Thesecondwasquitedifferentfromthefirst——akindofintermittentwhistleitseemedprimarily：no，acreak，ametalliccreak，everandanon，likeaplough，orarustywheelbarrow，oratleastawheelofsomekind。Yes，itwas，awheel——thewater-wheelintheshrubberybytheoldmanor-house，whichthecoachmanhadsaidwoulddrivehimmad。
Shedeterminednottothinkanymoreofthesegloomythings；butnowthatshehadoncenoticedthesoundtherewasnosealingherearstoit。Shecouldnothelptimingitscreaks，andputtingonadreadexpectancyjustbeforetheendofeachhalf-minutethatbroughtthem。Toimaginetheinsideoftheengine-house，whencethesenoisesproceeded，wasnowanecessity。Nowindow，butcrevicesinthedoor，throughwhich，probably，themoonbeamsstreamedinthemostattenuatedandskeleton-likerays，strikingsharplyuponportionsofwetrustycranksandchains；aglisteningwheel，turningincessantly，labouringinthedarklikeacaptivestarvinginadungeon；andinsteadofafloorbelow，gurglingwater，whichonaccountofthedarknesscouldonlybeheard；waterwhichlabouredupdarkpipesalmosttowhereshelay。
Sheshivered。Nowshewasdeterminedtogotosleep；therecouldbenothingelselefttobeheardortoimagine——itwashorridthatherimaginationshouldbesorestless。Yetjustforaninstantbeforegoingtosleepshewouldthinkthis——supposeanothersoundSHOULD
come——justsupposeitshould！Beforethethoughthadwellpassedthroughherbrain，athirdsoundcame。
Thethirdwasaverysoftgurgleorrattle——ofastrangeandabnormalkind——yetasoundshehadheardbeforeatsomepastperiodofherlife——when，shecouldnotrecollect。Tomakeitthemoredisturbing，itseemedtobealmostclosetoher——eithercloseoutsidethewindow，closeunderthefloor，orcloseabovetheceiling。Theaccidentalfactofitscomingsoimmediatelyupontheheelsofhersupposition，toldsopowerfullyuponherexcitednervesthatshejumpedupinthebed。Thesameinstant，alittledoginsomeroomnear，havingprobablyheardthesamenoise，setupalowwhine。Thewatch-dogintheyard，hearingthemoanofhisassociate，begantohowlloudlyanddistinctly。Hismelancholynotesweretakenupdirectlyafterwardsbythedogsinthekennelalongwayoff，ineveryvarietyofwail。
Onelogicalthoughtalonewasabletoenterherflurriedbrain。Thelittledogthatbeganthewhiningmusthaveheardtheothertwosoundsevenbetterthanherself。Hehadtakennonoticeofthem，buthehadtakennoticeofthethird。Thethird，then，wasanunusualsound。
Itwasnotlikewater，itwasnotlikewind；itwasnotthenight-
jar，itwasnotaclock，norarat，norapersonsnoring。
Shecreptundertheclothes，andflungherarmstightlyroundMissAldclyffe，asifforprotection。Cythereaperceivedthatthelady\'slatepeacefulwarmthhadgivenplacetoasweat。Atthemaiden\'stouch，MissAldclyffeawokewithalowscream。
Sherememberedherpositioninstantly。\'Osuchaterribledream！\'
shecried，inahurriedwhisper，holdingtoCythereainherturn；
\'andyourtouchwastheendofit。Itwasdreadful。Time，withhiswings，hour-glass，andscythe，comingnearerandnearertome——
grinningandmocking：thenheseizedme，tookapieceofmeonly……ButIcan\'ttellyou。Ican\'tbeartothinkofit。Howthosedogshowl！Peoplesayitmeansdeath。\'
ThereturnofMissAldclyffetoconsciousnesswassufficienttodispelthewildfancieswhichthelonelinessofthenighthadwoveninCytherea\'smind。Shedismissedthethirdnoiseassomethingwhichinalllikelihoodcouldeasilybeexplained，iftroubleweretakentoinquireintoit：largehouseshadallkindsofstrangesoundsfloatingaboutthem。ShewasashamedtotellMissAldclyffeherterrors。
Asilenceoffiveminutes。
\'Areyouasleep？\'saidMissAldclyffe。
\'No，\'saidCytherea，inalong-drawnwhisper。
\'Howthosedogshowl，don\'tthey？\'
\'Yes。Alittledoginthehousebeganit。\'
\'Ah，yes：thatwasTotsy。Hesleepsonthematoutsidemyfather\'sbedroomdoor。Anervouscreature。\'
Therewasasilentintervalofnearlyhalf-an-hour。Aclockonthelandingstruckthree。
\'Areyouasleep，MissAldclyffe？\'whisperedCytherea。
\'No，\'saidMissAldclyffe。\'Howwretcheditisnottobeabletosleep，isn\'tit？\'
\'Yes，\'repliedCytherea，likeadocilechild。
Anotherhourpassed，andtheclockstruckfour。MissAldclyffewasstillawake。
\'Cytherea，\'shesaid，verysoftly。
Cythereamadenoanswer。Shewassleepingsoundly。
Thefirstglimmerofdawnwasnowvisible。MissAldclyffearose，putonherdressing-gown，andwentsoftlydownstairstoherownroom。
\'IhavenottoldherwhoIamafterall，orfoundouttheparticularsofAmbrose\'shistory，\'shemurmured。\'Butherbeinginlovealterseverything。\'
3。HALF-PASTSEVENTOTENO\'CLOCKA。M。
Cythereaawoke，quietinmindandrefreshed。AconclusiontoremainatKnapwaterwasalreadyinpossessionofher。
FindingMissAldclyffegone，shedressedherselfandsatdownatthewindowtowriteananswertoEdward\'sletter，andanaccountofherarrivalatKnapwatertoOwen。Thedismalandheart-breakingpicturesthatMissAldclyffehadplacedbeforehertheprecedingevening，thelaterterrorsofthenight，werenowbutasshadowsofshadows，andshesmiledinderisionatherownexcitability。
ButwritingEdward\'sletterwasthegreatconsoler，theeffectofeachworduponhimbeingenactedinherownfaceasshewroteit。
Shefelthowmuchshewouldliketosharehistrouble——howwellshecouldendurepovertywithhim——andwonderedwhathistroublewas。
Butallwouldbeexplainedatlast，sheknew。
AttheappointedtimeshewenttoMissAldclyffe\'sroom，intending，withthecontradictorinesscommoninpeople，toperformwithpleasure，asaworkofsupererogation，whatasadutywassimplyintolerable。
MissAldclyffewasalreadyoutofbed。Thebrightpenetratinglightofmorningmadeavastdifferenceintheelderlady\'sbehaviourtoherdependent；theday，whichhadrestoredCytherea\'sjudgment，hadeffectedthesameforMissAldclyffe。Thoughpracticalreasonsforbadeherregrettingthatshehadsecuredsuchacompanionablecreaturetoread，talk，orplaytoherwheneverherwhimrequired，shewasinwardlyvexedattheextenttowhichshehadindulgedinthewomanlyluxuryofmakingconfidencesandgivingwaytoemotions。
Fewwouldhavesupposedthatthecalmladysittingaristocraticallyatthetoilettable，seemingscarcelyconsciousofCytherea\'spresenceintheroom，evenwhengreetingher，wasthepassionatecreaturewhohadaskedforkissesafewhoursbefore。
Itisbothpainfulandsatisfactorytothinkhowoftentheseantithesesaretobeobservedintheindividualmostopentoourobservation——ourselves。Wepasstheeveningwithfaceslitupbysomeflaringilluminationorother：wegetupthenextmorning——thefieryjetshaveallgoneout，andnothingconfrontsusbutafewcrinkledpipesandsootywirework，hardlyevenrecallingtheoutlineoftheblazingpicturethatarrestedoureyesbeforebedtime。
Emotionswouldbehalfstarvediftherewerenocandle-light。
Probablynine-tenthsofthegushinglettersofindiscreetconfessionarewrittenafternineorteno\'clockintheevening，andsentoffbeforedayreturnstoleerinvidiouslyuponthem。Fewthatremainopentocatchourglanceasweriseinthemorning，survivethefrigidcriticismofdressing-time。
Thesubjectsuppermostinthemindsofthetwowomenwhohadthuscooledfromtheirfires，werenotthevisionaryonesofthelaterhours，butthehardfactsoftheirearlierconversation。AfteraremarkthatCythereaneednotassistherindressingunlessshewishedto，MissAldclyffesaidabruptly——
\'Icantellthatyoungman\'sname。\'ShelookedkeenlyatCytherea。
\'ItisEdwardSpringrove，mytenant\'sson。\'
Theinundationofcolourupontheyoungerladyathearinganamewhichtoherwasaworld，handledasifitwereonlyanatom，toldMissAldclyffethatshehaddivinedthetruthatlast。
\'Ah——itishe，isit？\'shecontinued。\'Well，Iwantedtoknowforpracticalreasons。HisexampleshowsthatIwasnotsofarwronginmyestimateofmenafterall，thoughIonlygeneralized，andhadnothoughtofhim。\'Thiswasperfectlytrue。
\'Whatdoyoumean？\'saidCytherea，visiblyalarmed。
\'Mean？Whythatalltheworldknowshimtobeengagedtobemarried，andthattheweddingissoontotakeplace。\'Shemadetheremarkbluntlyandsuperciliously，asiftoobtainabsolutionatthehandsofherfamilypridefortheweakconfidencesofthenight。
ButeventhefrigidityofMissAldclyffe\'smorningmoodwasovercomebythelookofsickandblankdespairwhichthecarelesslyutteredwordshadproduceduponCytherea\'sface。Shesankbackintoachair，andburiedherfaceinherhands。
\'Don\'tbesofoolish，\'saidMissAldclyffe。\'Come，makethebestofit。IcannotupsetthefactIhavetoldyouof，unfortunately。ButIbelievethematchcanbebrokenoff。\'
\'Ono，no。\'
\'Nonsense。Ilikedhimmuchasayouth，andIlikehimnow。I\'llhelpyoutocaptivateandchainhimdown。Ihavegotovermyabsurdfeelingoflastnightinnotwantingyouevertogoawayfromme——ofcourse，Icouldnotexpectsuchathingasthat。There，nowIhavesaidI\'llhelpyou，andthat\'senough。He\'stiredofhisfirstchoicenowthathe\'sbeenawayfromhomeforawhile。Thelovethatnoouterattackcanfrightenawayquailsbeforeitsidol\'sownhomelyways；itisalwaysso……Come，finishwhatyouaredoingifyouaregoingto，anddon\'tbealittlegooseaboutsuchatrumperyaffairasthat。\'
\'Who——isheengagedto？\'Cythereainquiredbyamovementofherlipsbutnosoundofhervoice。ButMissAldclyffedidnotanswer。Itmatterednot，Cythereathought。Anotherwoman——thatwasenoughforher：curiositywasstunned。
Sheappliedherselftotheworkofdressing，scarcelyknowinghow。
MissAldclyffewenton：——
\'Youweretooeasilywon。I\'dhavemadehimoranybodyelsespeakoutbeforeheshouldhavekissedmyfaceforhispleasure。Butyouareoneofthoseprecipitantlyfondthingswhoareyearningtothrowawaytheirheartsuponthefirstworthlessfellowwhosaysgood-
morning。Inthefirstplace，youshouldn\'thavelovedhimsoquickly：inthenext，ifyoumusthavelovedhimoff-hand，youshouldhaveconcealedit。Ittickledhisvanity：“ByJove，thatgirl\'sinlovewithmealready！”hethought。\'
Tohastenawayattheendofthetoilet，totellMrs。Morris——whostoodwaitinginalittleroompreparedforher，withteapouredout，bread-and-buttercutintodiaphanousslices，andeggsarranged——
thatshewantednobreakfast：thentoshutherselfaloneinherbedroom，washeronlythought。Shewasfollowedthitherbythewell-intentionedmatronwithacupofteaandonepieceofbread-
and-butteronatray，cheerfullyinsistingthatsheshouldeatit。
Tothosewhogrieve，innocentcheerfulnessseemsheartlesslevity。
\'No，thankyou，Mrs。Morris，\'shesaid，keepingthedoorclosed。
Despitetheincivilityoftheaction，Cythereacouldnotbeartoletapleasantpersonseeherfacethen。
Immediaterevocation——evenifrevocationwouldbemoreeffectivebypostponement——istheimpulseofyoungwoundednatures。Cythereawenttoherblotting-book，tookoutthelonglettersocarefullywritten，sofullofgushingremarksandtenderhints，andsealedupsoneatlywithalittlesealbearing\'GoodFaith\'asitsmotto，torethemissiveintofiftypieces，andthrewthemintothegrate。Itwasthenthebitterestofanguishestolookuponsomeofthewordsshehadsolovinglywritten，andseethemexistingonlyinmutilatedformswithoutmeaning——tofeelthathiseyewouldneverreadthem，nobodyeverknowhowardentlyshehadpennedthem。
Pityforone\'sselfforbeingwastedismostlypresentinthesemoodsofabnegation。
Themeaningofallhisallusions，hisabruptnessintellingherofhislove，hisconstraintatfirst，thenhisdesperatemannerofspeaking，wasclear。Theymusthavebeenthelastflickeringsofaconsciencenotquitedeadtoallsenseofperfidiousnessandfickleness。NowhehadgonetoLondon：shewouldbedismissedfromhismemory，inthesamewayasMissAldclyffehadsaid。AndhereshewasinEdward\'sownparish，remindedcontinuallyofhimbywhatshesawandheard。Thelandscape，yesterdaysomuchandsobrighttoher，wasnowbutasthebanquet-halldeserted——allgonebutherself。
MissAldclyffehadwormedhersecretoutofher，andwouldnowbecontinuallymockingherforhertrustingsimplicityinbelievinghim。Itwasaltogetherunbearable：shewouldnotstaythere。
ShewentdownstairsandfoundMissAldclyffehadgoneintothebreakfast-room，butthatCaptainAldclyffe，whoroselaterwithincreasinginfirmities，hadnotyetmadehisappearance。Cythereaentered。MissAldclyffewaslookingoutofthewindow，watchingatrailofwhitesmokealongthedistantlandscape——signifyingapassingtrain。AtCytherea\'sentrysheturnedandlookedinquiry。
\'Imusttellyounow，\'beganCytherea，inatremulousvoice。
\'Well，what？\'MissAldclyffesaid。
\'Iamnotgoingtostaywithyou。Imustgoaway——averylongway。
Iamverysorry，butindeedIcan\'tremain！\'
\'Pooh——whatshallwehearnext？\'MissAldclyffesurveyedCytherea\'sfacewithleisurelycriticism。\'YouarebreakingyourheartagainaboutthatworthlessyoungSpringrove。Iknewhowitwouldbe。ItisasHallamsaysofJuliet——whatlittlereasonyoumayhavepossessedoriginallyhasallbeenwhirledawaybythislove。I
shan\'ttakethisnotice，mind。\'
\'Doletmego！\'
MissAldclyffetookhernewpet\'shand，andsaidwithseverity，\'Astohinderingyou，ifyouaredeterminedtogo，ofcoursethat\'sabsurd。Butyouarenotnowinastateofmindfitfordecidinguponanysuchproceeding，andIshallnotlistentowhatyouhavetosay。Now，Cythie，comewithme；we\'llletthisvolcanoburstandspenditself，andafterthatwe\'llseewhathadbetterbedone。\'
ShetookCythereaintoherworkroom，openedadrawer，anddrewfortharolloflinen。
\'ThisissomeembroideryIbeganoneday，andnowIshouldlikeitfinished。\'
ShethenprecededthemaidenupstairstoCytherea\'sownroom。
\'There，\'shesaid，\'nowsitdownhere，goonwiththiswork，andrememberonething——thatyouarenottoleavetheroomonanypretextwhateverfortwohoursunlessIsendforyou——Iinsistkindly，dear。Whilstyoustitch——youaretostitch，recollect，andnotgomooningoutofthewindow——thinkoverthewholematter，andgetcooled；don\'tletthefoolishlove-affairpreventyourthinkingasawomanoftheworld。Ifattheendofthattimeyoustillsayyoumustleaveme，youmay。Iwillhavenomoretosayinthematter。Come，sitdown，andpromisetositherethetimeIname。\'
Toheartsinadespairingmood，compulsionseemsarelief；anddocilitywasatalltimesnaturaltoCytherea。Shepromised，andsatdown。MissAldclyffeshutthedooruponherandretreated。
Shesewed，stoppedtothink，shedatearortwo，recollectedthearticlesofthetreaty，andsewedagain；andatlengthfellintoareveriewhichtooknoaccountwhateverofthelapseoftime。
4。TENTOTWELVEO\'CLOCKA。M。
Aquarterofanhourmighthavepassedwhenherthoughtsbecameattractedfromthepasttothepresentbyunwontedmovementsdownstairs。Sheopenedthedoorandlistened。
Therewerehurryingsalongpassages，openingandshuttingofdoors，tramplinginthestable-yard。Shewentacrossintoanotherbedroom，fromwhichaviewofthestable-yardcouldbeobtained，andarrivedtherejustintimetoseethefigureofthemanwhohaddrivenherfromthestationvanishingdownthecoach-roadonablackhorse——
gallopingatthetopoftheanimal\'sspeed。
Anothermanwentoffinthedirectionofthevillage。
Whateverhadoccurred，itdidnotseemtobeherdutytoinquireormeddlewithit，strangeranddependentasshewas，unlessshewererequestedto，especiallyafterMissAldclyffe\'sstrictchargetoher。Shesatdownagain，determinedtoletnoidlecuriosityinfluencehermovements。
Herwindowcommandedthefrontofthehouse；andthenextthingshesawwasaclergymanwalkupandenterthedoor。
Allwassilentagaintill，alongtimeafterthefirstmanhadleft，hereturnedagainonthesamehorse，nowmattedwithsweatandtrottingbehindacarriageinwhichsatanelderlygentlemandrivenbyaladinlivery。Thesecametothehouse，entered，andallwasagainthesameasbefore。
Thewholehousehold——master，mistress，andservants——appearedtohaveforgottentheveryexistenceofsuchabeingasCytherea。Shealmostwishedshehadnotvowedtohavenoidlecuriosity。
Half-an-hourlater，thecarriagedroveoffwiththeelderlygentleman，andtwoorthreemessengersleftthehouse，speedinginvariousdirections。Rusticsinsmock-frocksbegantohangabouttheroadoppositethehouse，orleanagainsttrees，lookingidlyatthewindowsandchimneys。
AtapcametoCytherea\'sdoor。Sheopenedittoayoungmaid-
servant。
\'MissAldclyffewishestoseeyou，ma\'am。\'Cythereahasteneddown。
MissAldclyffewasstandingonthehearthrug，herelbowonthemantel，herhandtohertemples，hereyesontheground；perfectlycalm，butverypale。
\'Cytherea，\'shesaidinawhisper，\'comehere。\'
Cythereawentclose。
\'Somethingveryserioushastakenplace，\'shesaidagain，andthenpaused，withatremulousmovementofhermouth。
\'Yes，\'saidCytherea。
\'Myfather。Hewasfounddeadinhisbedthismorning。\'
\'Dead！\'echoedtheyoungerwoman。Itseemedimpossiblethattheannouncementcouldbetrue；thatknowledgeofsogreatafactcouldbecontainedinastatementsosmall。
\'Yes，dead，\'murmuredMissAldclyffesolemnly。\'Hediedalone，thoughwithinafewfeetofme。Theroomwesleptinisexactlyoverhisown。\'
Cythereasaidhurriedly，\'Dotheyknowatwhathour？\'
\'Thedoctorsaysitmusthavebeenbetweentwoandthreeo\'clockthismorning。\'
\'ThenIheardhim！\'
\'Heardhim？\'
\'Heardhimdie！\'
\'Youheardhimdie？Whatdidyouhear？\'
\'AsoundIheardoncebeforeinmylife——atthedeathbedofmymother。Icouldnotidentifyit——thoughIrecognizedit。Thenthedoghowled：youremarkedit。IdidnotthinkitworthwhiletotellyouwhatIhadheardalittleearlier。\'Shelookedagonized。
\'Itwouldhavebeenuseless，\'saidMissAldclyffe。\'Allwasoverbythattime。\'SheaddressedherselfasmuchasCythereawhenshecontinued，\'IsitaProvidencewhosentyouhereatthisjuncturethatImightnotbeleftentirelyalone？\'
TillthisinstantMissAldclyffehadforgottenthereasonofCytherea\'sseclusioninherownroom。SohadCythereaherself。Thefactnowrecurredtobothinonemoment。
\'Doyoustillwishtogo？\'saidMissAldclyffeanxiously。
\'Idon\'twanttogonow，\'Cythereahadremarkedsimultaneouslywiththeother\'squestion。ShewasponderingonthestrangelikenesswhichMissAldclyffe\'sbereavementboretoherown；ithadtheappearanceofbeingstillanothercalltohernottoforsakethiswomansolinkedtoherlife，forthesakeofanytrivialvexation。
MissAldclyffeheldheralmostasaloverwouldhaveheldher，andsaidmusingly——
\'Wegetmoreandmoreintoonegroove。Inowamleftfatherlessandmotherlessasyouwere。\'Othertieslaybehindinherthoughts，butshedidnotmentionthem。
\'Youlovedyourfather，Cytherea，andweptforhim？\'
\'Yes，Idid。Poorpapa！\'
\'Iwasalwaysatvariancewithmine，andcan\'tweepforhimnow！
Butyoumuststayherealways，andmakeabetterwomanofme。\'
Thecompactwasthussealed，andCytherea，inspiteofthefailureofheradvertisements，wasinstalledasaveritableCompanion。And，oncemoreinthehistoryofhumanendeavour，apositionwhichitwasimpossibletoreachbyanydirectattempt，wascometobytheseeker\'sswervingfromthepath，andregardingtheoriginalobjectasoneofsecondaryimportance。
VII。THEEVENTSOFEIGHTEENDAYS
1。AUGUSTTHESEVENTEENTH
Thetimeofdaywasfouro\'clockintheafternoon。Theplacewasthelady\'sstudyorboudoir，KnapwaterHouse。ThepersonwasMissAldclyffesittingtherealone，clothedindeepmourning。
ThefuneraloftheoldCaptainhadtakenplace，andhiswillhadbeenread。Itwasveryconcise，andhadbeenexecutedaboutfiveyearsprevioustohisdeath。Itwasattestedbyhissolicitors，Messrs。NyttletonandTayling，ofLincoln\'sInnFields。Thewholeofhisestate，realandpersonal，wasbequeathedtohisdaughterCytherea，forhersoleandabsoluteuse，subjectonlytothepaymentofalegacytotherector，theirrelative，andafewsmallamountstotheservants。
MissAldclyffehadnotchosentheeasiestchairofherboudoirtositin，orevenachairofordinarycomfort，butanuncomfortable，high，narrow-backed，oakframedandseatedchair，whichwasallowedtoremainintheroomonlyonthegroundofbeingacompanioninartisticquaintnesstoanoldcofferbesideit，andwasneverusedexcepttostandintoreachforabookfromthehighestrowofshelves。Butshehadsaterectinthischairformorethananhour，forthereasonthatshewasutterlyunconsciousofwhatheractionsandbodilyfeelingswere。Thechairhadstoodnearestherpathonenteringtheroom，andshehadgonetoitinadream。
Shesatintheattitudewhichdenotesunflagging，intense，concentratedthought——asifshewerecastinbronze。Herfeetweretogether，herbodybentalittleforward，andquiteunsupportedbythebackofthechair；herhandsonherknees，hereyesfixedintentlyonthecornerofafootstool。
Atlastshemovedandtappedherfingersuponthetableatherside。
Herpent-upideashadfinallyfoundsomechanneltoadvancein。
Motionsbecamemoreandmorefrequentasshelabouredtocarryfurtherandfurthertheproblemwhichoccupiedherbrain。Shesatbackanddrewalongbreath：shesatsidewaysandleantherforeheaduponherhand。Laterstillshearose，walkedupanddowntheroom——atfirstabstractedly，withherfeaturesasfirmlysetasever；butbydegreesherbrowrelaxed，herfootstepsbecamelighterandmoreleisurely；herheadrodegracefullyandwasnolongerbowed。Sheplumedherselflikeaswanafterexertion。
\'Yes，\'shesaidaloud。\'TogetHIMherewithoutlettinghimknowthatIhaveanyotherobjectthanthatofgettingausefulman——
that\'sthedifficulty——andthatIthinkIcanmaster。\'
Sherangforthenewmaid，aplacidwomanoffortywithafewgreyhairs。
\'AskMissGrayeifshecancometome。\'
Cythereawasnotfaroff，andcamein。
\'Doyouknowanythingaboutarchitectsandsurveyors？\'saidMissAldclyffeabruptly。
\'Knowanything？\'repliedCytherea，poisingherselfonhertoetoconsiderthecompassofthequestion。
\'Yes——knowanything，\'saidMissAldclyffe。
\'Owenisanarchitectandsurveyor\'sdraughtsman，\'themaidensaid，andthoughtofsomebodyelsewhowaslikewise。
\'Yes！that\'swhyIaskedyou。Whatarethedifferentkindsofworkcomprisedinanarchitect\'spractice？Theylayoutestates，andsuperintendthevariousworksdoneuponthem，Ishouldthink，amongotherthings？\'
\'Thoseare，moreproperly，alandorbuildingsteward\'sduties——atleastIhavealwaysimaginedso。Countryarchitectsincludethosethingsintheirpractice；cityarchitectsdon\'t。\'
\'Iknowthat，child。Butasteward\'sisanindefinitefastandlooseprofession，itseemstome。Shouldn\'tyouthinkthatamanwhohadbeenbroughtupasanarchitectwoulddoforasteward？\'
Cythereahaddoubtswhetheranarchitectpurewoulddo。
Thechiefpleasureconnectedwithaskinganopinionliesinnotadoptingit。MissAldclyffereplieddecisively——
\'Nonsense；ofcoursehewould。YourbrotherOwenmakesplansforcountrybuildings——suchascottages，stables，homesteads，andsoon？\'
\'Yes；hedoes。\'
\'Andsuperintendsthebuildingofthem？\'
\'Yes；hewillsoon。\'
\'Andhesurveysland？\'
\'Oyes。\'
\'Andheknowsabouthedgesandditches——howwidetheyoughttobe，boundaries，levelling，plantingtreestokeepawaythewinds，measuringtimber，housesforninety-nineyears，andsuchthings？\'
\'Ihaveneverheardhimsaythat；butIthinkMr。Gradfielddoesthosethings。Owen，Iamafraid，isinexperiencedasyet。\'
\'Yes；yourbrotherisnotoldenoughforsuchapostyet，ofcourse。
Andthentherearerent-days，theauditandwindingupoftradesmen\'saccounts。Iamafraid，Cytherea，youdon\'tknowmuchmoreaboutthematterthanIdomyself……Iamgoingoutjustnow，\'shecontinued。\'Ishallnotwantyoutowalkwithmeto-day。
Runawaytilldinner-time。\'
MissAldclyffewentoutofdoors，anddownthestepstothelawn：
thenturningtotheleft，throughashrubbery，sheopenedawicketandpassedintoaneglectedandleafycarriage-drive，leadingdownthehill。Thisshefollowedtillshereachedthepointofitsgreatestdepression，whichwasalsothelowestgroundinthewholegrove。
Thetreeshereweresointerlaced，andhungtheirbranchessoneartheground，thatawholesummer\'sdaywasscarcelylongenoughtochangetheairpervadingthespotfromitsnormalstateofcoolnesstoevenatemporarywarmth。Theunvaryingfreshnesswashelpedbythenearnessofthegroundtothelevelofthesprings，andbythepresenceofadeep，sluggishstreamcloseby，equallywellshadedbybushesandahighwall。Followingtheroad，whichnowranalongatthemarginofthestream，shecametoanopeninginthewall，ontheothersideofthewater，revealingalargerectangularnookfromwhichthestreamproceeded，coveredwithfroth，andaccompaniedbyadullroar。Twomoresteps，andshewasoppositethenook，infullviewofthecascadeformingitsfurtherboundary。Overthetopcouldbeseenthebrightouterskyintheformofacrescent，causedbythecurveofabridgeacrosstherapids，andthetreesabove。
Beautifulaswasthesceneshedidnotlookinthatdirection。Thesamestanding-groundaffordedanotherprospect，straightinthefront，lesssombrethanthewaterontherightorthetreesallaround。Theavenueandgrovewhichflankeditabruptlyterminatedafewyardsahead，wherethegroundbegantorise，andontheremoteedgeofthegreenswardthuslaidopen，stoodallthatremainedoftheoriginalmanor-house，towhichthedarkmargin-lineofthetreesintheavenueformedanadequateandwell-fittingframe。ItwasthepicturethuspresentedthatwasnowinterestingMissAldclyffe——notartisticallyorhistorically，butpractically——asregardeditsfitnessforadaptationtomodernrequirements。
Infront，detachedfromeverythingelse，rosethemostancientportionofthestructure——anoldarchedgateway，flankedbythebasesoftwosmalltowers，andnearlycoveredwithcreepers，whichhadclamberedovertheeavesofthesinkingroof，andupthegabletothecrestoftheAldclyffefamilyperchedontheapex。Behindthis，atadistanceoftenortwentyyards，cametheonlyportionofthemainbuildingthatstillexisted——anElizabethanfragment，consistingofasmuchascouldbecontainedunderthreegablesandacrossroofbehind。Againstthewallcouldbeseenraggedlinesindicatingtheformofotherdestroyedgableswhichhadoncejoineditthere。Themullionedandtransomedwindows，containingfiveorsixlights，weremostlybrickeduptotheextentoftwoorthree，andtheremainingportionfittedwithcottagewindow-framescarelesslyinserted，tosuitthepurposetowhichtheoldplacewasnowapplied，itbeingpartitionedoutintosmallroomsdownstairstoformcottagesfortwolabourersandtheirfamilies；theupperportionwasarrangedasastorehousefordiverskindsofrootsandfruit。
Theownerofthepicturesquespot，afterhersurveyfromthispoint，wentuptothewallsandwalkedintotheoldcourt，wherethepaving-stoneswerepushedsidewaysandupwardsbythethrustofthegrassesbetweenthem。Twoorthreelittlechildren，withtheirfingersintheirmouths，cameouttolookather，andthenranintotelltheirmothersinloudtonesofsecrecythatMissAldclyffewascoming。MissAldclyffe，however，didnotcomein。Sheconcludedhersurveyoftheexteriorbymakingacompletecircuitofthebuilding；thenturnedintoanookashortdistanceoffwhereroundandsquaretimber，asaw-pit，planks，grindstones，heapsofbuildingstoneandbrick，explainedthatthespotwasthecentreofoperationsforthebuildingworkdoneontheestate。
Shepaused，andlookedaround。Amanwhohadseenherfromthewindowoftheworkshopsbehind，cameoutandrespectfullyliftedhishattoher。Itwasthefirsttimeshehadbeenseenwalkingoutsidethehousesinceherfather\'sdeath。
\'Strooden，couldtheOldHousebemadeadecentresidenceof，withoutmuchtrouble？\'sheinquired。
Themechanicconsidered，andspokeaseachconsiderationcompleteditself。
\'Youdon\'tforget，ma\'am，thattwo-thirdsoftheplaceisalreadypulleddown，orgonetoruin？\'
\'Yes；Iknow。\'
\'Andthatwhat\'sleftmayalmostaswellbe，ma\'am。\'
\'Whymayit？\'
\'\'Twassocutupinsidewhentheymadeitintocottages，thatthewholecarcaseisfullofcracks。\'
\'Stillbypullingdowntheinsertedpartitions，andaddingalittleoutside，itcouldbemadetoanswerthepurposeofanordinarysixoreight-roomedhouse？\'
\'Yes，ma\'am。\'
\'Aboutwhatwoulditcost？\'wasthequestionwhichhadinvariablycomenextineverycommunicationofthiskindtowhichthesuperintendingworkmanhadbeenapartyduringhiswholeexperience。
Tohissurprise，MissAldclyffedidnotputit。Themanthoughtherobjectinalteringanoldhousemusthavebeenanunusuallyabsorbingonenottopromptwhatwassoinstinctiveinownersashardlytorequireanypromptingatall。
\'Thankyou：that\'ssufficient，Strooden，\'shesaid。\'Youwillunderstandthatitisnotunlikelysomealterationmaybemadehereinashorttime，withreferencetothemanagementoftheaffairs。\'
Stroodensaid\'Yes，\'inacomplexvoice，andlookeduneasy。
\'DuringthelifeofCaptainAldclyffe，withyouastheforemanofworks，andhehimselfashisownsteward，everythingworkedwell。
Butnowitmaybenecessarytohaveasteward，whosemanagementwillencroachfurtheruponthingswhichhavehithertobeenleftinyourhandsthandidyourlatemaster\'s。WhatImeanis，thathewilldirectlyandindetailsuperintendall。\'
\'Then——Ishallnotbewanted，ma\'am？\'hefaltered。
\'Oyes；ifyouliketostayonasforemanintheyardandworkshopsonly。Ishouldbesorrytoloseyou。However，youhadbetterconsider。Iwillsendforyouinafewdays。\'
Leavinghimtosuspense，andalltheillsthatcameinitstrain——
distractedapplicationtohisduties，andanundefinednumberofsleeplessnightsanduntasteddinners，MissAldclyffelookedatherwatchandreturnedtotheHouse。Shewasabouttokeepanappointmentwithhersolicitor，Mr。Nyttleton，whohadbeentoBudmouth，andwascomingtoKnapwateronhiswaybacktoLondon。
2。AUGUSTTHETWENTIETH
OntheSaturdaysubsequenttoMr。Nyttleton\'svisittoKnapwaterHouse，thesubjoinedadvertisementappearedintheFieldandtheBuildernewspapers：——
\'LANDSTEWARD。
\'AgentlemanofintegrityandprofessionalskillisrequiredimmediatelyfortheMANAGEMENTofanESTATE，containingabout1000
acres，uponwhichagriculturalimprovementsandtheerectionofbuildingsarecontemplated。Hemustbeamanofsuperioreducation，unmarried，andnotmorethanthirtyyearsofage。Considerablepreferencewillbeshownforonewhopossessesanartisticaswellasapracticalknowledgeofplanningandlayingout。Theremunerationwillconsistofasalaryof22Opounds，withtheoldmanor-houseasaresidence——AddressMessrs。NyttletonandTayling，solicitors，Lincoln\'sInnFields。\'
AcopyofeachpaperwassenttoMissAldclyffeonthedayofpublication。ThesameeveningshetoldCythereathatshewasadvertisingforasteward，whowouldliveattheoldmanor-house，showingherthepaperscontainingtheannouncement。
Whatwasthedriftofthatremark？thoughtthemaiden；orwasitmerelymadetoherinconfidentialintercourse，asotherarrangementsweretoldherdaily。Yetitseemedtohavemoremeaningthancommon。Sherememberedtheconversationaboutarchitectsandsurveyors，andherbrotherOwen。MissAldclyffeknewthathissituationwasprecarious，thathewaswelleducatedandpractical，andwasapplyinghimselfheartandsoultothedetailsoftheprofessionandallconnectedwithit。MissAldclyffemightbereadytotakehimifhecouldcompetesuccessfullywithotherswhowouldreply。Shehazardedaquestion：
\'WoulditbedesirableforOwentoanswerit？\'
\'Notatall，\'saidMissAldclyffeperemptorily。
AflatanswerofthiskindhadceasedtoalarmCytherea。MissAldclyffe\'sbluntmoodwasnotherworst。Cythereathoughtofanotherman，whosename，inspiteofresolves，tears，renunciationsandinjuredpride，lingeredinherearslikeanoldfamiliarstrain。
Thatmanwasqualifiedforastewardshipunderaking。
\'WoulditbeofanyuseifEdwardSpringroveweretoanswerit？\'shesaid，resolutelyenunciatingthename。
\'Nonewhatever，\'repliedMissAldclyffe，againinthesamedecidedtone。
\'Youareveryunkindtospeakinthatway。\'
\'Nowdon\'tpoutlikeagoosie，asyouare。Idon\'twantmenlikeeitherofthem，for，ofcourse，Imustlooktothegoodoftheestateratherthantothatofanyindividual。ThemanIwantmusthavebeenmorespeciallyeducated。IhavetoldyouthatwearegoingtoLondonnextweek；itismostlyonthisaccount。\'
CythereafoundthatshehadmistakenthedriftofMissAldclyffe\'speculiarexplicitnessonthesubjectofadvertising，andwrotetotellherbrotherthatifhesawthenoticeitwouldbeuselesstoreply。
3。AUGUSTTHETWENTY-FIFTH
Fivedaysaftertheabove-mentioneddialoguetookplacetheywenttoLondon，and，withscarcelyaminute\'spause，tothesolicitors\'
officesinLincoln\'sInnFields。
Theyalightedoppositeoneofthecharacteristicentrancesabouttheplace——agatewhichwasnever，andcouldneverbe，closed，flankedbylamp-standardscarryingnolamp。Rustwastheonlyactiveagenttobeseenthereatthistimeofthedayandyear。Thepalingsalongthefrontwererustedawayattheirbasetothethinnessofwires，andthesuccessivecoatsofpaint，withwhichtheywereoverlaidinbygonedays，hadbeencompletelyunderminedbythesameinsidiouscanker，whichliftedoffthepaintinflakes，leavingtherawsurfaceoftheirononpalings，standards，andgatehinges，ofastaringblood-red。
Butonceinsidetherailingsthepicturechanged。Thecourtandofficeswereacompletecontrasttothegrandruinoftheoutworkwhichenclosedthem。Well-paintedrespectabilityextendedover，within，andaroundthedoorstep；andinthecarefullysweptyardnotaparticleofdustwasvisible。
Mr。Nyttleton，whohadjustcomeupfromMargate，wherehewasstayingwithhisfamily，wasstandingatthetopofhisownstaircaseasthepairascended。Hepolitelytooktheminside。
\'Isthereacomfortableroominwhichthisyoungladycansitduringourinterview？\'saidMissAldclyffe。
ItwasratherafavouritehabitofherstomakemuchofCythereawhentheywereout，andsnubherforitafterwardswhentheygothome。
\'Certainly——Mr。Tayling\'s。\'Cythereawasshownintoaninnerroom。
Socialdefinitionsareallmaderelatively：anabsolutedatumisonlyimagined。ThesmallgentryaboutKnapwaterseemedunpractisedtoMissAldclyffe，MissAldclyffeherselfseemedunpractisedtoMr。
Nyttleton\'sexperiencedoldeyes。
\'Nowthen，\'theladysaid，whenshewasalonewiththelawyer；\'whatistheresultofouradvertisement？\'
Itwaslatesummer；theestate-agency，building，engineering，andsurveyingworldsweredull。Therewereforty-fiverepliestotheadvertisement。
Mr。NyttletonspreadthemonebyonebeforeMissAldclyffe。\'Youwillprobablyliketoreadsomeofthemyourself，madam？\'hesaid。
\'Yes，certainly，\'saidshe。
\'Iwillnottroubleyouwiththosewhicharefrompersonsmanifestlyunfitatfirstsight，\'hecontinued；andbeganselectingfromtheheaptwosandthreeswhichhehadmarked，collectingothersintohishand。
\'Themanwewantliesamongthese，ifmyjudgmentdoesn\'tdeceiveme，andfromthemitwouldbeadvisabletoselectacertainnumbertobecommunicatedwith。\'
\'Ishouldliketoseeeveryone——onlyjusttoglancethemover——
exactlyastheycame，\'shesaidsuasively。
Helookedasifhethoughtthisawasteofhistime，butdismissinghissentimentunfoldedeachsinglyandlaiditbeforeher。Ashelaidthemout，itstruckhimthatshestudiedthemquiteasrapidlyashecouldspreadthem。Heslylyglancedupfromtheoutercornerofhiseyetohers，andnoticedthatallshedidwaslookatthenameatthebottomoftheletter，andthenputtheenclosureasidewithoutfurtherceremony。Hethoughtthisanoddwayofinquiringintothemeritsofforty-fivemenwhoatconsiderabletroublegaveindetailreasonswhytheybelievedthemselveswellqualifiedforacertainpost。Shecametothefinalone，andputitdownwiththerest。
Thentheladysaidthatinheropinionitwouldbebesttogetasmanyrepliesastheypossiblycouldbeforeselecting——\'togiveusawiderchoice。Whatdoyouthink，Mr。Nyttleton？\'
Itseemedtohim，hesaid，thatagreaternumberthanthosetheyalreadyhadwouldscarcelybenecessary，andiftheywaitedformore，therewouldbethisdisadvantageattendingit，thatsomeofthosetheynowcouldcommandwouldpossiblynotbeavailable。
\'Nevermind，wewillrunthatrisk，\'saidMissAldclyffe。\'Lettheadvertisementbeinsertedoncemore，andthenwewillcertainlysettlethematter。\'
Mr。Nyttletonbowed，andseemedtothinkMissAldclyffe，forasinglewoman，andonewhotillsoveryrecentlyhadneverconcernedherselfwithbusinessofanykind，averymeddlesomeclient。Butshewasrich，andhandsomestill。\'She\'sanewbroominestate-
managementasyet，\'hethought。\'Shewillsoongettiredofthis，\'
andhepartedfromherwithoutasentimentwhichcouldmarhishabitualblandness。
Thetwoladiesthenproceededwestward。DismissingthecabinWaterlooPlace，theywentalongPallMallonfoot，whereinplaceoftheusualwell-dressedclubbists——rubicundwithalcohol——weretobeseen，inlinenpinafores，flocksofhouse-painterspallidfromwhitelead。WhentheyhadreachedtheGreenPark，Cythereaproposedthattheyshouldsitdownawhileundertheyoungelmsatthebrowofthehill。Thistheydid——thegrowlofPiccadillyontheirlefthand——
themonasticseclusionofthePalaceontheirright：beforethem，theclocktoweroftheHousesofParliament，standingforthwithametalliclustreagainstalividLambethsky。
MissAldclyffestillcarriedinherhandacopyofthenewspaper，andwhileCythereahadbeeninterestingherselfinthepicturearound，glancedagainattheadvertisement。
Sheheavedaslightsigh，andbegantofolditupagain。Intheactionhereyecaughtsightoftwoconsecutiveadvertisementsonthecover，onerelatingtosomelectureonArt，andaddressedtomembersoftheInstituteofArchitects。Theotheremanatedfromthesamesource，butwasaddressedtothepublic，andstatedthattheexhibitionofdrawingsattheInstitute\'sroomswouldcloseattheendofthatweek。
Hereyelightedup。ShesentCythereabacktothehotelinacab，thenturnedroundbyPiccadillyintoBondStreet，andproceededtotheroomsoftheInstitute。Thesecretarywassittinginthelobby。
Aftermakingherpayment，andlookingatafewofthedrawingsonthewalls，inthecompanyofthreegentlemen，theonlyothervisitorstotheexhibition，sheturnedbackandaskedifshemightbeallowedtoseealistofthemembers。Shewasalittleconnectedwiththearchitecturalworld，shesaid，withasmile，andwasinterestedinsomeofthenames。
\'Hereitis，madam，\'hereplied，politelyhandingherapamphletcontainingthenames。
MissAldclyffeturnedtheleavestillshecametotheletterM。Thenameshehopedtofindtherewasthere，withtheaddressappended，aswasthecasewithalltherest。
TheaddresswasatsomechambersinastreetnotfarfromCharingCross。\'Chambers，\'asaresidence，hadalwaysbeenassumedbytheladytoimplytheconditionofabachelor。Shemurmuredtwowords，\'Therestill。\'
Anotherrequesthadyettobemade，butitwasofamorenoticeablekindthanthefirst，andmightcompromisethesecrecywithwhichshewishedtoactthroughoutthisepisode。Herobjectwastogetoneoftheenvelopeslyingonthesecretary\'stable，stampedwiththedieoftheInstitute；andinordertogetitshewasabouttoaskifshemightwriteanote。
Butthesecretary\'sbackchancedtobeturned，andhenowwenttowardsoneofthemenattheotherendoftheroom，whohadcalledhimtoasksomequestionrelatingtoanetchingonthewall。Quickasthought，MissAldclyffestoodbeforethetable，slippedherhandbehindher，tookoneoftheenvelopesandputitinherpocket。
Shesaunteredroundtheroomsfortwoorthreeminuteslonger，thenwithdrewandreturnedtoherhotel。
HereshecuttheKnapwateradvertisementfromthepaper，putitintotheenvelopeshehadstolen，embossedwiththesociety\'sstamp，anddirecteditinaroundclerklyhandtotheaddressshehadseeninthelistofmembers\'namessubmittedtoher：——
AENEASMANSTON，ESQ。，WYKEHAMCHAMBERS，SPRINGGARDENS。
Thisendedherfirstday\'sworkinLondon。
4。FROMAUGUSTTHETWENTY-SIXTHTOSEPTEMBERTHEFIRST
ThetwoCythereascontinuedattheWestminsterHotel，MissAldclyffeinforminghercompanionthatbusinesswoulddetaintheminLondonanotherweek。Thedayspassedasslowlyandquietlyasdayscanpassinacityatthattimeoftheyear，theshutteredwindowsaboutthesquaresandterracesconfrontingtheireyeslikethewhiteandsightlessorbsofblindmen。OnThursdayMr。Nyttletoncalled，bringingthewholenumberofrepliestotheadvertisement。Cythereawaspresentattheinterview，byMissAldclyffe\'srequest——eitherfromwhimordesign。
Tenadditionallettersweretheresultofthesecondweek\'sinsertion，makingfifty-fiveinall。MissAldclyffelookedthemoverasbefore。Onewassigned——
AENEASMANSTON，133，TURNGATESTREET，LIVERPOOL。
\'Now，then，Mr。Nyttleton，willyoumakeaselection，andIwilladdoneortwo，\'MissAldclyffesaid。
Mr。Nyttletonscannedthewholeheapofletters，testimonials，andreferences，sortingthemintotwoheaps。Manston\'smissive，afteramereglance，wasthrownamongstthesummarilyrejectedones。
MissAldclyfferead，orpretendedtoreadafterthelawyer。Whenhehadfinished，fivelayinthegrouphehadselected。\'Wouldyouliketoaddtothenumber？\'hesaid，turningtothelady。
\'No，\'shesaidcarelessly。\'Well，twoorthreeadditionalonesrathertookmyfancy，\'sheadded，searchingforsomeinthelargercollection。
Shedrewoutthree。OnewasManston\'s。
\'Theseeight，then，shallbecommunicatedwith，\'saidthelawyer，takinguptheeightlettersandplacingthembythemselves。
Theystoodup。\'IfImyself，MissAldclyffe，wereonlyconcernedpersonally，\'hesaid，inanoff-handway，andholdingupalettersingly，\'Ishouldchoosethismanunhesitatingly。Hewriteshonestly，isnotafraidtonamewhathedoesnotconsiderhimselfwellacquaintedwith——ararethingtofindinanswerstoadvertisements；heiswellrecommended，andpossessessomequalitiesrarelyfoundincombination。Oddlyenough，heisnotreallyasteward。Hewasbredafarmer，studiedbuildingaffairs，servedonanestateforsometime，thenwentwithanarchitect，andisnowwellqualifiedasarchitect，estateagent，andsurveyor。Thatmanissuretohaveafineheadforamanorlikeyours。\'Hetappedtheletterashespoke。\'Yes，Ishouldchoosehimwithouthesitation——
speakingpersonally。\'
\'AndIthink，\'shesaidartificially，\'Ishouldchoosethisoneasamatterofmerepersonalwhim，which，ofcourse，can\'tbegivenwaytowhenpracticalquestionshavetobeconsidered。\'
Cytherea，afterlookingoutofthewindow，andthenatthenewspapers，hadbecomeinterestedintheproceedingsbetweenthecleverMissAldclyffeandthekeenoldlawyer，whichremindedherofagameatcards。Shelookedinquiringlyatthetwoletters——oneinMissAldclyffe\'shand，theotherinMr。Nyttleton\'s。
\'Whatisthenameofyourman？\'saidMissAldclyffe。
\'Hisname——\'saidthelawyer，lookingdownthepage；\'whatishisname？——itisEdwardSpringrove。\'
MissAldclyffeglancedtowardsCytherea，whowasgettingredandpalebyturns。ShelookedimploringlyatMissAldclyffe。
\'Thenameofmyman，\'saidMissAldclyffe，lookingatherletterinturn；\'is，Ithink——yes——AEneasManston。\'
5。SEPTEMBERTHETHIRD
Thenextmorningbutonewasappointedfortheinterviews，whichweretobeatthelawyer\'soffices。Mr。NyttletonandMr。Taylingwerebothintownfortheday，andthecandidateswereadmittedonebyoneintoaprivateroom。InthewindowrecesswasseatedMissAldclyffe，wearingherveildown。
Thelawyerhad，inhisletterstotheselectednumber，timedeachcandidateatanintervaloftenorfifteenminutesfromthoseprecedingandfollowing。Theywereshowninastheyarrived，andhadshortconversationswithMr。Nyttleton——terse，andtothepoint。
MissAldclyffeneithermovednorspokeduringthisproceeding；itmighthavebeensupposedthatshewasquiteunmindfulofit，haditnotbeenforwhatwasrevealedbyakeenpenetrationoftheveilcoveringhercountenance——theraysfromtwobrightblackeyes，directedtowardsthelawyerandhisinterlocutor。
Springrovecamefifth；Manstonseventh。Whentheexaminationofallwasended，andthelastmanhadretired，Nyttleton，againasattheformertime，blandlyaskedhisclientwhichoftheeightshepersonallypreferred。\'Istillthinkthefifthwespoketo，Springrove，themanwhoseletterIpounceduponatfirst，tobebyfarthebestqualified，inshort，mostsuitablegenerally。\'
\'IamsorrytosaythatIdifferfromyou；Ileantomyfirstnotionstill——thatMr——Mr。Manstonismostdesirableintoneandbearing，andevenspecifically；Ithinkhewouldsuitmebestinthelong-
run。\'
Mr。Nyttletonlookedoutofthewindowatthewhitenedwallofthecourt。
\'Ofcourse，madam，youropinionmaybeperfectlysoundandreliable；
asortofinstinct，Iknow，oftenleadsladiesbyashortcuttoconclusionstruerthanthosecometobymenafterlaboriousround-
aboutcalculations，basedonlongexperience。ImustsayI
shouldn\'trecommendhim。\'
\'Why，pray？\'
\'Well，letuslookfirstathisletterofanswertotheadvertisement。Hedidn\'treplytillthelastinsertion；that\'sonething。Hisletterisboldandfrankintone，soboldandfrankthatthesecondthoughtafterreadingitisthatnothonesty，butunscrupulousnessofconsciencedictatedit。Itiswritteninanindifferentmood，asifhefeltthathewashumbuggingusinhisstatementthathewastherightmanforsuchanoffice，thathetriedhardtogetitonlyasamatterofformwhichrequiredthatheshouldneglectnoopportunitythatcameinhisway。\'
\'Youmayberight，Mr。Nyttleton，butIdon\'tquiteseethegroundsofyourreasoning。\'
\'Hehasbeen，asyouperceive，almostentirelyusedtotheofficedutiesofacityarchitect，theexperiencewedon\'twant。Youwantamanwhoseacquaintancewithrurallandedpropertiesismorepracticalandcloser——somebodywho，ifhehasnotfilledexactlysuchanofficebefore，haslivedacountrylife，knowstheinsandoutsofcountrytenancies，building，farming，andsoon。\'
\'He\'sbyfarthemostintellectuallookingofthemall。\'
\'Yes；hemaybe——youropinion，MissAldclyffe，isworthmorethanmineinthatmatter。Andmorethanyousay，heisamanofparts——
hisbrainpowerwouldsoonenablehimtomasterdetailsandfithimforthepost，Idon\'tmuchdoubtthat。Buttospeakclearly\'(herehiswordsstartedoffatajog-trot)\'Iwouldn\'truntheriskofplacingthemanagementofanestateofmineinhishandsonanyaccountwhatever。There，that\'sflatandplain，madam。\'
\'But，definitely，\'shesaid，withashowofimpatience，\'whatisyourreason？\'
\'Heisavoluptuarywithactivity；whichisaverybadformofman——
asbadasitisrare。\'
\'Oh。Thankyouforyourexplicitstatement，Mr。Nyttleton，\'saidMissAldclyffe，startingalittleandflushingwithdispleasure。
Mr。Nyttletonnoddedslightly，asasortofneutralmotion，simplysignifyingareceiptoftheinformation，goodorbad。
\'AndIreallythinkitishardlyworthwhiletotroubleyoufurtherinthis，\'continuedthelady。\'He\'squitegoodenoughforalittleinsignificantplacelikemineatKnapwater；andIknowthatIcouldnotgetonwithoneoftheothersforasinglemonth。We\'lltryhim。\'
\'Certainly，MissAldclyffe，\'saidthelawyer。AndMr。Manstonwaswrittento，totheeffectthathewasthesuccessfulcompetitor。
\'Didyouseehowunmistakablyhertemperwasgettingthebetterofher，thatminuteyouwereintheroom？\'saidNyttletontoTayling，whentheirclienthadleftthehouse。Nyttletonwasamanwhosurveyedeverybody\'scharacterinasunlessandshadowlessnorthernlight。Aculpableslyness，whichmarkedhimasaboy，hadbeenmouldedbyTime，theImprover，intohonourablecircumspection。
Wefrequentlyfindthatthequalitywhich，conjoinedwiththesimplicityofthechild，isvice，isvirtuewhenitpervadestheknowledgeoftheman。
\'Shewasasnearasdamn-ittoboilingoverwhenIaddedupherman，\'continuedNyttleton。\'Hishandsomefaceishisqualificationinhereyes。Theyhavemetbefore；Isawthat。\'
\'Hedidn\'tseemconsciousofit，\'saidthejunior。
\'Hedidn\'t。Thatwasratherpuzzlingtome。Butstill，ifeverawoman\'sfacespokeoutplainlythatshewasinlovewithaman，hersdidthatshewaswithhim。Pooroldmaid，she\'salmostoldenoughtobehismother。IfthatManston\'saschemerhe\'llmarryher，assureasIamNyttleton。Let\'shopehe\'shonest，however。\'
\'Idon\'tthinkshe\'sinlovewithhim，\'saidTayling。Hehadseenbutlittleofthepair，andyethecouldnotreconcilewhathehadnoticedinMissAldclyffe\'sbehaviourwiththeideathatitwasthebearingofawomantowardsherlover。
\'Well，yourexperienceofthefieryphenomenonismorerecentthanmine，\'rejoinedNyttletoncarelessly。\'Andyoumayrememberthenatureofitbest。\'
VIII。THEEVENTSOFEIGHTEENDAYS
1。FROMTHETHIRDTOTHENINETEENTHOFSEPTEMBER
MissAldclyffe\'stendernesstowardsCytherea，betweenthehoursofherirascibility，increasedtillitbecamenolessthandotingfondness。LikeNatureinthetropics，withherhurricanesandthesubsequentluxuriantvegetationeffacingtheirravages，MissAldclyffecompensatedforheroutburstsbyexcessofgenerosityafterwards。Sheseemedtobecompletelywonoutofherselfbyclosecontactwithayoungwomanwhosemodestywasabsolutelyunimpaired，andwhoseartlessnesswasasperfectaswascompatiblewiththecomplexitynecessarytoproducetheduecharmofwomanhood。
Cytherea，onherpart，perceivedwithhonestsatisfactionthatherinfluenceforgoodoverMissAldclyffewasconsiderable。Ideasandhabitspeculiartotheyounger，whichtheelderladyhadoriginallyimitatedasamerewhim，shegrewincourseoftimetotakeapositivedelightin。Amongotherswereeveningandmorningprayers，dreamingoverout-doorscenes，learningaversefromsomepoemwhilstdressing。
Yettrytoforcehersympathiesasmuchasshewould，Cythereacouldfeelnomorethanthankfulforthis，evenifshealwaysfeltasmuchasthankful。Themysteriouscloudhangingoverthepastlifeofhercompanion，ofwhichtheuncertainlightalreadythrownuponitonlyseemedtorenderstilldarkertheunpenetratedremainder，nourishedinherafeelingwhichwasscarcelytooslighttobecalleddread。
Shewouldhaveinfinitelypreferredtobetreateddistantly，asthemeredependent，bysuchachangeablenature——likeafountain，alwaysherself，yetalwaysanother。Thatacrimeofanydeepdyehadeverbeenperpetratedorparticipatedinbyhernamesake，shewouldnotbelieve；buttherecklessadventuringofthelady\'syouthseemedconnectedwithdeedsofdarknessratherthanoflight。
SometimesMissAldclyffeappearedtobeonthepointofmakingsomeabsorbingconfidence，butreflectioninvariablyrestrainedher。
Cythereahopedthatsuchaconfidencewouldcomewithtime，andthatshemightthusbeameansofsoothingamindwhichhadobviouslyknownextremesuffering。
ButMissAldclyffe\'sreticenceconcerningherpastwasnotimitatedbyCytherea。Thoughsheneverdisclosedtheonefactofherknowledgethatthelove-suitbetweenMissAldclyffeandherfatherterminatedabnormally，themaiden\'snaturalingenuousnessonsubjectsnotsetdownforspecialguardhadenabledMissAldclyffetowormfromher，fragmentbyfragment，everydetailofherfather\'shistory。CythereasawhowdeeplyMissAldclyffesympathized——anditcompensatedher，tosomeextent，forthehastyresentmentsofothertimes。
Thusuncertainlyshelivedon。ItwasperceivedbytheservantsoftheHousethatsomesecretbondofconnectionexistedbetweenMissAldclyffeandhercompanion。Buttheywerewomanandwoman，notwomanandman，thefactswereetherealandrefined，andsotheycouldnotbeworkedupintoatakingstory。Whether，asoldcriticsdisputed，asupernaturalmachinerybenecessarytoanepicorno，anungodlymachineryisdecidedlynecessarytoascandal。
AnotherletterhadcometoherfromEdward——veryshort，butfullofentreaty，askingwhyshewouldnotwritejustoneline——justonelineofcoldfriendshipatleast？Shethenallowedherselftothink，littlebylittle，whethershehadnotperhapsbeentooharshwithhim；andatlastwonderedifhewerereallymuchtoblameforbeingengagedtoanotherwoman。\'Ah，Brain，thereisoneinmestrongerthanyou！\'shesaid。Theyoungmaidnowcontinuallypulledouthisletter，readitandre-readit，almostcryingwithpitythewhile，tothinkwhatwretchedsuspensehemustbeenduringathersilence，tillherheartchidherforhercruelty。Shefeltthatshemustsendhimaline——onelittleline——justaweelinetokeephimalive，poorthing；sighinglikeDonnaClara——
\'Ah，werehenowbeforeme，Inspiteofinjuredpride，IfearmyeyeswouldpardonBeforemytonguecouldchide。\'
2。SEPTEMBERTHETWENTIETH。THREETOFOURP。M。
ItwasthethirdweekinSeptember，aboutfiveweeksafterCytherea\'sarrival，whenMissAldclyfferequestedheronedaytogothroughthevillageofCarrifordandassistherselfincollectingthesubscriptionsmadebysomeoftheinhabitantsoftheparishtoareligioussocietyshepatronized。MissAldclyffeformedoneofwhatwascalledaLadies\'Association，eachmemberofwhichcollectedtributarystreamsofshillingsfromherinferiors，toaddtoherownpoundattheend。
MissAldclyffetookparticularinterestinCytherea\'sappearancethatafternoon，andtheobjectofherattentionwas，indeed，gratifyingtolookat。Thesightofthelithegirl，setoffbyanairydress，coquettishjacket，flexiblehat，arayofstarlightineacheyeandawarofliliesandrosesineachcheek，wasapalpablepleasuretothemistressofthemansion，yetapleasurewhichappearedtopartakelessofthenatureofaffectionatesatisfactionthanofmentalgratification。
EightnameswereprintedinthereportasbelongingtoMissAldclyffe\'slist，withtheamountofsubscription-moneyattachedtoeach。
\'Iwillcollectthefirstfour，whilstyoudothesamewiththelastfour，\'saidMissAldclyffe。
ThenamesoftwotradespeoplestoodfirstinCytherea\'sshare：thencameaMissHinton：lastofallintheprintedlistwasMr。
Springrovetheelder。Underneathhisnamewaspencilled，inMissAldclyffe\'shandwriting，\'Mr。Manston。\'
Manstonhadarrivedontheestate，inthecapacityofsteward，threeorfourdayspreviously，andoccupiedtheoldmanor-house，whichhadbeenalteredandrepairedforhisreception。
\'CallonMr。Manston，\'saidtheladyimpressively，lookingatthenamewrittenunderCytherea\'sportionofthelist。
\'Buthedoesnotsubscribeyet？\'
\'Iknowit；butcallandleavehimareport。Don\'tforgetit。\'
\'Sayyouwouldbepleasedifhewouldsubscribe？\'
\'Yes——sayIshouldbepleasedifhewould，\'repeatedMissAldclyffe，smiling。\'Good-bye。Don\'thurryinyourwalk。Ifyoucan\'tgeteasilythroughyourtaskto-dayputoffsomeofittillto-morrow。\'
Eachthenstartedonherrounds：Cythereagoinginthefirstplacetotheoldmanor-house。Mr。Manstonwasnotindoors，whichwasarelieftoher。Shecalledthenonthetwogentleman-farmers\'wives，whosoontransactedtheirbusinesswithher，frigidlyindifferenttoherpersonality。Apersonwhosociallyisnothingisthoughtlessofbypeoplewhoarenotmuchthanbythosewhoareagreatdeal。
ShethenturnedtowardsPeakhillCottage，theresidenceofMissHinton，wholivedtherehappilyenough，withanelderlyservantandahouse-dogascompanions。Herfather，andlastremainingparent，hadretiredthitherfouryearsbeforethistime，afterhavingfilledthepostofeditortotheCasterbridgeChronicleforeighteenortwentyyears。Therehediedsoonafter，andthoughcomparativelyapoorman，helefthisdaughtersufficientlywellprovidedforasamodestfundholderandclaimantofsundrysmallsumsindividendstomaintainherselfasmistressatPeakhill。
AtCytherea\'sknockaninnerdoorwasheardtoopenandclose，andfootstepscrossedthepassagehesitatingly。ThenextminuteCythereastoodfacetofacewiththeladyherself。
AdelaideHintonwasaboutnine-and-twentyyearsofage。Herhairwasplentiful，likeCytherea\'sown；herteethequalledCytherea\'sinregularityandwhiteness。Butshewasmuchpaler，andhadfeaturestootransparenttobeinplaceamonghouseholdsurroundings。HermouthexpressedlovelessforciblythanCytherea\'s，and，asanaturalresultofhergreatermaturity，hertreadwaslesselastic，andshewasmoreself-possessed。
Shehadbeenagirlofthatkindwhichmotherspraiseasnotforward，bywayofcontrast，whendisparagingthosewarmeroneswithwhomlovingisanendandnotameans。Menofforty，too，saidofher，\'agoodsensiblewifeforanyman，ifshecarestomarry，\'thecaringtomarrybeingthrowninasthevaguesthypothesis，becauseshewassopractical。Yetitwouldbesingularif，insuchcases，theimportantsubjectofmarriageshouldbeexcludedfrommanipulationbyhandsthatarereadyforpracticalperformanceineverydomesticconcernbesides。
