thanked
her "dear friend" for the kind consideration, the manly delicacy that
had induced him to withdraw himself from their society, as soon as he
had become aware of the danger to her sweet, but too susceptible Fanny.

"Fanny does not dream that her secret is suspected. But oh! Mr
Elliott, when was a mother at fault when the happiness of her too
sensitive child was concerned?"

In vain Arthur looked the astonishment he felt. In vain he attempted to
assure her in the strongest terms, that he had had no intention of
withdrawing from their society--that he did not understand--that she
must be mistaken. The tender mother's volubility was too much for him.
He could only listen in a very embarrassed silence as she went on.

Mr Elliott was not to suppose that she blamed him for the unhappiness
he had caused. She quite freed him from all intention of wrong. And
after all, it might not be so bad. A mother's anxiety might exaggerate
the danger; she would try and hope for the best. Change of scene must
be tried; in the meantime, her fear was, that pique, or wounded pride,
or disappointed affection might induce the unhappy child to--in short
Mr Elliott must understand--. And Mrs Grove glanced expressively
toward the wearer of the shining epaulets, with whom Arthur being
unenlightened, might have fancied that the unhappy child was carrying on
a pretty energetic and prosperous flirtation.

But "pique and wounded pride!" He had never in all his life experienced
a moment of such intense uncomfortableness as that in which he had the
honour to hand the lady of the house to her own well-appointed table.
Indignation, vexation, disbelief of the whole matter spoiled his dinner
effectually. Mrs Grove's exquisite soup might have been ditch-water
for all he knew to the contrary. The motherly concern so freely
expressed, looked to him dreadfully like something not so praiseworthy.
How she could look her dear Fanny in the face, and talk, so softly on
indifferent subjects, after having so--so unnecessarily, to say the
least, betrayed her secret, was more than he could understand. If,
indeed, Miss Fanny had a secret. He wished very much not to believe it.
Secret or not, this was a very uncomfortable ending to a pleasant three
months' acquaintance, and he felt very much annoyed, indeed.

Not till course after course had been removed, and the dessert had been
placed on the table, did he summon resolution to withdraw his attention