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gentleman called Mr。 Neigh been here？'
'O yesI think it is Neighthere's a card upstairs；' replied her
aunt。 'I told him you were alone at the cathedral； and I believe he
walked that way。 Besides that one； another has come for youa Mr。
Ladywell； and he is waiting。'
'Not for me？'
'Yes； indeed。 I thought he seemed so anxious； under a sort of
assumed calmness； that I recommended him to remain till you came
in。'
'Goodness； aunt； why did you？' Ethelberta said； and thought how much
her mother's sister resembled her mother in doings of that sort。
'I thought he had some good reason for seeing you。 Are these men
intruders； then？'
'O noa woman who attempts a public career must expect to be
treated as public property： what would be an intrusion on a
domiciled gentlewoman is a tribute to me。 You cannot have celebrity
and sex…privilege both。' Thus Ethelberta laughed off the awkward
conjuncture； inwardly deploring the unconscionable maternal meddling
which had led to this； though not resentfully； for she had too much
staunchness of heart to decry a parent's misdirected zeal。 Had the
clanship feeling been universally as strong as in the Chickerel
family； the fable of the well…bonded fagot might have remained
unwritten。
Ladywell had sent her a letter about getting his picture of herself
engraved for an illustrated paper； and she had not replied；
considering that she had nothing to do with the matter； her form and
feature having been given in the painting as no portrait at all； but
as those of an ideal。 To see him now would be vexatious； and yet it
was chilly and formal to an ungenerous degree to keep aloof from
him； sitting lonely in the same house。 'A few weeks hence；' she
thought； 'when Menlove's disclosures make me ridiculous； he may
slight me as a lackey's girl； an upstart； an adventuress； and hardly
return my bow in the street。 Then I may wish I had given him no
personal cause for additional bitterness。' So； putting off the fine
lady； Ethelberta thought she would see Ladywell at once。
Ladywell was unaffectedly glad to meet her； so glad； that Ethelberta
wished heartily； for his sake； there could be warm friendship
between herself and him； as well as all her lovers； without that
insistent courtship…and…marriage question； which sent them all
scattering like leaves in a pestilent blast； at enmity with one
another。 She was less pleased when she found that Ladywell； after
saying all there was to say about his painting； gently signified
that he had been misinformed； as he believed； concerning her future
intentions； which had led to his absenting himself entirely from
her； the remark being of course； a natural product of her mother's
injudicious message to him。
She cut him short with terse candour。 'Yes；' she said； 'a false
report is in circulation。 I am not yet engaged to be married to any
one； if that is your meaning。'
Ladywell looked cheerful at this frank answer； and said tentatively；
'Am I forgotten？'
'No； you are exactly as you always were in my mind。'
'Then I have been cruelly deceived。 I was guided too much by
appearances； and they were very delusive。 I am beyond measure glad
I came here to…day。 I called at your house and learnt that you were
here； and as I was going out of town； in any indefinite direction； I
settled then to come this way。 What a happy idea it was！ To think
of you nowand I may be permitted to'
'Assuredly you may not。 How many times I have told you that！'
'But I do not wish for any formal engagement；' said Ladywell
quickly； fearing she might commit herself to some expression of
positive denial； which he could never surmount。 'I'll waitI'll
wait any length of time。 Remember； you have never absolutely
forbidden myfriendship。 Will you delay your answer till some time
hence； when you have thoroughly considered； since I fear it may be a
hasty one now？'
'Yes； indeed； it may be hasty。'
'You will delay it？'
'Yes。'
'When shall it be？'
'Say a month hence。 I suggest that； because by that time you will
have found an answer in your own mind： strange things may happen
before then。 〃She shall follow after her lovers； but she shall not
overtake them； and she shall seek them； but shall not find them；
then shall she say； I will go and return to my first〃however；
that's no matter。'
'Whatdid you？' Ladywell began； altogether bewildered by this。
'It is a passage in Hosea which came to my mind； as possibly
applicable to myself some day；' she answered。 'It was mere
impulse。'
'Ha…ha！a jestone of your romances broken loose。 There is no law
for impulse： that is why I am here。'
Thus fancifully they conversed till the interview concluded。
Getting her to promise that she would see him again； Ladywell
retired to a sitting…room on the same landing； in which he had been
writing letters before she came up。 Immediately upon this her aunt；
who began to suspect that something peculiar was in the wind； came
to tell her that Mr。 Neigh had been inquiring for her again。
'Send him in；' said Ethelberta。
Neigh's footsteps approached； and the well…known figure entered。
Ethelberta received him smilingly； for she was getting so used to
awkward juxtapositions that she treated them quite as a natural
situation。 She merely hoped that Ladywell would not hear them
talking through the partition。
Neigh scarcely said anything as a beginning： she knew his errand
perfectly； and unaccountable as it was to her； the strange and
unceremonious relationship between them； that had originated in the
peculiar conditions of their first close meeting； was continued now
as usual。
'Have you been able to bestow a thought on the question between us？
I hope so；' said Neigh。
'It is no use；' said Ethelberta。 'Wait a month； and you will not
require an answer。 You will not mind speaking low； because of a
person in the next room？'
'Not at all。Why will that be？'
'I might say； but let us speak of something else。'
'I don't see how we can；' said Neigh brusquely。 'I had no other
reason on earth for calling here。 I wished to get the matter
settled； and I could not be satisfied without seeing you。 I hate
writing on matters of this sort。 In fact I can't do it； and that's
why I am here。'
He was still speaking when an attendant entered with a note。
'Will you excuse me one moment？' said Ethelberta； stepping to the
window and opening the missive。 It contained these words only； in a
scrawl so full of deformities that she could hardly piece its
meaning together：
'I must see you again to…day unless you absolutely deny yourself to
me； which I shall take as a refusal to meet me any more。 I will
arrive； punctually； five minutes after you receive this note。 Do
pray be alone if you can； and eternally gratify；Yours；
'MOUNTCLERE。'
'If anything has happened I shall be pleased to wait；' said Neigh；
seeing her concern when she had closed the note。
'O no； it is nothing；' said Ethelberta precipitately。 'Yet I think
I will ask you to wait；' she added； not liking to dismiss Neigh in a
hurry； for she was not insensible to his perseverance in seeking