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one feeble little question。 〃Suppose I allow you to go； Allan？〃
she whispered； toying nervously with the stud in the bosom of his
shirt。 〃Shall you be very long away？〃
〃I'll be off to…day；〃 said Allan； 〃by the eleven o'clock train。
And I'll be back to…morrow； if I and my friend the clerk can
settle it all in time。 If not； by Wednesday at latest。〃
〃You'll write to me even day？〃 pleaded Neelie； clinging a little
closer to him。 〃I shall sink under the suspense； if you don't
promise to write to me every day。〃
Allan promised to write twice a day； if she
likedletter…writing； which was such an effort to other men； was
no effort to _him！_
〃And mind； whatever those people may say to you in London；〃
proceeded Neelie； 〃I insist on your coming back for me。 I
positively decline to run away； unless you promise to fetch me。〃
Allan promised for the second time； on his sacred word of honor；
and at the full compass of his voice。 But Neelie was not
satisfied even yet。 She reverted to first principles； and
insisted on knowing whether Allan was quite sure he loved her。
Allan called Heaven to witness how sure he was； and got another
question directly for his pains。 Could he solemnly declare that
he would never regret taking Neelie away from home？ Allan called
Heaven to witness again； louder than ever。 All to no purpose！ The
ravenous female appetite for tender protestations still hungered
for more。 〃I know what will happen one of these days；〃 persisted
Neelie。 〃You will see some other girl who is prettier than I am；
and you will wish you had married her instead of Me！〃
As Allan opened his lips for a final outburst of asseveration；
the stable clock at the great house was faintly audible in the
distance striking the hour。 Neelie started guiltily。 It was
breakfast…time at the cottagein other words； time to take
leave。 At the last moment her heart went back to her father； and
her head sank on Allan's bosom as she tried to say； Good…by。
〃Papa has always been so kind to me； Allan；〃 she whispered；
holding him back tremulously when he turned to leave her。 〃It
seems so guilty and so heartless to go away from him and be
married in secret。 Oh； do； do think before you really go to
London； is there no way of making him a little kinder and juster
to _you？_〃 The question was useless； the major's resolutely
unfavorable reception of Allan's letter rose in Neelie's memory；
and answered her as the words passed her lips。 With a girl's
impulsiveness she pushed Allan away before he could speak； and
signed to him impatiently to go。 The conflict of contending
emotions； which she had mastered thus far； burst its way outward
in spite of her after he had waved his hand for the last time；
and had disappeared in the depths of the dell。 When she turned
from the place； on her side； her long…restrained tears fell
freely at last； and made the lonely way back to the cottage the
dimmest prospect that Neelie had seen for many a long day past。
As she hurried homeward； the leaves parted behind her； and Miss
Gwilt stepped softly into the open space。 She stood there in
triumph； tall； beautiful； and resolute。 Her lovely color
brightened while she watched Neelie's retreating figure hastening
lightly away from her over the grass。
〃Cry； you little fool！〃 she said； with her quiet； clear tones；
and her steady smile of contempt。 〃Cry as you have never cried
yet！ You have seen the last of your sweetheart。〃
CHAPTER XII。
A SCANDAL AT THE STATION。
AN hour later； the landlady at Miss Gwilt's lodgings was lost in
astonishment； and the clamorous tongues of the children were in a
state of ungovernable revolt。 〃Unforeseen circumstances〃 had
suddenly obliged the tenant of the first floor to terminate the
occupation of her apartments； and to go to London that day by the
eleven o'clock train。
〃Please to have a fly at the door at half…past ten；〃 said Miss
Gwilt； as the amazed landlady followed her upstairs。 〃And excuse
me； you good creature； if I beg and pray not to be disturbed till
the fly comes。 〃Once inside the room； she locked the door； and
then opened her writing…desk。 〃Now for my letter to the major！〃
she said。 〃How shall I word it？〃
A moment's consideration apparently decided her。 Searching
through her collection of pens； she carefully selected the worst
that could be found； and began the letter by writing the date of
the day on a soiled sheet of note…paper； in crooked； clumsy
characters； which ended in a blot made purposely with the feather
of the pen。 Pausing； sometimes to think a little； sometimes to
make another blot； she completed the letter in these words：
〃HON'D SIRIt is on my conscience to tell you something； which I
think you ought to know。 You ought to know of the goings…on of
Miss； your daughter； with young Mister Armadale。 I wish you to
make sure； and； what is more； I advise you to be quick about it；
if she is going the way you want her to go； when she takes her
morning walk before breakfast。 I scorn to make mischief； where
there is true love on both sides。 But I don't think the young man
means truly by Miss。 What I mean is； I think Miss only has his
fancy。 Another person； who shall be nameless betwixt us； has his
true heart。 Please to pardon my not putting my name； I am only a
humble person； and it might get me into trouble。 This is all at
present； dear sir； from yours；
〃A WELL…WISHER。〃
〃There！〃 said Miss Gwilt； as she folded the letter up。 〃If I had
been a professed novelist； I could hardly have written more
naturally in the character of a servant than that！〃 She wrote the
necessary address to Major Milroy； looked admiringly for the last
time at the coarse and clumsy writing which her own delicate hand
had produced； and rose to post the letter herself； before she
entered next on the serious business of packing up。 〃Curious！〃
she thought； when the letter had been posted； and she was back
again making her traveling preparations in her own room； 〃here I
am； running headlong into a frightful riskand I never was in
better spirits in my life！〃
The boxes were ready when the fly was at the door； and Miss Gwilt
was equipped （as becomingly as usual） in her neat traveling
costume。 The thick veil； which she was accustomed to wear in
London； appeared on her country straw bonnet for the first time。〃
One meets such rude men occasionally in the railway；〃 she said to
the landlady。 〃And though I dress quietly； my hair is so very
remarkable。〃 She was a little paler than usual； but she had never
been so sweet…tempered and engaging； so gracefully cordial and
friendly； as now； when the moment of departure had come。 The
simple people of the house were quite moved at taking leave of
her。 She insisted on shaking hands with the landlordon speaking
to him in her prettiest way； and sunning him in her brightest
smiles。 〃Come！〃 she said to the landlady； 〃you have been so kind；
you have been so like a mother to me； you must give me a kiss at
parting。〃 She embraced the children all together in a lump； with
a mixture of humor and tenderness delightful to see； and left a
shilling among them to buy a cake。 〃If I was only rich enough to
make it a sovereign；〃 she whispered to the mother； 〃how glad I
should be！〃 The awkward lad who ran on errands stood waiting at
the fly door。 He was clumsy； he was frowsy； he had a gaping mouth
and a turn…up nose； but the ineradicable female delight in being
charming accepted him； for all that； in the character of a last
chance。 〃You dear； dingy John！〃 she said； kindly； at the carriage
door。 〃I am so poor I have only sixpence to give youwith my
very best wishes。 Take my advice； Johngrow to be a fine man；
and find yourself a nice sweetheart！ Thank you a thousand times！〃
She gave him a friendly little pat on the cheek with two of her
gloved fingers； and smiled； and nodded； and got into the fly。
〃Armadale next！〃 she said to herself as the carriage drove off。
Allan's anxiety not to miss the train had brought him to the
station in better time than usual。 After taking his ticket and
putting his portmanteau under the porter's charge； he was pacing
the platform and thinking of Neelie； when he heard the rustling
of a lady's dress behind him； and； turning round to look； found
himself face to face with Miss Gwilt。
There was no escaping her this time。 The station wall was on his
right hand； and the line was on his left； a tunnel was behind
him； and Miss Gwilt was in front； inquiring in her sweetest tones
whether Mr。 Armadale was going to London。
Allan colored scarlet with vexation and surprise。 There he was
obviously waiting for the train； and there was his portmanteau
close by； with his name on it； already labeled for London！ What
answer but the true one could he make after that？ Could he let
the train go without him； and lose the precious hours so vitally
important to Neelie and himself？ Impossible！ Allan helplessly
confirmed the printed statement on his portmanteau； and heartily
wished himself at the other end of the world as he said the
words。
〃How very fortunate！〃 rejoined Miss Gwilt。 〃I am going to London
too。 Might I ask you Mr。 Armadale （as you seem to be quite
alone）； to be my escort on the journey？〃
All