things that had slightly
puzzled me before; among the rest, for sundry departures from Woodford,
and absences more or less prolonged, for which he never satisfactorily
accounted, and concerning which he hated to be questioned on his return.
Well might the servant say his master was 'very close.' But why this
strange reserve to me? Partly, from that remarkable idiosyncrasy to
which I have before alluded; partly, perhaps, from tenderness to my
feelings, or fear to disturb my philosophy by touching upon the
infectious theme of love.

CHAPTER LII

The tardy gig had overtaken me at last. I entered it, and bade the man
who brought it drive to Grassdale Manor--I was too busy with my own
thoughts to care to drive it myself. I would see Mrs. Huntingdon--there
could be no impropriety in that now that her husband had been dead above
a year--and by her indifference or her joy at my unexpected arrival I
could soon tell whether her heart was truly mine. But my companion, a
loquacious, forward fellow, was not disposed to leave me to the
indulgence of my private cogitations.

'There they go!' said he, as the carriages filed away before us.
'There'll be brave doings on yonder to-day, as what come to-morra.--Know
anything of that family, sir? or you're a stranger in these parts?'

'I know them by report.'

'Humph! There's the best of 'em gone, anyhow. And I suppose the old
missis is agoing to leave after this stir's gotten overed, and take
herself off, somewhere, to live on her bit of a jointure; and the young
'un--at least the new 'un (she's none so very young)--is coming down to
live at the Grove.'

'Is Mr. Hargrave married, then?'

'Ay, sir, a few months since. He should a been wed afore, to a widow
lady, but they couldn't agree over the money: she'd a rare long purse,
and Mr. Hargrave wanted it all to hisself; but she wouldn't let it go,
and so then they fell out. This one isn't quite as rich, nor as handsome
either, but she hasn't been married before. She's very plain, they say,
and getting on to forty or past, and so, you know, if she didn't jump at
this hopportunity, she thought she'd never get a better. I guess she
thought such a handsome young husband was worth all 'at ever she had, and
he might take it and welcome, but I lay she'll rue her bargain afore
long. They say she begins already to see 'at he isn't not altogether
that nice, generous, perlite, delightful gentleman 'at she thought him
afore ma