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eight or ten minutes； between carts and horses； and asses； and men； there
was little room for social intercourse； till we had turned our backs upon
the sea； and begun to ascend the precipitous road leading into the town。
Here my companion offered me his arm； which I accepted； though not
with the intention of using it as a support。
'You don't often come on to the sands； I think；' said he； 'for I have
walked there many times； both morning and evening； since I came； and
never seen you till now； and several times； in passing through the town；
too； I have looked about for your school … but I did not think of the … Road；
and once or twice I made inquiries； but without obtaining the requisite
information。'
When we had surmounted the acclivity； I was about to withdraw my
arm from his； but by a slight tightening of the elbow was tacitly informed
that such was not his will； and accordingly desisted。 Discoursing on
different subjects； we entered the town； and passed through several streets。
I saw that he was going out of his way to accompany me； notwithstanding
the long walk that was yet before him； and； fearing that he might be
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inconveniencing himself from motives of politeness； I observed … 'I fear I
am taking you out of your way； Mr。 Weston … I believe the road to F… lies
quite in another direction。'
'I'll leave you at the end of the next street；' said he。
'And when will you come to see mamma？'
'To…morrow … God willing。'
The end of the next street was nearly the conclusion of my journey。 He
stopped there； however； bid me good…morning； and called Snap； who
seemed a little doubtful whether to follow his old mistress or his new
master； but trotted away upon being summoned by the latter。
'I won't offer to restore him to you； Miss Grey；' said Mr。 Weston；
smiling； 'because I like him。'
'Oh； I don't want him；' replied I； 'now that he has a good master； I'm
quite satisfied。'
'You take it for granted that I am a good one； then？'
The man and the dog departed； and I returned home； full of gratitude
to heaven for so much bliss； and praying that my hopes might not again be
crushed。
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CHAPTER XXV … CONCLUSION
'WELL； Agnes； you must not take such long walks again before
breakfast；' said my mother； observing that I drank an extra cup of coffee
and ate nothing … pleading the heat of the weather； and the fatigue of my
long walk as an excuse。 I certainly did feel feverish and tired too。
'You always do things by extremes： now； if you had taken a SHORT
walk every morning； and would continue to do so； it would do you good。'
'Well； mamma； I will。'
'But this is worse than lying in bed or bending over your books： you
have quite put yourself into a fever。'
'I won't do it again；' said I。
I was racking my brains with thinking how to tell her about Mr。
Weston； for she must know he was coming to…morrow。 However； I
waited till the breakfast things were removed； and I was more calm and
cool； and then； having sat down to my drawing； I began … 'I met an old
friend on the sands to…day； mamma。'
'An old friend！ Who could it be？'
'Two old friends； indeed。 One was a dog；' and then I reminded her of
Snap； whose history I had recounted before； and related the incident of his
sudden appearance and remarkable recognition； 'and the other；' continued I；
'was Mr。 Weston； the curate of Horton。'
'Mr。 Weston！ I never heard of him before。'
'Yes； you have： I've mentioned him several times； I believe： but
you don't remember。'
'I've heard you speak of Mr。 Hatfield。'
'Mr。 Hatfield was the rector； and Mr。 Weston the curate： I used to
mention him sometimes in contradistinction to Mr。 Hatfield； as being a
more efficient clergyman。 However； he was on the sands this morning
with the dog … he had bought it； I suppose； from the rat…catcher； and he
knew me as well as it did … probably through its means： and I had a little
conversation with him； in the course of which； as he asked about our
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school； I was led to say something about you； and your good management；
and he said he should like to know you； and asked if I would introduce
him to you； if he should take the liberty of calling to…morrow； so I said I
would。 Was I right？'
'Of course。 What kind of a man is he？'
'A very RESPECTABLE man； I think： but you will see him to…
morrow。 He is the new vicar of F…； and as he has only been there a few
weeks； I suppose he has made no friends yet； and wants a little society。'
The morrow came。 What a fever of anxiety and expectation I was in
from breakfast till noon … at which time he made his appearance！ Having
introduced him to my mother； I took my work to the window； and sat
down to await the result of the interview。 They got on extremely well
together … greatly to my satisfaction； for I had felt very anxious about what
my mother would think of him。 He did not stay long that time： but
when he rose to take leave； she said she should be happy to see him；
whenever he might find it convenient to call again； and when he was gone；
I was gratified by hearing her say； … 'Well！ I think he's a very sensible
man。 But why did you sit back there； Agnes；' she added； 'and talk so
little？'
'Because you talked so well； mamma； I thought you required no
assistance from me： and； besides； he was your visitor； not mine。'
After that； he often called upon us … several times in the course of a
week。 He generally addressed most of his conversation to my mother：
and no wonder； for she could converse。 I almost envied the unfettered；
vigorous fluency of her discourse； and the strong sense evinced by
everything she said … and yet； I did not； for； though I occasionally regretted
my own deficiencies for his sake； it gave me very great pleasure to sit and
hear the two beings I loved and honoured above every one else in the
world； discoursing together so amicably； so wisely； and so well。 I was
not always silent； however； nor was I at all neglected。 I was quite as
much noticed as I would wish to be： there was no lack of kind words and
kinder looks； no end of delicate attentions； too fine and subtle to be
grasped by words； and therefore indescribable … but deeply felt at heart。
Ceremony was quickly dropped between us： Mr。 Weston came as an
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expected guest； welcome at all times； and never deranging the economy of
our household affairs。 He even called me 'Agnes：' the name had been
timidly spoken at first； but； finding it gave no offence in any quarter； he
seemed greatly to prefer that appellation to 'Miss Grey；' and so did I。
How tedious and gloomy were those days in which he did not come！
And yet not miserable； for I had still the remembrance of the last visit and
the hope of the next to cheer me。 But when two or three days passed
without my seeing him； I certainly felt very anxious … absurdly；
unreasonably so； for； of course； he had his own business and the affairs of
his parish to attend to。 And I dreaded the close of the holidays； when
MY business also would begin； and I should be sometimes unable to see
him； and sometimes … when my mother was in the schoolroom … obliged to
be with him alone： a position I did not at all desire； in the house； though
to