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the usual duties of the office。' She was going to add； 'Though I
like your appearance；' but the words seemed offensive to apply to
the ladylike girl before her； and she modified them to； 'though I
like you much。'
'I am sorry I misled you； madam；' said Cytherea。
Miss Aldclyffe stood in a reverie； without replying。
'Good afternoon；' continued Cytherea。
'Good…bye； Miss GrayeI hope you will succeed。'
Cytherea turned away towards the door。 The movement chanced to be
one of her masterpieces。 It was precise： it had as much beauty as
was compatible with precision； and as little coquettishness as was
compatible with beauty。
And she had in turning looked over her shoulder at the other lady
with a faint accent of reproach in her face。 Those who remember
Greuze's 'Head of a Girl；' have an idea of Cytherea's look askance
at the turning。 It is not for a man to tell fishers of men how to
set out their fascinations so as to bring about the highest possible
average of takes within the year： but the action that tugs the
hardest of all at an emotional beholder is this sweet method of
turning which steals the bosom away and leaves the eyes behind。
Now Miss Aldclyffe herself was no tyro at wheeling。 When Cytherea
had closed the door upon her； she remained for some time in her
motionless attitude； listening to the gradually dying sound of the
maiden's retreating footsteps。 She murmured to herself； 'It is
almost worth while to be bored with instructing her in order to have
a creature who could glide round my luxurious indolent body in that
manner； and look at me in that wayI warrant how light her fingers
are upon one's head and neck。 。 。 。 What a silly modest young thing
she is； to go away so suddenly as that！' She rang the bell。
'Ask the young lady who has just left me to step back again；' she
said to the attendant。 'Quick！ or she will be gone。'
Cytherea was now in the vestibule； thinking that if she had told her
history； Miss Aldclyffe might perhaps have taken her into the
household； yet her history she particularly wished to conceal from a
stranger。 When she was recalled she turned back without feeling
much surprise。 Something； she knew not what； told her she had not
seen the last of Miss Aldclyffe。
'You have somebody to refer me to； of course；' the lady said； when
Cytherea had re…entered the room。
'Yes： Mr。 Thorn； a solicitor at Aldbrickham。'
'And are you a clever needlewoman？'
'I am considered to be。'
'Then I think that at any rate I will write to Mr。 Thorn；' said Miss
Aldclyffe； with a little smile。 'It is true； the whole proceeding
is very irregular； but my present maid leaves next Monday； and
neither of the five I have already seen seem to do for me。 。 。 。
Well； I will write to Mr。 Thorn； and if his reply is satisfactory；
you shall hear from me。 It will be as well to set yourself in
readiness to come on Monday。'
When Cytherea had again been watched out of the room； Miss Aldclyffe
asked for writing materials； that she might at once communicate with
Mr。 Thorn。 She indecisively played with the pen。 'Suppose Mr。
Thorn's reply to be in any way dishearteningand even if so from
his own imperfect acquaintance with the young creature more than
from circumstantial knowledgeI shall feel obliged to give her up。
Then I shall regret that I did not give her one trial in spite of
other people's prejudices。 All her account of herself is reliable
enoughyes； I can see that by her face。 I like that face of hers。'
Miss Aldclyffe put down the pen and left the hotel without writing
to Mr。 Thorn。
V。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
1。 AUGUST THE EIGHTH。 MORNING AND AFTERNOON
At post…time on that following Monday morning； Cytherea watched so
anxiously for the postman； that as the time which must bring him
narrowed less and less her vivid expectation had only a degree less
tangibility than his presence itself。 In another second his form
came into view。 He brought two letters for Cytherea。
One from Miss Aldclyffe； simply stating that she wished Cytherea to
come on trial： that she would require her to be at Knapwater House
by Monday evening。
The other was from Edward Springrove。 He told her that she was the
bright spot of his life： that her existence was far dearer to him
than his own： that he had never known what it was to love till he
had met her。 True； he had felt passing attachments to other faces
from time to time； but they all had been weak inclinations towards
those faces as they then appeared。 He loved her past and future； as
well as her present。 He pictured her as a child： he loved her。 He
pictured her of sage years： he loved her。 He pictured her in
trouble； he loved her。 Homely friendship entered into his love for
her； without which all love was evanescent。
He would make one depressing statement。 Uncontrollable
circumstances （a long history； with which it was impossible to
acquaint her at present） operated to a certain extent as a drag upon
his wishes。 He had felt this more strongly at the time of their
parting than he did nowand it was the cause of his abrupt
behaviour； for which he begged her to forgive him。 He saw now an
honourable way of freeing himself； and the perception had prompted
him to write。 In the meantime might he indulge in the hope of
possessing her on some bright future day； when by hard labour
generated from her own encouraging words； he had placed himself in a
position she would think worthy to be shared with him？
Dear little letter； she huddled it up。 So much more important a
love…letter seems to a girl than to a man。 Springrove was
unconsciously clever in his letters； and a man with a talent of that
kind may write himself up to a hero in the mind of a young woman who
loves him without knowing much about him。 Springrove already stood
a cubit higher in her imagination than he did in his shoes。
During the day she flitted about the room in an ecstasy of pleasure；
packing the things and thinking of an answer which should be worthy
of the tender tone of the question； her love bubbling from her
involuntarily； like prophesyings from a prophet。
In the afternoon Owen went with her to the railway…station； and put
her in the train for Carriford Road； the station nearest to
Knapwater House。
Half…an…hour later she stepped out upon the platform； and found
nobody there to receive herthough a pony…carriage was waiting
outside。 In two minutes she saw a melancholy man in cheerful livery
running towards her from a public…house close adjoining； who proved
to be the servant sent to fetch her。 There are two ways of getting
rid of sorrows： one by living them down； the other by drowning
them。 The coachman drowned his。
He informed her that her luggage would be fetched by a spring…waggon
in about half…an…hour； then helped her into the chaise and drove
off。
Her lover's letter； lying close against her neck； fortified her
against the restless timidity she had previously felt concerning
this new undertaking； and completely furnished her with the
confident ease of mind which is required for the critical
observation of surrounding objects。 It was just that stage in the
slow decline of the summer days； when the deep； dark； and vacuous
hot…weather shadows are beginning to be replaced by blue ones that
have a surface and substance to the eye。 They trotted along the
turnpike road for a distance of about a mile； which brought them
just outside the village of Carriford； and then turned through large
lodge…gates； on the heavy stone piers of which stood a pair of
bitterns cast in bronze。 They then entered the park and wound along
a drive shaded by old and drooping lime…trees； not arranged in the
form of an avenue； but standing irregularly； sometimes leaving the
track completely exposed to the sky； at other times casting a shade
over it； which almost approached gloomthe under surface of the
lowest boughs hanging at a uniform level of six feet above the
grassthe extreme height to which the nibbling mouths of the cattle
could reach。
'Is that the house？' said Cytherea expectantly； catching sight of a
grey gable between the trees； and losing it again。
'No； that's the old manor…houseor rather all that's left of it。
The Aldycliffes used to let it sometimes； but it was oftener empty。
'Tis now divided into three cottages。 Respectable people didn't
care to live there。'
'Why didn't they？'
'Well； 'tis so awkward and unhandy。 You see so much of it has been
pulled down； and the rooms that are left won't do very well for a
small residence。 'Tis so dismal； too； and like most old houses
stands too low down in the hollow to be healthy。'
'Do they tell any horrid stories about it？'
'No； not a single one。'
'Ah； that's a pity。'
'Yes； that's what I say。 'Tis jest the house for a nice ghastly
hair…on…end story； that would make the parish religious。 Perhaps it
will have one some day to make it complete； but there's not a word
of the kind now。 There； I wouldn't live there for all that。 In
fact； I couldn't。 O no； I couldn't。'
'Why couldn't you？'
'The sounds。'
'What are they？'
'One is the waterfall； which stands so close by that you ca