isto
keep
staring
at
the
walls
all
day
and
never
see
any
change
,
"
said
the
widow
.
"
It
is
very
stupid
and
silly
,
but
you
know
I
cannot
help
it
.
I
get
to
fancy
always
that
something
wonderful
must
be
going
on
on
the
other
side
.
"
"
That
is
because
you
do
n't
go
out
enough
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
You
know
how
often
I
have
said
you
should
go
out
once
every
day
;
and
then
you
would
see
that
everything
outside
was
very
much
the
same
as
everything
within
.
"
"
Oh
,
Lucilla
!
do
n't
say
so
,
"
said
Mrs
Mortimer
;
"
and
besides
,
he
has
been
again
,
and
I
could
see
you
had
been
saying
something
to
him
.
He
spoke
as
if
I
understood
it
all
when
I
did
not
understand
a
word
of
it
;
and
he
spoke
of
him
,
you
know
,
and
was
quite
solemn
,
and
warned
me
to
think
well
of
it
,
and
not
do
anything
rash
—
as
if
I
had
anything
to
think
about
,
or
was
going
to
do
anything
!
Tell
me
what
you
said
to
him
,
Lucilla
;
for
I
am
sure
,
by
the
way
he
spoke
,
he
must
have
taken
him
for
himself
,
and
perhaps
you
for
me
.
"
"
Who
did
he
take
for
himself
,
I
wonder
?
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
As
for
you
and
me
,
dear
Mrs
Mortimer
,
we
are
so
different
that
he
could
never
take
us
for
each
other
,
whatever
the
circumstances
might
be
.
"
"
Ah
,
yes
,
Lucilla
!
we
are
different
,
"
said
the
poor
widow
.
"
You
have
all
your
own
people
to
take
care
of
you
,
and
you
are
not
afraid
of
anybody
;
but
as
for
me
,
I
have
not
a
creature
in
the
world
who
cares
what
becomes
of
me
.
"
As
she
made
this
forlorn
statement
it
was
only
natural
that
the
poor
woman
should
cry
a
little
.
This
was
no
doubt
the
result
of
the
four
garden-walls
that
closed
in
so
tightly
,
and
the
aggravating
little
pupils
;
but
Miss
Marjoribanks
felt
it
was
not
a
state
of
feeling
that
could
be
allowed
to
go
on
.
"
You
ought
not
to
speak
like
that
;
I
am
sure
there
are
a
great
many
people
who
are
interested
in
you
;
and
you
have
always
Me
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
a
certain
reproachful
tenderness
.
As
for
Mrs
Mortimer
,
she
raised
her
head
and
dried
her
eyes
when
Miss
Marjoribanks
began
to
speak
,
and
looked
at
her
in
a
somewhat
eager
,
inquiring
way
;
but
when
Lucilla
uttered
those
last
reassuring
words
,
it
is
undeniable
that
the
widow
's
countenance
fell
a
little
.
She
faltered
and
grew
pale
again
,
and
only
cried
the
more
—
perhaps
with
gratitude
,
perhaps
with
disappointment
.
And
when
she
said
,
"
I
am
sure
you
are
very
kind
,
Lucilla
,
"
which
was
all
the
poor
soul
could
utter
,
it
was
in
a
very
tremulous
undecided
voice
.
The
fact
that
she
had
always
the
sympathy
and
co-operation
of
such
a
friend
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
did
not
seem
to
have
the
exhilarating
effect
upon
her
that
it
ought
to
have
had
.
It
did
not
apparently
do
any
more
for
her
than
the
similar
reassurance
that
Lucilla
was
coming
to
tea
did
for
Rose
Lake
.
But
then
,
like
every
other
benefactor
of
the
human
race
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
aware
that
the
human
mind
has
its
moments
of
unbelief
.
It
was
a
discouraging
experience
to
meet
with
;
but
she
never
permitted
it
seriously
to
interrupt
her
exertions
for
the
good
of
her
kind
.
"
You
should
not
have
so
poor
an
opinion
of
your
friends
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
who
after
all
was
giving
only
a
stone
when
her
suppliant
asked
for
bread
.
"
You
know
how
much
interested
we
all
are
in
you
;
and
for
me
,
anything
I
can
do
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
you
are
very
kind
;
nobody
could
be
kinder
,
"
cried
Mrs
Mortimer
,
with
compunction
.
"
It
is
very
nice
to
have
friends
.
I
do
not
know
what
I
should
do
without
you
,
I
am
sure
;
but
then
one
cannot
live
upon
one
's
friends
;
and
then
one
knows
,
when
they
go
away
,
"
said
the
widow
,
with
more
feeling
than
distinctness
of
expression
,
"
that
they
all
go
away
to
something
of
their
own
,
and
pity
you
or
forget
you
;
but
you
always
stay
there
,
and
have
nothing
of
your
own
to
go
away
to
.
I
am
not
grumbling
,
but
it
is
hard
,
Lucilla
;
and
then
you
are
young
,
and
happy
,
and
at
home
,
and
I
do
n't
think
it
is
possible
you
can
understand
.
"
"
My
dear
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
it
is
quite
easy
to
understand
,
and
I
know
exactly
what
you
mean
.
You
want
me
to
tell
you
all
about
Mr
Beverley
,
and
what
I
said
to
him
,
and
what
he
has
in
his
mind
.
If
he
is
the
something
of
your
own
you
would
like
to
go
away
to
,
I
think
it
is
a
pity
.
I
am
sure
he
has
a
temper
,
and
I
would
not
marry
him
for
my
part
.
But
if
you
mean
me
,
I
have
nothing
to
go
away
to
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
a
little
scorn
.
"
I
should
be
ashamed
not
to
be
enough
for
myself
.
When
I
leave
you
it
is
not
to
enjoy
myself
,
but
to
think
about
you
and
to
plan
for
you
;
and
all
that
you
want
to
know
is
about
him
!
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
piercing
through
and
through
the
thin
armour
of
her
incapable
assailant
.
Naturally
all
the
widow
's
defences
fell
before
this
ruthless
response
.
She
cried
with
a
mingled
sensation
of
shame
at
being
found
out
,
and
penitence
for
being
so
ungrateful
,
and
a
certain
desolate
distress
with
her
own
incapacity
and
want
of
power
to
defend
herself
.
It
was
an
acute
variety
of
feminine
anguish
on
the
whole
.
The
idea
that
she
,
a
mature
woman
,
a
married
woman
and
widow
,
who
ought
to
have
been
done
with
all
these
vanities
,
should
have
been
found
out
by
a
young
girl
to
be
thinking
about
a
gentleman
,
struck
poor
Mrs
Mortimer
with
a
sharp
sense
of
shame
as
if
her
wistful
preoccupation
had
been
a
crime
.
Indeed
the
chances
are
,
if
it
had
been
a
crime
,
she
would
not
have
been
nearly
so
much
ashamed
of
it
.
She
hid
her
face
in
her
hands
and
blushed
down
to
the
very
edge
of
her
black
dress
and
up
into
the
glooms
of
her
widow
's
veil
;
and
all
the
self-defence
she
was
capable
of
was
a
faint
"
Oh
,
Lucilla
!
"
a
mere
appeal
of
weakness
without
reason
—
a
virtual
throwing
of
herself
in
acknowledged
guilt
at
her
judge
's
feet
.
"
Thomas
is
coming
with
the
tea
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
"
Come
into
my
room
and
take
off
your
bonnet
.
What
is
the
good
of
worrying
yourself
when
you
know
I
have
taken
it
into
my
own
hands
?
Spoiling
your
eyes
with
crying
,
and
making
everybody
uncomfortable
never
does
the
least
good
;
and
,
besides
,
one
never
knows
what
harm
one
might
do
one
's
self
,
"
said
Lucilla
seriously
.
"
I
do
n't
think
you
gone
off
at
all
,
for
my
part
;
but
if
you
do
n't
take
proper
care
—
—
I
shall
give
you
some
rose-water
,
and
you
will
be
all
right
after
you
have
had
a
cup
of
tea
.
"
"
Oh
,
no
;
it
will
be
best
to
go
home
.
I
am
such
a
poor
creature
now
.
I
am
not
good
for
anything
.
Let
me
go
home
,
Lucilla
,
"
said
poor
Mrs
Mortimer
.
But
Lucilla
would
not
let
her
go
home
;
and
by
the
time
tea
was
ready
,
and
Dr
Marjoribanks
had
come
upstairs
,
she
had
so
managed
to
soothe
her
visitor
's
nerves
,
and
console
her
spirits
,
that
the
Doctor
himself
grew
complimentary
.
He
was
so
civil
,
in
fact
,
that
Lucilla
felt
slightly
startled
,
and
on
the
whole
thought
it
was
as
well
that
the
Archdeacon
was
at
hand
,
and
affairs
in
a
promising
way
;
for
it
was
doubtful
whether
even
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
magnanimity
could
have
got
over
any
ridiculous
exhibition
of
interest
on
the
part
of
her
father
,
who
certainly
was
old
enough
to
know
better
.
Even
to
see
him
taking
Mrs
Mortimer
's
tea
to
her
,
and
congratulating
her
upon
her
improved
looks
,
and
felicitating
himself
and
the
world
in
general
on
the
fact
that
Carlingford
agreed
with
her
,
was
aggravating
to
his
daughter
—
more
aggravating
,
though
it
is
strange
to
say
so
,
than
even
the
blank
looks
of
General
Travers
in
the
morning
,
or
his
transference
of
the
homage
intended
for
herself
to
little
Rose
Lake
;
that
was
no
more
than
a
blunder
,
and
Lucilla
felt
a
consolatory
conviction
that
,
so
far
as
incivility
went
,
the
General
had
received
a
very
satisfactory
set-off
.
But
to
see
Dr
Marjoribanks
exerting
himself
in
such
an
unheard-of
way
made
her
open
her
eyes
.
If
he
were
still
accessible
to
such
influences
,
nobody
could
answer
for
anything
that
might
happen
;
and
the
widow
was
so
grateful
for
his
kindness
,
that
at
one
moment
it
was
all
that
Lucilla
could
do
to
keep
her
lips
shut
fast
,
and
restrain
herself
from
a
tempting
allusion
which
would
have
made
an
end
of
Mrs
Mortimer
.
It
was
the
first
time
that
Lucilla
's
protégée
had
ventured
to
come
thus
familiarly
and
uninvited
to
her
friend
's
house
;
and
the
Doctor
,
who
knew
no
special
reason
for
the
visit
,
expressed
his
satisfaction
with
a
warmth
which
was
quite
uncalled-for
,
and
hoped
that
Lucilla
might
often
"
have
the
advantage
of
her
company
;
"
and
actually
betrayed
symptoms
of
a
disposition
to
"
see
her
home
,
"
if
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
not
already
made
provision
for
that
emergency
.
When
the
visitor
had
finally
departed
,
under
the
charge
of
Thomas
and
Mary
Jane
,
the
father
and
daughter
regarded
each
other
,
for
the
first
time
,
with
dubious
glances
—
for
,
as
far
as
Lucilla
was
concerned
,
it
was
a
revelation
to
her
of
a
new
and
altogether
unsuspected
danger
;
and
the
Doctor
,
for
his
part
,
was
very
conciliatory
,
and
showed
a
certain
consciousness
of
having
committed
himself
,
which
made
matters
twenty
times
worse
.
"
Really
,
Lucilla
,
your
friend
is
a
credit
to
you
,
"
said
Dr
Marjoribanks
.
"
It
was
a
stroke
of
talent
to
pick
her
up
,
as
you
did
,
and
make
a
woman
of
her
—
and
a
pretty
woman
too
,
"
he
added
incautiously
;
as
if
he
,
at
his
age
,
had
anything
to
do
with
that
.
"
I
am
so
glad
you
think
so
,
papa
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
in
her
dutiful
way
.
"
I
do
n't
think
myself
that
she
has
gone
off
at
all
to
speak
of
.
In
some
lights
she
might
pass
for
being
no
older
than
I
am
—
if
she
was
very
well
dressed
,
you
know
;
and
it
really
does
not
matter
what
age
a
woman
is
if
she
keeps
her
looks
.
I
should
be
very
glad
to
see
her
nicely
married
,
for
my
part
;
she
is
one
of
the
people
who
ought
to
be
married
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
continued
,
with
an
inflection
of
compassionate
tolerance
in
her
voice
.
As
for
the
Doctor
,
he
mistook
her
as
usual
,
and
took
her
tone
of
pity
and
kindly
patronising
disdain
for
another
instance
of
his
daughter
's
policy
and
high
art
;
whereas
the
truth
was
she
was
quite
in
earnest
,
and
meant
every
word
she
said
.
And
then
Dr
Marjoribanks
's
sense
of
humour
was
keener
than
that
of
Lucilla
.
After
this
the
conversation
flagged
slightly
,
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
undeniably
received
a
shock
.
In
the
midst
of
her
benevolent
preoccupation
and
care
for
other
people
,
it
had
suddenly
dawned
upon
her
that
her
own
stronghold
might
be
attacked
,
and
the
tables
turned
upon
her
in
the
twinkling
of
an
eye
.
There
are
days
of
discouragement
in
the
most
triumphant
career
and
this
was
one
of
those
uncomfortable
moments
.
Her
faith
in
herself
did
not
fail
her
for
an
instant
;
but
the
faith
of
her
natural
born
subjects
—
the
creatures
of
her
bounty
—
had
visibly
failed
her
.
Neither
Rose
Lake
nor
Mrs
Mortimer
had
shown
that
confidence
in
Lucilla
's
genius
which
experience
and
loyalty
both
called
upon
them
to
show
.
When
Dr
Marjoribanks
had
gone
downstairs
to
resume
the
case
which
he
was
writing
out
for
the
Lancet
,
Lucilla
passed
through
one
of
those
moments
of
sublime
despondency
which
now
and
then
try
the
spirits
of
the
benefactors
of
their
race
.
A
few
tears
came
to
her
eyes
as
she
reflected
upon
this
great
problem
.
Without
such
trials
genius
would
not
fully
know
itself
nor
be
justly
aware
of
its
own
strength
.
For
no
temptation
to
give
up
her
disinterested
exertions
had
any
effect
upon
the
mind
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
and
even
her
sense
of
pain
at
the
unbelief
of
her
followers
was
mingled
with
that
pity
for
their
weakness
which
involves
pardon
.
Even
when
they
wounded
her
she
was
sorry
for
them
.
It
was
nature
that
was
in
fault
,
and
not
the
fallible
human
creatures
who
had
it
not
in
them
to
believe
in
the
simple
force
of
genius
.
When
Lucilla
had
shed
these
few
tears
over
her
subjects
'
weakness
and
want
of
faith
,
she
rose
up
again
in
new
strength
from
the
momentary
downfall
.
It
was
,
as
we
have
said
,
a
sublime
moment
.
The
idea
of
giving
them
up
,
and
leaving
their
affairs
to
their
own
guidance
,
never
for
an
instant
penetrated
into
her
heroic
mind
;
but
she
was
human
,
and
naturally
she
felt
the
prick
of
ingratitude
.
When
the
crisis
was
over
she
rose
up
calmly
and
lighted
her
candle
,
and
went
to
her
room
with
a
smile
upon
her
magnanimous
lips
.
As
she
performed
that
simple
action
,
Lucilla
had
lifted
up
the
feeble
widow
,
and
taken
the
family
of
Lakes
,
and
Mr
Cavendish
,
and
even
the
burly
Archdeacon
himself
,
upon
her
shoulders
.
They
might
be
ungrateful
,
or
even
unaware
of
all
she
was
doing
for
them
;
but
they
had
the
supreme
claim
of
Need
upon
Strength
;
and
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
notwithstanding
the
wound
they
had
given
her
,
was
loyal
to
that
appeal
,
and
to
her
own
consciousness
of
superior
Power
.
At
the
same
time
,
it
would
not
be
just
to
omit
all
mention
of
a
consolatory
recollection
which
occurred
to
Lucilla
in
this
moment
of
her
weakness
.
At
such
a
crisis
the
mind
of
genius
may
be
supported
by
a
matter
very
trifling
in
itself
.
Even
at
the
instant
when
the
moisture
sprang
to
her
eyes
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
said
to
herself
,
"
Poor
Tom
!
"
and
felt
that
the
bitterness
,
to
a
certain
extent
,
had
evaporated
out
of
her
tears
.
He
was
a
long
way
off
,
and
Lucilla
would
have
thought
it
madness
indeed
to
connect
herself
in
any
way
with
the
fortunes
of
her
unlucky
cousin
;
yet
it
gave
her
a
certain
support
to
think
that
,
amid
all
the
want
of
faith
she
was
encountering
,
Tom
believed
in
her
,
heart
and
soul
.
It
was
an
insignificant
matter
,
so
far
as
any
practical
result
was
concerned
,
if
,
indeed
,
anything
can
be
called
insignificant
which
gives
strength
to
a
great
mind
in
a
moment
of
discouragement
.
She
said
"
Poor
Tom
!
"
and
felt
as
if
for
the
moment
she
had
something
to
lean
on
,
and
was
comforted
.
We
mention
this
fact
rather
as
a
contribution
to
the
history
of
those
phenomena
of
the
human
mind
,
which
have
as
yet
escaped
the
metaphysician
,
than
as
an
actual
circumstance
in
the
life
of
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
She
was
a
woman
of
genius
,
and
he
only
a
very
simple
,
unlucky
fellow
;
and
yet
a
sensation
of
comfort
came
to
Lucilla
's
heart
when
she
said
"
Poor
Tom
!
"
Chapter
XXVIII
Lucilla
prepared
her
toilette
the
next
evening
,
to
take
tea
with
the
Lakes
,
with
greater
care
than
she
would
have
spent
upon
a
party
of
much
greater
pretensions
.
She
was
,
to
be
sure
,
dressed
as
usual
in
the
white
dress
,
high
,
which
she
had
brought
into
fashion
in
Carlingford
;
but
then
that
simple
evening
toilette
required
many
adjuncts
which
were
not
necessary
on
other
occasions
,
seeing
that
this
time
she
was
going
to
walk
to
her
destination
,
and
had
in
her
mind
the
four
distinct
aims
of
pleasing
Rose
,
of
dazzling
Barbara
,
of
imposing
upon
Mr
Cavendish
,
and
,
finally
,
of
being
,
as
always
,
in
harmony
with
herself
.
She
was
as
punctual
to
the
hour
and
minute
of
her
engagement
as
if
she
had
been
a
queen
;
and
,
indeed
,
it
was
with
a
demeanour
as
gracious
that
she
entered
the
little
house
in
Grove
Street
,
where
,
naturally
,
there
had
been
also
sundry
preparations
made
for
her
visit
.
Mr
Lake
himself
,
who
had
postponed
his
usual
walk
,
and
was
taking
his
tea
an
hour
later
than
usual
,
received
his
young
visitor
with
all
the
suavity
natural
to
him
;
and
as
for
Barbara
,
she
did
the
honours
with
a
certain
suppressed
exultation
and
air
of
triumph
,
which
proved
to
Lucilla
that
her
plan
was
indeed
an
inspiration
of
genius
.
As
for
Rose
,
it
would
be
impossible
to
describe
what
were
her
sensations
.
Her
faith
still
failed
her
at
that
momentous
hour
.
She
was
sceptical
of
Lucilla
,
and
naturally
of
all
the
world
,
and
regarded
everybody
with
jealous
scrutiny
and
expectation
and
distrust
,
as
was
natural
to
a
young
conspirator
.
She
was
profoundly
excited
and
curious
to
know
what
Miss
Marjoribanks
meant
to
do
;
and
at
the
same
time
she
did
not
believe
in
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
and
was
almost
disposed
to
betray
and
interfere
with
her
,
if
such
treachery
had
been
possible
.
It
was
Rose
Lucilla
specially
came
to
visit
,
and
yet
Rose
was
the
only
one
who
was
cool
to
her
,
and
did
not
seem
fully
to
appreciate
her
condescension
;
but
then
,
happily
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
magnanimous
,
and
at
the
same
time
had
a
purpose
to
support
her
,
which
was
much
more
comprehensive
and
of
larger
application
than
anything
that
had
entered
into
the
mind
of
Rose
Lake
.
"
I
am
proud
to
see
you
in
my
house
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
said
Mr
Lake
.
"
I
have
always
considered
your
excellent
father
one
of
my
best
friends
.
I
am
not
able
to
give
my
children
the
same
advantages
,
but
I
have
always
brought
them
up
not
to
have
any
false
pride
.
We
have
no
wealth
;
but
we
have
some
things
which
cannot
be
purchased
by
wealth
,
"
said
the
drawing-master
,
with
mild
grandeur
;
and
he
looked
round
upon
the
walls
of
his
parlour
,
which
were
hung
with
his
own
drawings
,
and
where
one
of
Willie
's
held
the
place
of
honour
.
In
all
Carlingford
there
was
no
other
house
that
enjoyed
a
similar
distinction
;
and
,
consequently
,
it
was
with
a
delicious
sense
of
chivalrous
deference
yet
equality
that
the
exceptional
man
of
Grove
Street
received
the
young
sovereign
of
Grange
Lane
.
"
I
am
so
glad
to
come
,
Mr
Lake
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
It
is
so
nice
to
be
among
such
old
friends
;
and
,
besides
that
,
you
know
there
never
was
any
voice
that
suited
mine
like
Barbara
's
;
and
that
dear
old
Rose
was
always
my
pet
at
Mount
Pleasant
.
I
should
have
come
long
ago
if
anybody
had
ever
asked
me
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
.
And
as
for
Mr
Lake
,
he
was
so
overpowered
by
this
implied
reproach
upon
his
hospitality
that
he
scarcely
knew
how
to
reply
.
"
My
dear
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
if
you
have
not
been
asked
it
has
been
from
no
want
of
—
of
goodwill
,
"
said
Mr
Lake
anxiously
.
"
I
do
not
know
what
the
girls
can
have
been
thinking
of
.
You
see
Rose
's
genius
takes
another
line
;
and
Barbara
,
naturally
,
has
a
great
many
things
to
think
of
;
but
in
the
future
,
I
hope
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
yes
;
I
shall
come
without
being
asked
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
And
when
the
tea
came
it
was
all
she
could
do
to
keep
herself
quiet
,
and
remember
that
she
was
a
visitor
,
and
not
take
it
out
of
the
incapable
hands
of
Barbara
,
who
never
gave
her
father
the
right
amount
of
sugar
in
his
tea
.
To
tell
the
truth
,
Barbara
's
thoughts
were
occupied
by
a
very
different
subject
;
and
even
Rose
had
but
little
attention
to
spare
for
her
papa
's
comforts
at
that
special
moment
.
But
Lucilla
's
larger
mind
embraced
everything
.
She
sat
with
her
very
fingers
itching
to
cut
the
bread-and-butter
for
him
,
and
give
him
a
cup
of
tea
as
he
liked
it
;
and
asked
herself
,
with
indignation
,
what
was
the
use
of
that
great
creature
,
with
her
level
eyebrows
and
her
crimson
bloom
,
who
could
not
take
the
trouble
to
remember
that
three
lumps
was
what
Mr
Lake
liked
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
never
taken
tea
with
him
before
;
but
his
second
cup
,
had
she
dispensed
it
,
would
have
been
exactly
to
his
taste
—
which
was
a
thing
Barbara
had
not
learned
to
make
it
in
all
these
years
.
No
wonder
that
a
certain
sense
of
contemptuous
indignation
arose
for
one
moment
,
even
in
the
calm
and
impartial
bosom
of
genius
.
Perhaps
Rose
would
not
have
done
much
better
;
but
then
Rose
was
good
for
something
else
,
which
was
always
a
set-off
on
the
other
side
.
Thus
it
will
be
seen
that
Lucilla
had
a
respect
for
use
,
even
of
a
kind
which
in
her
own
person
she
did
not
much
appreciate
,
as
became
a
person
of
a
truly
enlightened
mind
;
but
a
creature
who
was
of
no
earthly
good
irritated
her
well-regulated
spirit
;
for
,
to
be
sure
,
the
possession
of
a
fine
contralto
(
which
is
,
at
the
same
time
,
not
fine
enough
to
be
made
use
of
professionally
)
is
not
a
matter
of
sufficient
moment
in
this
world
to
excuse
a
young
woman
for
not
knowing
how
to
give
her
father
a
comfortable
cup
of
tea
.
It
was
nearly
nine
o'clock
before
Mr
Lake
went
out
for
his
walk
,
and
by
that
time
it
was
almost
dark
,
and
the
lamp
outside
was
lighted
,
which
was
not
far
from
the
door
.
Lucilla
had
taken
a
seat
near
the
window
,
with
the
view
of
witnessing
everything
;
and
it
cannot
be
denied
that
she
felt
a
little
excited
when
Barbara
went
out
of
the
room
after
her
father
,
leaving
Rose
alone
with
her
guest
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
heart
gave
a
beat
or
two
the
more
in
the
first
minute
,
though
before
the
next
had
passed
it
had
fallen
into
its
usual
measure
.
There
were
no
candles
as
yet
in
the
parlour
,
and
Grove
Street
—
or
at
least
the
bit
of
it
which
lay
before
the
window
,
lighted
by
the
lamp
outside
,
and
relieved
against
a
little
square
of
bluish-green
sky
which
intervened
between
Miss
Hemmings
's
house
and
that
of
old
Mr
Wrangle
on
the
opposite
side
—
was
very
clear
to
the
interested
spectator
.
There
was
nobody
visible
but
an
organ-man
,
who
was
grinding
a
popular
melody
very
dolorously
out
of
his
box
,
in
what
Rose
would
have
called
the
middle
distance
;
and
beyond
,
Miss
Jane
Hemmings
looking
out
of
the
long
staircase
window
,
and
three
little
boys
in
different
attitudes
below
,
—
that
is
,
if
one
did
not
count
a
tall
figure
which
,
perhaps
with
the
view
of
listening
to
the
music
of
the
organ
,
was
coming
and
going
in
a
limited
circuit
round
the
light
of
the
lamp
.
"
How
convenient
it
is
to
have
the
lamp
so
near
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
Oh
,
do
n't
light
any
candles
,
please
;
it
is
so
nice
to
sit
in
the
dark
.
Where
is
Barbara
,
I
wonder
?
Let
us
have
some
music
,
and
put
down
that
dreadful
organ
.
I
hope
she
has
not
gone
out
.
And
where
are
you
,
you
sulky
little
Rose
?
"
"
She
has
gone
upstairs
,
"
said
Rose
,
who
began
to
feel
all
the
enormity
of
her
conduct
in
thus
betraying
her
sister
.
"
I
hate
sitting
in
the
dark
.
I
hate
being
a
spy
;
come
in
from
the
window
,
Lucilla
,
now
you
are
here
—
—
"
"
My
dear
Rose
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
I
think
you
forget
a
little
.
For
my
part
I
do
not
understand
what
being
a
spy
means
.
Barbara
knows
very
well
I
am
here
.
I
should
scorn
to
take
an
advantage
of
anybody
,
for
my
part
.
If
she
does
not
bring
him
past
the
very
window
,
and
under
my
eyes
—
Ah
,
yes
,
that
is
just
what
I
thought
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
with
gentle
satisfaction
.
But
by
this
time
poor
little
Rose
had
roused
herself
into
an
innocent
fury
.
"
What
is
just
as
you
thought
?
"
said
Rose
,
laying
an
impatient
grasp
on
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
arm
.
"
Come
in
from
the
window
,
Lucilla
,
this
moment
—
this
moment
!
Oh
,
me
,
to
think
it
should
be
my
doing
!
Oh
,
Lucilla
,
do
n't
be
so
mean
and
shabby
and
wretched
.
I
tell
you
to
come
in
—
come
in
directly
!
If
you
do
not
shut
the
window
,
and
come
and
sit
here
in
the
corner
,
I
will
never
,
never
speak
to
you
again
!
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
as
was
natural
,
took
no
notice
of
this
childish
fury
.
She
was
sitting
just
where
she
had
been
sitting
all
the
evening
,
within
sight
of
the
street
lamp
and
the
organ-grinder
,
and
Miss
Jane
Hemmings
at
the
staircase
window
;
—
just
where
Barbara
had
placed
her
,
and
where
that
young
woman
calculated
on
finding
her
,
when
she
made
a
promenade
of
triumph
up
the
partially
lighted
street
by
the
side
of
her
clandestine
suitor
.
Perhaps
Barbara
had
seen
Miss
Jane
as
well
,
and
knew
that
public
opinion
was
thus
watching
over
her
;
but
at
all
events
she
was
not
at
all
ashamed
of
herself
,
or
indignant
at
being
spied
upon
.
On
the
contrary
,
it
was
a
kind
of
apotheosis
for
Barbara
,
only
second
to
the
grand
and
crowning
triumph
which
would
be
accomplished
in
Carlingford
Church
under
the
shadow
of
that
veil
of
real
Brussels
,
which
grew
more
and
more
real
every
day
.
Thus
neither
the
actors
in
the
drama
,
nor
the
principal
spectator
,
were
in
the
smallest
degree
disturbed
by
horror
or
shame
or
sense
of
guilt
,
excepting
always
the
fanciful
little
Rose
,
who
suffered
for
everybody
;
who
could
have
wished
that
the
earth
would
open
and
swallow
up
Barbara
and
her
lover
;
who
could
have
slaughtered
Lucilla
on
the
spot
,
and
given
herself
over
to
any
kind
of
torture
for
her
treachery
.
Naturally
nobody
paid
any
sort
of
attention
to
Rose
.
Barbara
,
for
her
part
,
took
her
admirer
's
arm
in
the
twilight
with
a
swelling
of
exultation
,
which
the
gaining
of
the
very
highest
prize
in
the
department
of
ornamental
art
could
scarcely
have
conveyed
to
the
bosom
of
the
little
artist
;
and
Lucilla
put
back
her
small
assailant
softly
with
her
hand
,
and
smoothed
down
her
ruffled
plumes
.
"
My
dear
,
it
is
Miss
Hemmings
that
is
spying
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
and
poor
Barbara
would
be
so
disappointed
if
I
were
to
go
away
from
the
window
.
Have
patience
just
a
little
longer
—
there
's
a
dear
.
It
is
all
exactly
as
I
thought
.
"
And
then
there
followed
a
pause
,
which
was
a
terrible
pause
for
Rose
.
The
organ-grinder
stopped
his
doleful
ditty
,
and
there
was
scarcely
any
sound
to
be
heard
in
the
street
except
the
footsteps
approaching
and
retiring
,
the
measured
tread
of
two
people
occupied
with
each
other
,
going
now
more
slowly
,
now
more
quickly
,
as
the
humour
seized
them
,
or
as
their
conversation
grew
in
interest
;
even
the
sound
of
their
voices
came
by
times
to
the
auditors
—
Barbara
's
with
an
occasional
laugh
or
tone
of
triumph
,
and
the
other
deeper
,
with
which
Rose
had
but
little
acquaintance
,
but
which
was
perfectly
known
to
Lucilla
.
All
this
time
,
while
her
companion
sat
panting
in
the
dark
corner
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
looking
to
the
joints
of
her
harness
,
and
feeling
the
edge
of
her
weapons
.
For
,
after
all
,
it
was
no
small
enterprise
upon
which
she
was
going
forth
.
She
was
going
to
denounce
the
faithless
knight
to
his
face
,
and
take
him
out
of
the
hands
of
the
enchantress
;
but
then
she
herself
meant
to
take
him
in
hand
,
and
show
him
his
true
dangers
,
and
vindicate
his
honour
.
A
more
disinterested
enterprise
was
never
undertaken
by
any
knight-errant
.
Yet
,
at
the
same
time
,
Lucilla
could
not
help
entertaining
a
certain
involuntary
contempt
for
the
man
who
had
deserted
her
own
standard
to
put
himself
under
that
of
Barbara
Lake
,
and
who
was
being
paraded
up
and
down
here
without
knowing
it
,
to
gratify
the
vanity
of
his
new
sovereign
,
and
make
an
exhibition
of
his
weakness
.
Lucilla
would
have
been
more
than
mortal
if
she
had
not
felt
the
difference
between
her
own
rule
,
which
would
have
been
all
to
his
good
,
and
the
purely
egotistical
sway
of
Barbara
;
and
even
in
her
magnanimous
mind
,
it
was
impossible
that
pity
itself
should
not
be
mingled
with
a
certain
disdain
.
She
sat
quite
still
for
so
long
that
Barbara
grew
intoxicated
with
her
triumph
.
"
It
is
perhaps
the
last
time
,
"
Lucilla
said
to
herself
,
with
a
movement
of
compassion
;
and
the
breadth
of
her
human
sympathy
was
such
that
she
waited
till
the
very
latest
moment
,
and
let
the
deluded
young
woman
have
the
full
enjoyment
of
her
imaginary
victory
.
Then
Miss
Marjoribanks
rose
with
a
certain
solemnity
,
and
put
on
her
hat
,
and
gave
an
unappreciated
kiss
to
Rose
,
who
kept
in
her
corner
.
"
Good-night
;
I
am
going
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
The
words
were
simple
enough
,
but
yet
they
rang
in
Rose
's
ears
like
the
signal
of
a
conspiracy
.
When
the
calm
leader
of
the
expedition
went
forth
,
sensible
of
the
importance
of
her
mission
,
but
tranquil
as
great
minds
always
are
in
a
moment
of
danger
,
Rose
got
up
too
and
followed
,
trembling
in
every
limb
.
She
was
capable
of
having
thrown
herself
upon
the
spears
in
her
own
person
in
a
sudden
élan
of
indignation
and
passion
;
but
she
was
not
capable
of
waiting
till
the
right
moment
,
and
meeting
her
antagonists
in
reasonable
combat
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
went
out
deliberately
,
without
any
unnecessary
haste
,
sweeping
into
the
dusky
twilight
with
her
virginal
white
draperies
.
It
was
a
very
ordinary
scene
,
and
yet
,
even
in
the
midst
of
her
excitement
,
Rose
could
not
help
observing
involuntarily
its
pictorial
qualities
—
if
only
any
painter
could
have
transferred
to
his
canvas
the
subdued
musical
hum
of
surrounding
life
,
the
fragrance
of
the
mignonette
,
and
the
peaceful
stillness
of
the
summer
night
.
The
sky
shone
out
green-blue
,
lambent
and
wistful
,
from
the
vacant
space
between
Miss
Hemmings
's
and
Mr
Wrangle
's
,
and
there
were
the
dusky
twilight
shadows
below
,
and
the
yellow
gleam
of
the
lamp
,
and
Barbara
's
exulting
,
triumphant
figure
,
and
the
white
robes
of
the
avenging
angel
.
Rose
could
not
have
observed
all
this
if
she
had
not
been
stilled
into
a
kind
of
breathless
awe
by
the
solemn
character
of
the
situation
,
which
struck
her
as
being
somehow
like
one
of
Millais
's
pictures
.
As
for
the
lovers
,
they
had
just
turned
at
the
moment
that
Miss
Marjoribanks
came
out
,
and
consequently
met
her
straight
in
the
face
,
as
she
stood
suave
and
smiling
at
the
little
garden
door
.
"
It
is
Mr
Cavendish
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
I
am
so
glad
;
I
have
been
hoping
and
trying
to
see
you
for
ever
so
long
;
and
as
soon
as
ever
I
heard
you
talking
I
felt
sure
it
was
your
voice
.
"
This
was
the
greeting
she
addressed
to
Barbara
Lake
's
lover
.
For
his
part
he
stood
before
her
,
growing
red
and
growing
pale
,
struck
dumb
by
the
unlooked-for
meeting
,
and
with
such
a
sense
of
being
ashamed
of
himself
as
never
before
had
entered
his
mind
,
though
,
no
doubt
,
he
had
done
worse
actions
in
his
day
.
Even
Barbara
had
not
calculated
upon
this
open
encounter
;
and
instead
of
giving
him
any
assistance
,
as
was
a
woman
's
duty
in
such
a
case
,
she
only
tossed
her
head
,
and
giggled
with
an
embarrassment
which
was
more
pride
than
shame
.
As
for
Mr
Cavendish
,
he
would
have
liked
to
disappear
under
the
pavement
,
if
it
had
been
possible
.
For
once
he
and
Rose
were
agreed
.
If
a
gulf
had
opened
before
him
,
he
would
have
jumped
into
it
without
ever
pausing
to
ask
himself
why
.
And
yet
all
the
time
Miss
Marjoribanks
was
looking
as
placid
as
if
she
had
been
in
her
own
drawing-room
,
and
expecting
his
reply
to
her
friendly
observations
.
When
he
realised
that
he
ought
to
say
something
,
Mr
Cavendish
felt
that
he
had
as
much
need
to
wipe
his
forehead
as
ever
the
Archdeacon
had
.
He
turned
hot
and
cold
,
and
felt
his
mind
and
his
tongue
frozen
,
and
could
not
find
a
word
to
say
.
With
a
sudden
horror
he
woke
up
,
like
one
of
Comus
's
revellers
,
and
found
himself
changed
into
the
likeness
of
the
creature
he
consorted
with
.
If
he
had
found
an
ass
's
head
on
his
shoulders
,
he
could
not
have
felt
more
startled
and
horrified
than
when
he
heard
himself
,
in
the
imbecility
of
the
moment
,
giggle
like
Barbara
,
and
answer
to
Lucilla
's
remark
,
"
Oh
!
yes
,
it
was
my
voice
.
"
"
I
am
very
sorry
to
separate
you
from
Barbara
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
;
"
but
she
is
at
home
,
you
know
,
and
I
want
so
much
to
talk
to
you
.
Barbara
,
good-night
;
I
want
Mr
Cavendish
to
walk
home
with
me
.
Rose
,
do
n't
stand
in
the
garden
and
catch
cold
;
thank
you
,
dear
,
for
such
a
pleasant
evening
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
pressing
another
kiss
upon
her
little
friend
's
unwilling
cheek
.
When
she
had
done
this
,
she
put
out
her
hand
to
Barbara
,
and
passed
her
,
sweeping
her
white
garments
through
the
narrow
gateway
.
She
took
Mr
Cavendish
's
arm
as
if
he
had
been
a
young
brother
come
to
fetch
her
.
"
Let
us
go
round
by
the
chapel
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
I
have
so
much
to
say
to
you
.
Be
sure
to
practise
for
Thursday
,
Barbara
,
and
bid
your
papa
good-night
for
me
.
"
This
was
how
she
carried
off
Mr
Cavendish
finally
out
of
Barbara
's
very
fingers
,
and
under
her
very
eyes
.
When
the
two
sisters
were
left
standing
together
at
the
door
,
they
could
do
nothing
but
stare
at
each
other
in
the
extremity
of
their
amazement
.
Rose
,
for
her
part
,
remained
but
a
moment
,
and
then
,
feeling
by
far
the
guiltiest
and
most
miserable
of
the
whole
party
,
ran
upstairs
to
her
own
room
and
cried
as
if
her
heart
would
break
.
Barbara
,
on
the
contrary
,
who
was
past
crying
,
stood
still
at
the
door
,
and
watched
Lucilla
's
white
dress
disappearing
on
the
way
to
Grange
Lane
with
indescribable
emotions
.
A
young
woman
cannot
call
the
police
,
or
appeal
to
the
crier
,
when
it
is
her
lover
whom
she
has
lost
:
but
to
see
him
carried
off
by
the
strong
hand
—
to
watch
him
gradually
going
away
and
disappearing
from
her
eyes
—
to
hear
his
steps
withdrawing
into
the
distance
—
was
such
a
trial
as
few
are
called
upon
to
bear
.
She
stood
and
looked
after
him
,
and
could
not
believe
her
eyes
.
And
then
it
was
all
so
sudden
—
an
affair
of
a
moment
.
Barbara
could
not
realise
how
the
world
had
turned
round
,
and
this
revolution
had
been
effected
;
—
one
minute
she
had
been
leaning
on
his
arm
triumphant
,
making
a
show
and
exhibition
of
him
in
the
pride
of
her
heart
,
though
he
did
not
know
it
;
and
the
next
was
not
she
standing
here
watching
him
with
a
blank
countenance
and
a
despairing
heart
,
while
Lucilla
had
pounced
upon
him
and
carried
him
off
in
her
cruel
grasp
?
The
blow
was
so
sudden
,
that
Barbara
stood
speechless
and
motionless
till
the
two
departing
figures
had
vanished
in
the
darkness
.
Would
he
come
back
again
to-morrow
,
or
was
he
gone
for
ever
and
ever
?
Such
were
the
thoughts
of
the
forsaken
maiden
,
as
she
stood
paralysed
under
this
sudden
change
of
fortune
,
at
her
father
's
door
.
If
some
cruel
spectator
had
thrown
into
the
fire
that
Brussels
veil
with
which
her
imagination
had
so
long
played
,
and
Barbara
had
stood
heart-struck
,
watching
the
filmy
tissue
dissolve
into
ashes
before
her
eyes
,
her
sense
of
sudden
anguish
could
not
have
been
more
acute
.
Yet
,
after
all
,
Barbara
's
pangs
were
nothing
to
those
of
Mr
Cavendish
,
as
he
felt
Miss
Marjoribanks
's
light
touch
on
his
arm
,
and
felt
his
doomed
feet
turn
in
spite
of
himself
in
the
most
dangerous
direction
,
and
became
conscious
that
he
was
being
led
beyond
all
possibility
of
resistance
,
back
to
Grange
Lane
and
to
his
fate
.
To
be
sure
it
was
dark
,
which
was
one
consolation
;
but
it
was
not
dark
enough
to
conceal
Lucilla
's
white
dress
,
nor
the
well-known
form
and
lineaments
of
the
young
monarch
of
Grange
Lane
,
in
whose
company
nobody
could
pass
unobserved
.
Mr
Cavendish
could
have
faced
danger
by
sea
and
land
with
the
average
amount
of
courage
;
but
the
danger
of
the
walk
down
the
little
street
,
which
afterwards
led
to
St
Roque
's
,
and
up
the
embowered
stillness
of
Grange
Lane
,
was
more
than
he
was
equal
to
.
He
could
not
be
sure
of
making
a
single
step
by
these
garden-walls
without
meeting
somebody
who
knew
him
—
somebody
whose
curiosity
might
ruin
him
in
Carlingford
;
or
even
without
the
risk
of
encountering
in
the
face
of
that
arch-enemy
,
who
would
not
go
away
,
and
whose
presence
had
banished
him
from
the
place
.
It
may
be
supposed
that
,
under
these
terrible
circumstances
,
Mr
Cavendish
's
thoughts
of
Barbara
,
who
had
got
him
into
this
scrape
,
were
far
from
lover-like
.
He
was
a
man
universally
popular
among
ladies
,
and
who
owed
a
great
deal
of
the
social
consideration
which
he
prized
so
highly
to
this
fact
;
and
yet
the
most
gentle
sentiment
in
his
mind
at
that
moment
,
was
a
"
Confound
these
women
!
"
which
he
breathed
to
himself
,
all
low
and
deep
,
as
he
went
slowly
along
by
Lucilla
's
side
.
As
for
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
her
thoughts
were
of
a
very
much
more
serious
description
than
anything
her
unlucky
escort
was
thinking
of
,
and
a
minute
or
two
passed
in
silence
before
she
could
make
up
her
mind
to
speak
.
"
I
have
been
thinking
a
great
deal
about
you
lately
,
and
wishing
very
much
to
see
you
,
"
said
Lucilla
.
"
Did
not
Mrs
Woodburn
tell
you
?
—
I
think
I
should
have
written
to
you
had
I
known
your
address
.
"
"
And
I
am
sure
you
would
have
made
me
the
happiest
of
men
,
"
said
the
victim
,
with
rueful
politeness
.
"
What
had
I
done
to
deserve
such
a
privilege
?
But
my
sister
did
not
tell
me
;
she
left
me
to
hear
it
from
your
own
—
—
"
"
Yes
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
with
a
certain
solemnity
,
interrupting
him
;
"
I
have
been
thinking
a
great
deal
—
and
hearing
a
great
deal
about
you
,
Mr
Cavendish
.
"
When
she
had
said
this
Lucilla
sighed
,
and
her
sigh
found
a
terrible
echo
in
her
hearer
's
bosom
.
She
knew
that
he
turned
green
in
the
darkness
as
he
gave
an
anxious
look
at
her
.
But
he
was
too
much
alarmed
to
give
her
an
opportunity
of
studying
his
face
.
"
Hearing
of
me
,
"
he
said
,
and
tried
to
laugh
;
"
what
have
my
kind
friends
been
saying
?
"
and
for
one
moment
the
sufferer
tried
to
delude
himself
that
it
was
some
innocent
gossip
about
Barbara
which
might
be
circulating
in
Grange
Lane
.
"
Hush
,
"
said
Lucilla
,
"
do
n't
laugh
,
please
;
for
I
want
to
have
a
very
serious
talk
.
I
have
been
hearing
about
you
from
some
very
,
very
old
friends
,
Mr
Cavendish
—
not
anything
about
this
,
you
know
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
,
waving
her
hand
in
the
direction
of
Grove
Street
.
And
then
Barbara
Lake
and
everything
connected
with
her
vanished
like
a
shadow
from
the
unfortunate
man
's
mind
.
It
was
horribly
ungrateful
on
his
part
,
but
it
was
,
as
Miss
Marjoribanks
would
have
said
,
just
what
might
have
been
expected
,
and
how
They
always
behave
.
He
had
no
longer
any
time
or
patience
for
the
object
which
had
been
giving
occupation
and
interest
to
his
solitude
.
He
woke
up
in
a
moment
,
and
gave
a
passing
curse
to
his
folly
,
and
faced
the
real
danger
as
he
best
could
.
"
You
must
be
making
a
mistake
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
he
said
,
with
some
bitterness
;
"
it
should
have
been
,
very
,
very
old
enemy
.
I
know
who
it
is
.
It
is
that
Archdeacon
you
ladies
make
such
a
fuss
about
.
It
is
he
who
has
been
telling
lies
about
me
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
.
He
breathed
a
deep
hard
breath
as
he
spoke
,
and
the
blood
came
back
to
his
face
.
Perhaps
for
the
first
moment
he
felt
satisfied
,
and
breathed
freer
after
it
was
over
;
but
at
the
same
time
it
was
very
dreadful
to
him
to
feel
that
he
was
found
out
,
and
that
henceforth
Grange
Lane
would
shut
its
doors
and
avert
its
countenance
.
"
If
you
take
his
word
for
it
,
I
may
give
in
at
once
,
"
he
continued
,
bitterly
.
"
A
parson
will
say
anything
;
they
are
as
bad
as
—
as
women
.
"
This
the
poor
man
said
in
his
despair
,
because
he
did
not
know
what
he
was
saying
;
for
in
reality
he
knew
that
women
had
been
his
best
friends
,
and
that
he
had
still
a
chance
,
if
the
judgment
was
to
rest
with
them
.
"
You
are
very
ungrateful
to
say
so
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
but
it
is
only
because
you
are
excited
,
I
suppose
.
No
,
Mr
Cavendish
,
it
was
not
the
Archdeacon
;
on
the
contrary
,
it
was
a
lady
,
and
she
said
nothing
but
good
of
you
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
and
then
there
was
a
pause
.
As
for
Mr
Cavendish
,
it
would
be
altogether
impossible
to
describe
the
state
of
his
mind
.
He
was
like
a
man
suddenly
reprieved
,
but
giddy
with
the
shock
,
and
feeling
the
halter
still
round
his
neck
,
and
knowing
that
he
had
himself
undermined
the
ground
on
which
he
was
standing
.
It
was
Lucilla
who
supported
him
in
the
shock
of
the
moment
,
for
all
his
self-command
could
not
keep
him
from
a
momentary
shiver
and
stagger
when
he
found
that
things
were
not
so
bad
as
he
thought
.
"
A
lady
,
and
she
said
nothing
but
good
!
"
he
muttered
,
under
his
breath
;
and
then
he
made
an
effort
to
recover
himself
.
"
Pardon
me
,
I
cannot
guess
who
my
unknown
friend
may
be
.
It
is
very
soothing
to
one
's
feelings
to
be
spoken
well
of
by
a
lady
,
"
said
Mr
Cavendish
,
and
he
laughed
again
in
a
discordant
unsteady
way
.
Lucilla
regarded
him
through
all
these
fluctuations
with
natural
pity
,
and
at
the
same
time
with
the
calmness
of
a
knowledge
which
was
aware
of
all
and
had
nothing
more
to
discover
;
and
at
the
end
Mr
Cavendish
perceived
her
calm
,
and
the
absence
of
wonder
and
curiosity
in
her
face
,
and
began
to
perceive
that
he
had
something
very
serious
to
deal
with
—
more
serious
even
than
he
had
at
first
supposed
.
"
I
am
going
to
tell
you
all
about
it
,
"
said
Miss
Marjoribanks
,
"
but
in
the
meantime
wait
a
minute
and
let
me
speak
to
you
.
I
have
something
very
serious
to
say
.
"
It
was
for
this
they
stopped
short
at
the
foot
of
Grange
Lane
just
where
the
land
was
already
parcelled
out
for
St
Roque
's
.
What
Lucilla
was
going
to
say
was
too
important
to
be
spoken
while
walking
,
and
she
withdrew
her
hand
from
Mr
Cavendish
's
arm
.
They
were
both
so
much
absorbed
that
they
did
not
see
anybody
coming
,
nor
indeed
had
any
attention
to
spare
for
external
affairs
.
The
blood
had
deserted
Mr
Cavendish
's
face
,
and
he
was
once
more
green
with
anxiety
and
inquietude
.
He
stood
facing
her
,
feeling
that
the
crisis
of
his
fate
had
come
,
and
not
knowing
whether
it
was
absolute
despair
or
a
faint
dawning
of
hope
that
possessed
him
.
If
he
had
been
the
most
passionate
of
lovers
,
and
if
she
had
held
in
her
hands
the
dreadful
alternative
between
rapture
and
misery
,
there
could
not
have
been
a
more
rapt
and
absorbing
attention
in
Mr
Cavendish
's
face
.
"
I
want
to
tell
you
,
first
of
all
,
that
you
must
have
confidence
in
me
,
"
said
Lucilla
;
"
you
—
must
—
have
confidence
in
me
.
We
can
do
nothing
without
that
.
I
know
everything
,
Mr
Cavendish
,
"
Miss
Marjoribanks
added
compassionately
—
"
everything
;
but
nobody
else
knows
it
.
I
hope
I
can
arrange
everything
if
it
is
left
in
my
hands
.
This
is
what
I
wanted
to
tell
you
first
of
all
.
Before
everything
,
you
must
have
confidence
in
me
.
"
What
Mr
Cavendish
might
have
answered
to
this
solemn
appeal
it
would
be
vain
to
imagine
;
for
the
truth
was
,
he
was
stopped
before
he
could
utter
a
word
.
He
was
stopped
and
seized
by
the
hand
,
and
greeted
with
a
frankness
which
was
,
perhaps
,
all
the
more
loud
and
cordial
from
what
appeared
to
the
new-comer
the
comic
character
of
the
situation
.
"
It
is
Cavendish
,
by
Jove
!
"
the
intruder
exclaimed
,
waving
his
hand
to
some
people
who
were
coming
on
behind
him
.
"
I
beg
a
thousand
pardons
for
disturbing
you
,
my
dear
fellow
;
but
they
all
talk
about
you
so
,
that
I
was
determined
to
make
sure
it
was
you
.
Good
heavens
,
Miss
Marjoribanks
!
"
General
Travers
added
,
taking
off
his
hat
.
It
was
Mr
and
Mrs
Centum
who
were
coming
down
behind
him
—
she
with
a
light
shawl
thrown
over
her
head
,
tempted
out
by
the
beauty
of
the
evening
;
and
Lucilla
saw
in
a
moment
the
consequences
of
this
encounter
,
and
how
it
would
be
over
all
Carlingford
before
to-morrow
morning
that
she
and
Mr
Cavendish
were
betrothed
at
the
very
least
.
Miss
Marjoribanks
had
all
her
wits
about
her
,
as
ever
,
fortunately
for
both
.
"
Yes
,
it
is
me
,
"
she
said
calmly
;
"
I
have
been
taking
tea
with
the
Lakes
,
and
I
made
Mr
Cavendish
give
me
his
arm
home
.
He
did
not
like
being
found
out
,
to
be
sure
,
but
he
could
not
help
himself
;
and
we
all
know
about
that
,
"
Lucilla
added
,
with
a
smile
,
taking
once
more
the
unfortunate
man
's
arm
.
"
Oh
,
yes
,
we
all
know
,
"
said
Mrs
Centum
,
with
a
laugh
;
but
yet
,
notwithstanding
,
everybody
felt
sure
that
it
was
all
Lucilla
's
cleverness
,
and
that
Barbara
Lake
was
a
myth
and
fiction
.
And
it
was
thus
,
with
Miss
Marjoribanks
leaning
on
his
arm
,
and
General
Travers
,
in
all
the
warmth
of
renewed
friendship
,
guarding
him
on
the
other
side
,
that
Mr
Cavendish
,
whose
head
was
in
a
whirl
of
excitement
,
and
who
did
not
know
what
he
was
doing
,
was
led
back
in
triumph
past
Colonel
Chiley
's
very
door
,
where
the
Archdeacon
was
lying
in
wait
to
crunch
his
bones
,
back
from
all
his
aberrations
into
the
very
heart
of
Grange
Lane
.
Chapter
XXIX
Mr
Cavendish
was
led
back
to
his
own
house
that
evening
by
General
Travers
,
whose
claim
of
acquaintance
was
too
decided
to
be
rejected
.
He
never
knew
very
well
what
passed
between
the
moment
when
Miss
Marjoribanks
began
to
expound
to
him
the
urgent
necessity
that
he
should
confide
in
her
,
and
the
moment
in
which
he
found
himself
in
his
own
house
,
admitted
eagerly
by
the
surprised
and
anxious
servants
,
and
conducted
by
the
energetic
soldier
.
That
he
had
taken
leave
of
Lucilla
at
her
own
door
,
that
he
had
watched
her
white
dress
sweep
away
into
the
dark
garden
with
a
faint
sense
that
it
was
his
only
remaining
protector
who
thus
left
him
,
and
that
after
that
he
had
smoked
a
horrible
cigar
with
Mr
Centum
,
and
been
accompanied
home
by
the
old
acquaintance
,
who
had
turned
up
at
so
unlucky
a
moment
,
—
was
all
that
the
poor
man
was
aware
of
.
And
yet
it
is
to
be
supposed
that
on
the
whole
he
behaved
himself
very
much
like
other
people
,
since
General
Travers
had
no
distinct
idea
that
his
company
was
undesirable
,
or
that
his
cordial
recognition
was
anything
but
welcome
.
The
General
,
indeed
,
took
it
as
quite
natural
,
under
the
circumstances
,
that
Cavendish
should
be
a
little
confused
.
A
man
who
is
no
longer
a
very
young
man
,
and
has
a
character
to
support
,
does
not
care
to
be
found
mooning
with
the
object
of
his
affections
on
a
summer
evening
,
like
a
boy
of
twenty
;
and
General
Travers
was
perfectly
aware
that
he
had
thus
a
very
good
joke
against
Cavendish
.
"
It
is
worth
a
man
's
while
to
set
up
a
bachelor
establishment
in
the
country
,
"
the
General
said
.
"
By
Jove
!
I
wish
I
could
do
it
.
It
makes
a
fellow
feel
Arcadian
,
and
ready
for
anything
;
"
and
for
his
own
part
he
was
very
ready
to
seize
upon
his
former
acquaintance
,
a
man
who
belonged
to
his
club
,
and
had
a
chance
to
know
what
he
was
talking
about
.
"
As
for
Charlie
Centum
,
"
the
soldier
said
,
"
what
between
business
and
matrimony
,
he
has
grown
the
greatest
guy
imaginable
;
and
I
ca
n't
go
off
directly
,
you
know
;
and
then
there
's
always
this
business
about
the
depot
.
It
's
immense
luck
to
find
you
here
,
Cavendish
,
"
General
Travers
added
,
with
flattering
cordiality
;
and
if
poor
Mr
Cavendish
was
not
grateful
,
it
certainly
was
not
his
friend
's
fault
.
He
led
the
way
into
his
house
with
a
glum
countenance
and
a
sinking
heart
,
though
fortunately
the
latter
was
not
visible
.
It
was
a
very
nice
house
,
fitted
up
with
all
that
luxury
of
comfort
which
a
man
who
has
,
as
Mrs
Centum
said
,
"
only
himself
to
look
to
,
"
can
afford
to
collect
around
him
.
Mr
Cavendish
had
only
himself
,
and
he
had
made
his
habitation
perfect
,
though
,
on
the
whole
,
he
did
not
pass
a
very
great
deal
of
his
time
at
home
.
He
had
some
nice
pictures
and
a
good
library
,
though
he
was
not
particularly
given
to
the
arts
;
and
he
had
an
admirable
cellar
,
as
all
the
gentlemen
owned
in
Carlingford
,
though
,
for
his
own
part
,
he
was
very
moderate
in
that
point
,
and
did
not
give
himself
any
airs
on
the
subject
.
Mr
Centum
,
on
the
contrary
,
was
one
of
the
men
who
talk
about
vintages
,
and
raise
expectations
never
to
be
carried
out
.
And
General
Travers
could
not
but
feel
the
force
of
the
contrast
as
he
sat
deep
into
the
night
,
and
"
talked
over
everything
,
"
with
the
man
who
by
that
time
he
felt
convinced
was
one
of
his
best
friends
.
As
for
Mr
Cavendish
,
it
would
be
very
difficult
to
describe
his
feelings
.
He
had
been
knocking
about
in
all
sorts
of
poor
places
,
making
clandestine
visits
to
his
sister
,
and
hovering
round
the
more
than
suburban
simplicity
of
Grove
Street
,
and
the
sense
of
being
once
more
enveloped
and
surrounded
by
all
that
was
pleasant
to
the
eye
and
comfortable
to
the
outer
man
was
wonderfully
consolatory
and
agreeable
.
But
his
mind
was
in
a
dreadfully
harassed
condition
all
the
same
.
He
was
preoccupied
to
the
last
degree
,
wondering
what
Miss
Marjoribanks
really
knew
,
and
how
far
he
had
betrayed
himself
,
and
to
what
extent
it
would
be
safe
,
as
she
herself
said
,
to
confide
in
Lucilla
;
and
at
the
same
time
he
was
obliged
to
listen
to
and
show
a
certain
interest
in
the
General
's
stories
,
and
to
make
now
and
then
a
painful
effort
of
mind
to
recall
some
of
the
mutual
friends
referred
to
,
whose
names
and
persons
had
in
the
meantime
slipped
out
of
his
memory
.
All
the
babble
of
the
club
,
which
General
Travers
felt
must
be
so
refreshing
to
the
ears
of
a
rusticated
member
,
fell
as
flat
upon
Mr
Cavendish
,
whose
mind
was
full
of
other
matters
,
as
if
it
had
been
the
merest
old
woman
's
gossip
,
which
,
to
be
sure
,
it
slightly
resembled
in
some
points
.
The
gallant
General
made
himself
so
agreeable
that
he
nearly
drove
the
unfortunate
man
out
of
his
senses
,
and
,
when
he
had
exhausted
all
other
means
of
aggravation
,
returned
with
fresh
zest
to
the
sentimental
circumstances
in
which
,
as
he
supposed
,
he
had
found
his
companion
out
.
"
Very
sensible
I
call
it
,
"
said
General
Travers
.
"
To
be
candid
,
I
do
n't
call
her
strictly
handsome
,
you
know
;
she
's
too
big
for
that
—
and
I
do
n't
suppose
she
's
of
any
family
to
speak
of
;
though
perhaps
you
do
n't
mind
that
trifling
circumstance
;
but
a
woman
that
will
dress
well
and
light
up
well
,
and
knows
how
to
give
a
man
a
capital
dinner
,
by
Jove
