had
decided
views
as
to
the
treatment
which
the
Roman
Senate
received
from
Augustus
,
and
had
even
discussed
with
Alice
the
conduct
of
the
Girondists
at
the
time
of
Robespierre
's
triumph
;
but
for
Manchester
and
its
cares
he
had
no
apparent
solicitude
,
and
had
declared
to
Alice
that
he
would
not
accept
a
seat
in
the
British
House
of
Commons
if
it
were
offered
to
him
free
of
expense
.
What
political
enthusiasm
could
she
indulge
with
such
a
companion
down
in
Cambridgeshire
?
She
thought
too
much
of
all
this
,
—
and
was
,
if
I
may
say
,
over-prudent
in
calculating
the
chances
of
her
happiness
and
of
his
.
For
,
to
give
her
credit
for
what
was
her
due
,
she
was
quite
as
anxious
on
the
latter
head
as
on
the
former
.
"
I
do
n't
care
for
the
Roman
Senate
,
"
she
would
say
to
herself
.
"
I
do
n't
care
much
for
the
Girondists
.
How
am
I
to
talk
to
him
day
after
day
,
night
after
night
,
when
we
shall
be
alone
together
?
"
No
doubt
her
tour
in
Switzerland
with
her
cousin
had
had
some
effect
in
making
such
thoughts
stronger
now
than
they
had
ever
been
.
She
had
not
again
learned
to
love
her
cousin
.
She
was
as
firmly
sure
as
ever
that
she
could
never
love
him
more
.
He
had
insulted
her
love
;
and
though
she
had
forgiven
him
and
again
enrolled
him
among
her
dearest
friends
,
she
could
never
again
feel
for
him
that
passion
which
a
woman
means
when
she
acknowledges
that
she
is
in
love
.
That
,
as
regarded
her
and
George
Vavasor
,
was
over
.
But
,
nevertheless
,
there
had
been
a
something
of
romance
during
those
days
in
Switzerland
which
she
feared
she
would
regret
when
she
found
herself
settled
at
Nethercoats
.
She
envied
Kate
.
Kate
could
,
as
his
sister
,
attach
herself
on
to
George
's
political
career
,
and
obtain
from
it
all
that
excitement
of
life
which
Alice
desired
for
herself
.
Alice
could
not
love
her
cousin
and
marry
him
;
but
she
felt
that
if
she
could
do
so
without
impropriety
she
would
like
to
stick
close
to
him
like
another
sister
,
to
spend
her
money
in
aiding
his
career
in
Parliament
as
Kate
would
do
,
and
trust
herself
and
her
career
into
the
boat
which
he
was
to
command
.
She
did
not
love
her
cousin
;
but
she
still
believed
in
him
,
—
with
a
faith
which
he
certainly
did
not
deserve
.
As
the
two
days
passed
over
her
,
her
mind
grew
more
and
more
fixed
as
to
its
purpose
.
She
would
tell
Mr.
Grey
that
she
was
not
fit
to
be
his
wife
—
and
she
would
beg
him
to
pardon
her
and
to
leave
her
.
It
never
occurred
to
her
that
perhaps
he
might
refuse
to
let
her
go
.
She
felt
quite
sure
that
she
would
be
free
as
soon
as
she
had
spoken
the
word
which
she
intended
to
speak
.
If
she
could
speak
it
with
decision
she
would
be
free
,
and
to
attain
that
decision
she
would
school
herself
with
her
utmost
strength
.
At
one
moment
she
thought
of
telling
all
to
her
father
and
of
begging
him
to
break
the
matter
to
Mr.
Grey
;
but
she
knew
that
her
father
would
not
understand
her
,
and
that
he
would
be
very
hostile
to
her
,
—
saying
hard
,
uncomfortable
words
,
which
would
probably
be
spared
if
the
thing
were
done
before
he
was
informed
.
Nor
would
she
write
to
Kate
,
whose
letters
to
her
at
this
time
were
full
of
wit
at
the
expense
of
Mrs.
Greenow
.
She
would
tell
Kate
as
soon
as
the
thing
was
done
,
but
not
before
.
That
Kate
would
sympathize
with
her
,
she
was
quite
certain
.
So
the
two
days
passed
by
and
the
time
came
at
which
John
Grey
was
to
be
there
.
As
the
minute
hand
on
the
drawing-room
clock
came
round
to
the
full
hour
,
she
felt
that
her
heart
was
beating
with
a
violence
which
she
could
not
repress
.
The
thing
seemed
to
her
to
assume
bigger
dimensions
than
it
had
hitherto
done
.
She
began
to
be
aware
that
she
was
about
to
be
guilty
of
a
great
iniquity
,
when
it
was
too
late
for
her
to
change
her
mind
.
She
could
not
bring
herself
to
resolve
that
she
would
,
on
the
moment
,
change
her
mind
.
She
believed
that
she
could
never
pardon
herself
such
weakness
.
But
yet
she
felt
herself
to
be
aware
that
her
purpose
was
wicked
.
When
the
knock
at
the
door
was
at
last
heard
she
trembled
and
feared
that
she
would
almost
be
unable
to
speak
to
him
.
Might
it
be
possible
that
there
should
yet
be
a
reprieve
for
her
?
No
;
it
was
his
step
on
the
stairs
,
and
there
he
was
in
the
room
with
her
.
"
My
dearest
,
"
he
said
,
coming
to
her
.
His
smile
was
sweet
and
loving
as
it
ever
was
,
and
his
voice
had
its
usual
manly
,
genial
,
loving
tone
.
As
he
walked
across
the
room
Alice
felt
that
he
was
a
man
of
whom
a
wife
might
be
very
proud
.
He
was
tall
and
very
handsome
,
with
brown
hair
,
with
bright
blue
eyes
,
and
a
mouth
like
a
god
.
It
was
the
beauty
of
his
mouth
,
—
beauty
which
comprised
firmness
within
itself
,
that
made
Alice
afraid
of
him
.
He
was
still
dressed
in
his
morning
clothes
;
but
he
was
a
man
who
always
seemed
to
be
well
dressed
.
"
My
dearest
,
"
he
said
,
advancing
across
the
room
,
and
before
she
knew
how
to
stop
herself
or
him
,
he
had
taken
her
in
his
arms
and
kissed
her
.
He
did
not
immediately
begin
about
the
letter
,
but
placed
her
upon
the
sofa
,
seating
himself
by
her
side
,
and
looked
into
her
face
with
loving
eyes
,
—
not
as
though
to
scrutinize
what
might
be
amiss
there
,
but
as
though
determined
to
enjoy
to
the
full
his
privilege
as
a
lover
.
There
was
no
reproach
at
any
rate
in
his
countenance
;
—
none
as
yet
;
nor
did
it
seem
that
he
thought
that
he
had
any
cause
for
fear
.
They
sat
in
this
way
for
a
moment
or
two
in
silence
,
and
during
those
moments
Alice
was
summoning
up
her
courage
to
speak
.
The
palpitation
at
her
heart
was
already
gone
,
and
she
was
determined
that
she
would
speak
.
"
Though
I
am
very
glad
to
see
you
,
"
she
said
,
at
last
,
"
I
am
sorry
that
my
letter
should
have
given
you
the
trouble
of
this
journey
.
"
"
Trouble
!
"
he
said
.
"
Nay
,
you
ought
to
know
that
it
is
no
trouble
.
I
have
not
enough
to
do
down
at
Nethercoats
to
make
the
running
up
to
you
at
any
time
an
unpleasant
excitement
.
So
your
Swiss
journey
went
off
pleasantly
?
"
"
Yes
;
it
went
off
very
pleasantly
.
"
This
she
said
in
that
tone
of
