’Ishallowehimmorethanlove，andIwillpayhimmorethanlove，’
　　saidGrace。TherewassomethinginthetoneofhervoiceasshespokewhichmadeLilystopherandlookupintoherface。TherewasasmiletherewhichLilyhadneverseenbefore，andwhichgaveabeautytoherwhichwaswonderfultoLily’seyes。SurelythisloverofGrace’smusthaveseenasmilelikethat，andthereforehadlovedherandwasgivingsuchwonderfulproofofhislove。’Yes，’continuedGrace，standingandlookingatherfriend，’youmaystareatme，Lily，butyoumaybesurethatIwilldoforMajorGrantlyallthegoodthatIcandoforhim。’
　　’NevermindwhatImean。Youareveryimperiousinmanagingyourownaffairs，andyoumustletmebesoequallyinmine。’
　　’ButItellyoueverything。’
　　’Doyousupposethatif——if——ifinrealtruthitcanpossiblybethecasethatMajorGrantlyshallhavecomeheretooffermehishandwhenweallgrounddowninthedustasweare，doyouthinkthatIwilllethimsacrificehimself？Wouldyou？’
　　’Certainly。Whynot？Therewillbenosacrifice。Hewillbeaskingforthatwhichhewishestoget；andyouwillbeboundtogiveittohim。’
　　’Ifhewantsit，whereishisnobility？Ifitbeasyousay，hewillhaveshownhimselfnoble，andhisnobilitywillhaveconsistedinthis，thathehasbeenwillingtotakethatwhichhedoesnotwant，inorderthathemaysuccourtheonewhomheloves。IalsowillsuccouronewhomIlove，asbestIknowhow。’Thenshewalkedonquicklybeforeherfriend，andLilystoodforamomentthinkingbeforeshefollowedher。
　　Theywerenowonafield—path，bywhichtheywereenabledtoescapetheroadbacktoAllingtonforthegreaterpartofthedistance，andGracehadreachedastile，andhadclamberedoveritbeforeLilyhadcaughther。
　　’Youmustnotgoawaybyyourself，’saidLily。
　　’Idon’twishtogoawaybymyself。’
　　’Iwantyoutostopamomentandlistentome。Iamsureyouarewronginthis——wrongforbothyoursakes。Youbelievethathelovesyou？’
　　’Ithoughthedidonce；andifhehascomeheretoseeme，Isupposehedoesstill。’
　　’Ifthatbethecase，andyoualsolovehim——’
　　’Ido。Imakenomysteryaboutthattoyou。Idolovehimwithallmyheart。Ilovehimtoday，nowthatIbelievehimtobehere，andthatI
　　supposeIshallseehim，perhapsthisveryafternoon。AndIlovedhimyesterday，whenIthoughtthatIshouldneverseehimagain。Idolovehim。Ido。IlovehimsowellthatIwillneverdohimaninjury。’
　　’Thatbeingso，ifhemakesyouanofferyouareboundtoacceptit。I
　　donotthinkthatyouhaveanalternative。’
　　’Ihaveanalternative，andIshalluseit。Whydon’tyoutakemycousinJohn？’
　　’BecauseIlikesomebodyelsebetter。Ifyouhavegotasgoodareason，Iwon’tsayanotherwordtoyou。’
　　’Andwhydon’tyoutakethatotherperson？’
　　’BecauseIcannottrusthislove；thatiswhy。Itisnotverykindofyou，openingmysoresafresh，whenIamtryingtohealyours。’
　　’Oh，Lily，Iamunkind——unkindtoyou，whohavebeensogeneroustome？’
　　’I’llforgiveyouallthatandadealmoreifyouwillonlylistentomeandtrytotakemyadvice。Becausethismajorofyoursdoesagenerousthing，whichisforthegoodofyouboth——theinfinitegoodofbothofyou——youaretoemulatehisgenerositybydoingathingwhichwillbeforthegoodofneitherofyou。Thatisaboutit。Yes，itis，Grace。Youcannotdoubtthathehasbeenmeaningthisforsometimepast；andofcourse，ifhelooksuponyouashisown——andIdaresay，ifthewholetruthistobetold，hedoes——’
　　’ButIamnothisown。’
　　’Yesyouare，inonesense；youhavejustsaidsowithagreatdealofenergy。Andifitisso——letmesee，wherewasI？’
　　’Oh，Lily，youneednotmindwhereyouwere。’
　　’ButIdomind，andIhatetobeinterruptedinmyarguments。Yes，justthat。Ifhesawhiscowsick，he’dtrytodoctorthecowinhersickness。Heseesthatyouaresick，andofcoursehecomestoyourrelief。’
　　’IamnotMajorGrantly’scow。’
　　’Yes，youare。’
　　’Norhisdog，norhisox，norhisass，noranythingthatishis，except——except，Lily，thedearestfriendthathehasonthefaceoftheearth。HecannothaveafriendthatwillgonofurtherforhimthanI
　　will。HewillneverknowhowfarIwillgotoservehim。Youdon’tknowhispeople。NordoIknowthem。ButIknowwhattheyare。Hissisterismarriedtoamarquis。’
　　’Whathasthattodowithit？’saidLily，sharply。’Ifsheweremarriedtoanarchduke，whatdifferencewouldthatmake？’
　　’Andtheyareproudpeople——allofthem——andrich；andtheylivewithhighpersonsintheworld。’
　　’Ididn’tcarethoughtheylivedwiththeroyalfamily，andhadthePrinceofWalesfortheirbosomfriend。Itonlyshowshowmuchbetterheisthantheyare。’
　　’Butthinkofwhatmyfamilyis——howwearesituated。WhenmyfatherwassimplypoorIdidnotcareaboutit，becausehehasbeenbornandbredagentleman。Butnowheisdisgraced。Yes，Lily，heis。Iamboundtosayso，atanyratetomyself，whenIamthinkingofMajorGrantly；
　　andIwillnotcarrythatdisgraceintoafamilywhichwouldfeelitsokeenlyastheywoulddo。’Lily，however，wentonwithherarguments，andwasstillarguingwhentheyturnedthecornerofthelane，andcameuponLily’suncleandthemajorhimself。
　　CHAPTERXXX
　　SHOWINGWHATMAJORGRANTLYDIDAFTERHISWALK
　　IngoingdownfromthechurchtotheSmallHouseLilyDalehadalltheconversationtoherself。Duringsomeportionofthewaythepathwasonlybroadenoughfortwoperson，andherMajorGrantlywalkedbyLily’sside，whileGracefollowedthem。Thentheyfoundtheirwayintothehouse，andLilymadeherlittlespeechtohermotheraboutcatchingthemajor。’Yes，mydear，IhaveseenMajorGrantlybefore，’saidMrsDale。
　　’Isupposehehasmetyouontheroad。ButIdidnotexpectthatanyofyouwouldhavereturnedsosoon。’Somelittleexplanationfollowedastothesquire，andastoMajorGrantly’swalk，andafterthatthegreatthingwastoleavethetwoloversalone。’Youwilldinehere，ofcourse，MajorGrantly，’MrsDalesaid。Butthishedeclined。Hehadlearned，hesaid，thattherewasanight—trainuptoLondon，andhethoughtthathewouldreturntotownbythat。Hehadintended，whenheleftLondontogetbackthereassoonaspossible。ThenMrsDale，havinghesitatedfortwoorthreeseconds，gotupandlefttheroom，andLilyfollowed。’Itseemsveryoddandabrupt，’saidMrsDaletoherdaughter，’butI
　　supposeitisbest。’’Ofcourse，itisbest，mamma。Doasonewouldbedoneby——that’stheonlyrule。Itwillbemuchbetterforherthatsheshouldhaveitover。’
　　Gracewasseatedonasofa，andMajorGrantlygotupfromhischair，andcameandstoodoppositetoher。’Grace，’hesaid，’Ihopeyouarenotangrywithmeforcomingdowntoseeyouhere。’
　　’No，Iamnotangry，’shesaid。
　　’Ihavethoughtagreatdealaboutit，andyourfriend，MissPrettyman，knewthatIwascoming。Shequiteapprovesofmycoming。’
　　’Shehaswrittentome，butdidnottellmeofit，’saidGrace，notknowingwhatotheranswertomake。
　　’No——shecouldnothavedonethat。Shehadnoauthority。Ionlymentionhernamebecauseitwillhaveweightwithyou，andbecauseI
　　havenotdonethatwhich，underthecircumstances，perhaps，Ishouldhavebeenboundtodo。Ihavenotseenyourfather。’
　　’Poorpapa，’saidGrace。
　　’IhavefeltthatatthepresentmomentIcouldnotdosowithanysuccess。Ithasnotcomeofanywantofrespecteitherforhimorforyou。Ofcourse，Grace，youknowwhyIamhere。’Hepaused，andthen，rememberingthathehadnorighttoexpectananswertosuchaquestion，hecontinued，’Ihavecomehere，dearestGrace，toaskyoutobemywife，andtobeamothertoEdith。IknowthatyouloveEdith。’
　　’Idoindeed。’
　　’AndIhavehopedsometimes——thoughIsupposeIoughtnottosayso——butIhavehopedandalmostthoughtsometimes，thatyouhavebeenwillingto——loveme，too。Itisbettertotellthetruthsimply，isitnot？’
　　’Isupposeso，’saidGrace。
　　’Andtherefore，andbecauseIloveyoudearlymyself，Ihavecometoaskyoutobemywife。’Sayingwhichheopenedouthishand，andheldittoher。Butshedidnottakeit。’Thereismyhand，Grace。IfyourheartisasIwouldhaveityoucangivemeyours，andIshallwantnothingelsetomakemehappy。’Butstillshemadenomotiontowardsgrantinghimhisrequest。’IfIhavebeentoosudden，’hesaid，’youmustforgivemeforthat。Ihavebeensuddenandabrupt，butasthingsare，nootherwayhasbeenopentome。Canyounotbringyourselftogivemesomeanswer，Grace？’Hishandhadnowfallenagaintohisside，buthewasstillstandingbeforeher。
　　Shehadsaidnowordtohimasyet，exceptthatoneinwhichshehadacknowledgedherloveforhischild，andhadexpressednosurprise，eveninhercountenance，athisproposal。Andyettheideathatheshoulddosuchathing，sincetheideathathecertainlywoulddoithadbecomecleartoher，hadfilledwithaworldofsurprise。NogirleverlivedwithanybeautybelongingtoherwhohadasmallerknowledgeofherownpossessionthanGraceCrawley。Norhadshetheslightestprideinherownacquirements。Thatshehadbeentaughtinmanythingsmorethanhadbeentaughttoothergirls，hadcomeofherpovertyandofthedesolationofherhome。ShehadlearnedtoreadGreekandItalianbecausetherehadbeennothingelseforhertodointhatsadhouse。
　　And，subsequently，accuracyofknowledgehadbeennecessaryfortheearningofherbread。IthinkthatGracehadattimesbeenweakenoughtoenvytheidlenessandalmostenvytheignoranceofothergirls。Herfigurewaslight，perfectinsymmetry，fullofgraceatallpoints；butshehadthoughtnothingofherfigure，rememberingonlythepovertyofherdress，butrememberingalsowithabraveresolutionthatshewouldneverbeashamedofit。AndasheracquaintancewithMajorGrantlyhadbegunandhadgrown，andasshehadlearnedtofeelunconsciouslythathiscompanywaspleasantertoherthanthatofanyotherpersonsheknew，shehadstilltoldherselfthatanythinglikelovemustbeoutofthequestion。Butthenwordshadbeenspoken，andtherehadbeenglancesinhiseye，andatoneinhisvoice，andatouchuponhisfingers，ofwhichshecouldnotaltogetherrefusetoacceptthemeaning。Andothershadspokenofit，thetwoMissPrettymansandherfriendLily。Yetshewouldnotadmittoherselfthatitcouldbeso，andshewouldnotallowherselftoconfesstoherselfthatshelovedhim。Thenhadcomethelastkillingmiserytowhichherfatherhadbeensubjected。Hehadbeenaccusedofstealingmoney，andhadbeencommittedtobetriedforthetheft。Fromthatmoment，atanyrate，anyhope，iftherehadbeenahope，mustbecrushed。Butshesworetoherselfbravelythattherehadbeennosuchhope。Andsheassuredherselfalsothatnothinghadpassedwhichhadentitledhertoexpectanythingbeyondordinaryfriendshipfromthemanofwhomshecertainlyhadthoughtmuch。Evenifthosetouchesandthosetonesandthoseglanceshadmeantanything，allsuchmeaningmustbeannihilatedbythisdisgracewhichhadcomeuponher。
　　Shemightknowthatherfatherwasinnocent；buttheworldthoughtdifferently，andshe，herbrothersandsister，andhermotherandherpoorfather，mustbendtotheworld’sopinion。Ifthosedangerousjoyshadmeantanything，theymustbetakenasmeaningnothingmore。
　　Thusshehadarguedwithherself，and，fortifiedbysuchself—
　　teachings，shehadcomedowntoAllington。Sinceshehadbeenwithherfriendstherehadcomeuponherfromdaytodayaclearconvictionthatherargumentshadbeenundoubtedlytrue——aclearconvictionwhichhadbeenverycoldtoherheartinspiteofallhercourage。Shehadexpectednothing，hopedfornothing，andyetwhennothingcameshewassad。Shethoughtofonespecialhalf—hourinwhichhehadsaidalmostallthathemighthavesaid——morethanheoughttohavesaid；——ofamomentduringwhichherhandhadremainedinhis；ofacertainpressurewithwhichhehadputhershawluponhershoulders。Ifhehadonlywrittentoheronewordtotellherthathebelievedherfatherwasinnocent！Butno；shehadnorighttoexpectanythingfromhim。AndthenLilyhadceasedtotalkofhim，andshedidexpectnothing。Nowhewastherebeforeher，askinghertocometohimandbehiswife。Yes；shewouldkisshisshoebuckles，onlythatthekissingofhisshoebuckleswouldbringuponhimthatinjurywhichheshouldneversufferfromherhands！Hehadbeengenerous，andherself—pridewassatisfied。Butherotherpridewastouched，andshealsowouldbegenerous。’Canyounotbringyourselftogivemesomeanswer？’hehadsaidtoher。Ofcourseshemustgivehimananswer，buthowwouldshegiveit？
　　’Youareverykind，’shesaid。
　　’Iwouldbemorethankind。’
　　’Soyouare。Kindisacoldwordwhenusedtosuchafriendatsuchatime。’
　　’Iwouldbeeverythingonearthtoyouthatamancanbetoawoman。’
　　’IknowIoughttothankyouifIknewhow。Myheartisfullofthanks；
　　itisindeed。’
　　’Andistherenoroomforlovethere？’
　　’Thereisnoroomforloveinourhouse，MajorGrantly。Youhavenotseenpapa。’
　　’No；butifyouwish，Iwilldosoatonce。’
　　’Itwouldtodonogood；——none。Ionlyaskedyoubecauseyoucanhardlyknowhowsadisourstateathome。’
　　’ButIcannotseethatthatneeddeteryou，ifyoucanloveme。’
　　’Canyounot？Ifyousawhim，andthehouse，andmymother，youwouldnotsayso。IntheBibleitissaidofsomeseasonthatitisnotatimeformarrying，orgivinginmarriage。Andsoitiswithus。’
　　’Iamnotpressingyouastoaday。Ionlyaskyoutosaythatyouwillbeengagedtome——sothatImaytellmyownpeople，andletitbeknown。’
　　’Iunderstandallthat。Iknowhowgoodyouare。But，MajorGrantly，youmustunderstandmealsowhenIassureyouthatitcannotbeso。’
　　’Doyoumeantorefusemealtogether？’
　　’Yes；altogether。’
　　’Andwhy？’
　　’MustIanswerthatquestion？OughtItobemadetoanswerit？ButI
　　willtellyoufairly，withouttouchingonanythingelse，thatIfeelthatwearealldisgraced，andthatIwillnottakethatdisgraceintoanotherfamily。’
　　’Grace，doyouloveme？’
　　’Ilovenoonenow——thatis，asyoumean。Icanlovenoone。Ihavenoroomforanyfeelingexceptformyfatherandmother，andforusall。I
　　shouldnotbeherenowbutthatIsavemymotherthebreadthatIshouldeatathome。’
　　’Isitasbadasthat？’
　　’Yes，itisasbadasthat。Itismuchworsethanthat，ifyouknewitall。Youcannotconceivehowlowwehavefallen。Andnowtheytellmethatmyfatherwillbefoundguilty，andwillbesenttoprison。Puttingourselvesoutofthequestion，whatwouldyouthinkofagirlwhocouldengageherselftoanymanundersuchcircumstances？Whatwouldyouthinkofagirlwhowouldallowherselftobeinloveinsuchaposition？HadIbeententimesengagedtoyou，Iwouldhavebrokenitoff。’Andthenshegotuptoleavehim。
　　Buthestoppedher，holdingherbythearm。’WhatyouhavesaidwillmakemesaywhatIcertainlyshouldhavesaidwithoutit。Ideclarethatweareengaged。’
　　’No，wearenot，’saidGrace。
　　’Youhavetoldmethatyoulovedme。’
　　’Inevertoldyouso。’
　　’Thereareotherwaysofspeakingthanthevoice；andIwillboasttoyou，thoughtonooneelse，thatyouhavetoldmeso。Ibelieveyouloveme。Ishallholdmyselfengagedtoyou，andIshallthinkyoufalseifI
　　hearthatyoulistentoanotherman。Now，good—bye，Grace；——myownGrace。’
　　’No，Iamnotyourown，’shesaid，throughhertears。
　　’Youaremyown，myveryown。Godblessyou，dear，dear，dearestGrace。
　　Youshallhearfrommeinadayortwo，andshallseemeassoonasthishorridtrialisover。’Thenhetookherinhisarmsbeforeshecouldescapefromhim，andkissedherforeheadandherlips，whileshestruggledinhisarms。Afterthathelefttheroomandthehouseasquicklyashecould，andwasseennomoreoftheDalesuponthatoccasion。
　　CHAPTERXXXI
　　SHOWINGHOWMAJORGRANTLYRETURNEDTOGUESTWICK
　　Grace，whenshewasleftalone，threwherselfuponthesofa，andhidherfaceinherhands。Shewasweepingalmosthysterically，andhadbeenutterlydismayedandfrightenedbyherlover’simpetuosity。Thingshadgoneafterafashionwhichherimaginationhadnotpaintedtoheraspossible。Surelyshehadthepowertorefusethemanifshepleased。Andyetshefeltasshelaythereweepingthatshedidintruthbelongtohimaspartofhisgoods，andthathergenerosityhadbeenfoiled。Shehadespeciallyresolvedthatshewouldnotconfessanylovetohim。Shehadmadenosuchconfession。Shehadguardedherselfagainstdoingsowithallthecarewhichsheknewhowtouse。Butheassumedthefact，andshehadbeenunabletodenyit。Couldshehaveliedtohim，andswornthatshedidnotlovehim？Couldshehavesoperjuredherself，eveninsupportofhergenerosity？Yes，shewouldhavedoneso——soshetoldherself——ifamomenthadbeengiventoherforthought。Sheoughttohavedoneso，andsheblamedherselfforbeingsolittlepreparedfortheoccasion。Theliewouldbeuselessnow。Indeed，shewouldhavenoopportunityfortellingit；forofcourseshewouldnotanswer——wouldnotevenreadhisletter。Thoughhemightknowthatshelovedhim，yetshewouldnotbehiswife。Hehadforcedhersecretfromher，buthecouldnotforcehertomarryhim。Shedidlovehim，butheshouldneverbedisgracedbyherlove。
　　Afterawhileshewasabletothinkofhisconduct，andshebelievedthatsheoughttobeveryangrywithhim。Hehadtakenherroughlyinhisarms，andhadinsultedher。Hehadforcedakissfromher。Shehadfelthisarmswarmandcloseandstrongabouther，andhadnotknownwhethershewasinparadiseorinpurgatory。Shewasveryangrywithhim。Shewouldsendbackhislettertohimwithoutreadingit——withoutopeningit，ifthatmightbepossible。Hehaddonethattoherwhichnothingcouldjustify。Butyet——yet——yethowdearlyshelovedhim！Washenottheprinceofmen？Hehadbehavedbadly，ofcourse；buthadanymaneverbehavedsobadlybeforeinsodivineaway？Wasitnotathousandpitiesthatsheshouldbedriventodenyanythingtoaloverwhosorichlydeservedeverythingthatcouldbegiventohim？Hehadkissedherhandashelethergo，andnow，notknowingwhatshedid，shekissedthespotonwhichshehadfelthislips。Hisarmhadbeenroundherwaist，andtheoldfrockwhichsheworeshouldbekeptbyherforever，becauseithadbeensograced。
　　WhatwasshenowtosaytoLilyandLily’smother？Ofonethingtherewasnodoubt。Shewouldnevertellthemofherlover’swickedaudacity。
　　Thatwasasecretnevertobeimpartedtoanyears。Shewouldkeepherresentmenttoherself，andnotasktheprotectionofanyvicariouswrath。Hecouldneversosinagain，thatwascertain；andshewouldkeepallherknowledgeandmemoryofthesinforherownpurposes。Buthowcoulditbethatsuchamanasthat，onesogoodthoughsosinful，sogloriousthoughsogreatatrespasser，shouldhavecometosuchagirlasherandhaveaskedforherlove？Thenshethoughtofherfather’spovertyandthemiseryofherowncondition，anddeclaredtoherselfthatitwasverywonderful。
　　Lilywasthefirsttoentertheroom，andshe，beforeshedidso，learnedfromtheservantthatMajorGrantlyhadleftthehouse。’Iheardthedoor，miss，andthenIsawthetopofhishatoutofthepantrywindow。’Armedwiththiscertaininformation，Lilyenteredthedrawing—room，andfoundGraceintheactofrisingfromthesofa。
　　’AmIdisturbingyou，’saidLily。
　　’No；notatall。Iamgladyouhavecome。Kissme，andbegoodtome。’
　　AndshetwinedherarmsaboutLilyandembracedher。
　　’AmInotalwaysgoodtoyou，yousimpleton？Hashebeengood？’
　　’Idon’tknowwhatyoumean？’
　　’Andhaveyoubeengoodtohim？’
　　’AsgoodasIknewhow，Lily。’
　　’Andwhereishe？’
　　’Hehasgoneaway。Ishallneverseehimanymore，Lily。’
　　Thenshehidherfaceuponherfriend’sshoulderandbrokeforthagainintohystericaltears。
　　’Buttellme，Grace，whathesaid；——thatis，ifyoumeantotellme！’
　　’Iwilltellyoueverything；——thatis，everythingIcan。’AndGraceblushedasshethoughtoftheonesecretwhichshecertainlywouldnottell。
　　’Hashe——hashedonewhatIsaidhewoulddo？Come，speakoutboldly。
　　Hasheaskedyoutobehiswife？’
　　’Yes，’saidGrace，barelywhisperingtheword。
　　’Andyouhaveacceptedhim？’
　　’No，Lily，Ihavenot。Indeed，Ihavenot。Ididnotknowhowtospeak，becauseIwassurprised；——andhe，ofcourse，couldsaywhatheliked。ButItoldhimaswellasIcould，thatIwouldnotmarryhim。’
　　’Andwhy；——didyoutellhimwhy？’
　　’Yes；becauseofpapa！’
　　’Then，ifheisthemanItakehimtobe，thatanswerwillgofornothing。Ofcourseheknewallthatbeforehecamehere。Hedidnotthinkyouwereanheiresswithfortythousandpounds。Ifheisinearnest，thatwillgofornothing。AndIthinkheisinearnest。’
　　’AndsowasIinearnest。’
　　’Well，Grace；——weshallsee。’
　　’IsupposeImayhaveawillofmyown，Lily。’
　　’Donotbesureofthat。Womenarenotallowedtohavewillsoftheirownonalloccasions。Somemancomesinagirl’sway，andshegetstobefondofhim，justbecausehedoescomeinherway。Well；whenthathastakenplace，shehasnoalternativebuttobetakenifhechoosestotakeher；ortobeleft，ifhechoosestoleaveher。’
　　’Lily，don’tsaythat。’
　　’ButIdosayit。Amanmayassurehimselfthathewillfindforhimselfawifewhoshallbelearned，orbeautiful，orsixfeethigh，ifhewishesit，orwhohasredhair，orredeyes，orredcheeks——justwhathepleases；andhemaygoabouttillhefindsit，asyoucangoaboutandmatchyourworsteds。Youareafoolifyoubuyacolouryoudon’twant。Butwecannevermatchourworstedsforthatotherpieceofwork，butareobligedtotakeanycolourthatcomes——and，therefore，itisthatwemakesuchajumbleofit！Here’smamma。Wemustnotbephilosophicalbeforeher。Mamma，MajorGrantlyhas——skedaddled。’
　　’Oh，Lily，whataword！’
　　’But，oh，mamma，whatathing！Fancyhisgoingawayandnotsayingawordtoanybody！’
　　’IfhehadanythingtosaytoGrace，Isupposehesaidit。’
　　’Heaskedhertomarryhim，ofcourse。Wenoneofushadanydoubtaboutthat。Hesworetoherthatsheandnonebutsheshouldbehiswife——andallthatkindofthing。Butheseemstohavedoneitinthemostprosaicway；——andnowhehasgoneawaywithoutsayingawordtoanyofus。Ishallneverspeaktohimagain——unlessGraceasksme。’
　　’Grace，mydear，mayIcongratulateyou？’saidMrsDale。
　　Gracedidnotanswer，asLilywastooquickforher。’Oh，shehasrefusedhim，ofcourse。But，MajorGrantlyisamanoftoomuchsensetoexpectthatheshouldsucceedthefirsttime。Letmesee；thisisthefourteenth。Theseclocksrunfourteendays，andtherefore，youmayexpecthimagainaboutthetwenty—eighth。Formyself，Ithinkyouaregivinghimanimmensedealofunnecessarytrouble，andthatifheleftyouinthelurchitwouldonlyserveyouright；butyouhavetheworldwithyou，I’mtold。Agirlissupposedtotellamantwofibsbeforeshemaytellhimonetruth。’
　　’Itoldhimnofib，Lily。ItoldhimthatIwouldnotmarryhimandI
　　willnot。’