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'It was through you in the first place that I did look into your
grounds！' she said excitedly。 'It was your presumption that caused
me to go there。 I should not have thought of such a thing else。 If
you had not said what you did say I never should have thought of you
or Farnfield eitherFarnfield might have been in Kamtschatka for
all I cared。'
'I hope sincerely that I never said anything to disturb you？'
'Yes； you didnot to me； but to somebody；' said Ethelberta； with
her eyes over…full of retained tears。
'What have I said to somebody that can be in the least objectionable
to you？' inquired Neigh； with much concern。
'You saidyou said； you meant to marry mejust as if I had no
voice in the matter！ And that annoyed me； and made me go there out
of curiosity。'
Neigh changed colour a little。 'Well； I did say it： I own that I
said it；' he replied at last。 Probably he knew enough of her nature
not to feel long disconcerted by her disclosure； however she might
have become possessed of the information。 The explanation was
certainly a great excuse to her curiosity； but if Ethelberta had
tried she could not have given him a better ground for making light
of her objections to his suit。 'I felt that I must marry you； that
we were predestined to marry ages ago； and I feel it still！' he
continued； with listless ardour。 'You seem to regret your interest
in Farnfield； but to me it is a charm； and has been ever since I
heard of it。'
'If you only knew all！' she said helplessly； showing； without
perceiving it； an unnecessary humility in the remark； since there
was no more reason just then that she should go into details about
her life than that he should about his。 But melancholy and mistaken
thoughts of herself as a counterfeit had brought her to this。
'I do not wish to know more；' said Neigh。
'And would you marry any woman off…hand； without being thoroughly
acquainted with her circumstances？' she said； looking at him
curiously； and with a little admiration； for his unconscionably
phlegmatic treatment of her motives in going to Farnfield had a not
unbecoming daring about it in Ethelberta's eye。
'I would marry a woman off…hand when that woman is you。 I would
make you mine this moment did I dare； or； to speak with absolute
accuracy； within twenty…four hours。 Do assent to it； dear Mrs。
Petherwin； and let me be sure of you for ever。 I'll drive to
Doctors' Commons this minute； and meet you to…morrow morning at nine
in the church just below。 It is a simple impulse； but I would
adhere to it in the coolest moment。 Shall it be arranged in that
way； instead of our waiting through the ordinary routine of
preparation？ I am not a youth now； but I can see the bliss of such
an act as that； and the contemptible nature of methodical
proceedings beside it！'
He had taken her hand。 Ethelberta gave it a subtle movement
backwards to imply that he was not to retain the prize； and said；
'One whose inner life is almost unknown to you； and whom you have
scarcely seen except at other people's houses！'
'We know each other far better than we may think at first；' said
Neigh。 'We are not people to love in a hurry； and I have not done
so in this case。 As for worldly circumstances； the most important
items in a marriage contract are the persons themselves； and； as far
as I am concerned； if I get a lady fair and wise I care for nothing
further。 I know you are beautiful； for all London owns it； I know
you are talented； for I have read your poetry and heard your
romances； and I know you are politic and discreet'
'For I have examined your property；' said she； with a weak smile。
Neigh bowed。 'And what more can I wish to know？ Come； shall it
be？'
'Certainly not to…morrow。'
'I would be entirely in your hands in that matter。 I will not urge
you to be precipitateI could not expect you to be ready yet。 My
suddenness perhaps offended you； but； having thought deeply of this
bright possibility； I was apt to forget the forbearance that one
ought to show at first in mentioning it。 If I have done wrong
forgive me。'
'I will think of that；' said Ethelberta； with a cooler manner。 'But
seriously； all these words are nothing to the purpose。 I must
remark that I prize your friendship； but it is not for me to marry
now。 You have convinced me of your goodness of heart and freedom
from unworthy suspicions； let that be enough。 The best way in which
I in my turn can convince you of my goodness of heart is by asking
you to see me in private no more。'
'And do you refuse to think of me as。 Why do you treat me like
that； after all？' said Neigh； surprised at this want of harmony with
his principle that one convert to matrimony could always find a
second ready…made。
'I cannot explain； I cannot explain；' said she； impatiently。 'I
would and I would notexplain I mean； not marry。 I don't love
anybody； and I have no heart left for beginning。 It is only honest
in me to tell you that I am interested in watching another man's
career； though that is not to the point either； for no close
relationship with him is contemplated。 But I do not wish to speak
of this any more。 Do not press me to it。'
'Certainly I will not；' said Neigh； seeing that she was distressed
and sorrowful。 'But do consider me and my wishes； I have a right to
ask it for it is only asking a continuance of what you have already
begun to do。 To…morrow I believe I shall have the happiness of
seeing you again。'
She did not say no； and long after the door had closed upon him she
remained fixed in thought。 'How can he be blamed for his manner；'
she said； 'after knowing what I did！'
Ethelberta as she sat felt herself much less a Petherwin than a
Chickerel； much less a poetess richly freighted with fancy than an
adventuress with a nebulous prospect。 Neigh was one of the few men
whose presence seemed to attenuate her dignity in some mysterious
way to its very least proportions； and that act of espial； which had
so quickly and inexplicably come to his knowledge； helped his
influence still more。 She knew little of the nature of the town
bachelor； there were opaque depths in him which her thoughts had
never definitely plumbed。 Notwithstanding her exaltation to the
atmosphere of the Petherwin family； Ethelberta was very far from
having the thoroughbred London woman's knowledge of sets； grades；
coteries； cliques； forms； glosses； and niceties； particularly on the
masculine side。 Setting the years from her infancy to her first
look into town against those linking that epoch with the present；
the former period covered not only the greater time； but contained
the mass of her most vivid impressions of life and its ways。 But in
recognizing her ignorance of the ratio between words to women and
deeds to women in the ethical code of the bachelor of the club； she
forgot that human nature in the gross differs little with situation；
and that a gift which； if the germs were lacking； no amount of
training in clubs and coteries could supply； was mother…wit like her
own。
27。 MRS。 BELMAINE'S … CRIPPLEGATE CHURCH
Neigh's remark that he believed he should see Ethelberta again the
nex