signs of a change, at any rate, in my position in the
neighborhood.

"Two of the oldest and ugliest of the many old and ugly ladies who
took up my case when I left Major Milroy's service have just called,
announcing themselves, with the insufferable impudence of charitable
Englishwomen, as a deputation from my patronesses. It seems that the
news of my reconciliation with Armadale has spread from the servants'
offices at the great house, and has reached the town, with this result.

"It is the unanimous opinion of my 'patronesses' (and the opinion of
Major Milroy also, who has been consulted) that I have acted with the
most inexcusable imprudence in going to Armadale's house, and in there
speaking on friendly terms with a man whose conduct toward myself
has made his name a by-word in the neighborhood. My total want of
self-respect in this matter has given rise to a report that I am trading
as cleverly as ever on my good looks, and that I am as likely as not
to end in making Armadale marry me, after all. My 'patronesses' are, of
course, too charitable to believe this. They merely feel it necessary
to remonstrate with me in a Christian spirit, and to warn me that any
second and similar imprudence on my part would force all my best friends
in the place to withdraw the countenance and protection which I now
enjoy.

"Having addressed me, turn and turn about, in these terms (evidently all
rehearsed beforehand), my two Gorgon visitors straightened themselves
in their chairs, and looked at me as much as to say, 'You may often have
heard of Virtue, Miss Gwilt, but we don't believe you ever really saw it
in full bloom till we came and called on you.'

"Seeing they were bent on provoking me, I kept my temper, and answered
them in my smoothest, sweetest, and most lady-like manner. I have
noticed that the Christianity of a certain class of respectable people
begins when they open their prayer-books at eleven o'clock on Sunday
morning, and ends when they shut them up again at one o'clock on Sunday
afternoon. Nothing so astonishes and insults Christians of this sort as
reminding them of their Christianity on a week-day. On this hint, as the
man says in the play, I spoke.

"'What have I done that is wrong?' I asked, innocently. 'Mr. Armadale
has injured me; and I have been to his house and forgiven him the
injury. Surely there must be some mistake, ladies? You can't have really
come here to remonstrate with me in a Christian spirit