for performing an
act of Christianity?'

"The two Gorgons got up. I firmly believe some women have cats' tails as
well as cats' faces. I firmly believe the tails of those two particular
cats wagged slowly under their petticoats, and swelled to four times
their proper size.

"'Temper we were prepared for, Miss Gwilt,' they said, 'but not
Profanity. We wish you good-evening.'

"So they left me, and so 'Miss Gwilt' sinks out of the patronizing
notice of the neighborhood

"I wonder what will come of this trumpery little quarrel? One thing will
come of it which I can see already. The report will reach Miss Milroy's
ears; she will insist on Armadale's justifying himself; and Armadale
will end in satisfying her of his innocence by making another proposal.
This will be quite likely to hasten matters between them; at least it
would with me. If I was in her place, I should say to myself, 'I will
make sure of him while I can.' Supposing it doesn't rain to-morrow
morning, I think I will take another early walk in the direction of the
park."

"Midnight.--As I can't take my drops, with a morning walk before me, I
may as well give up all hope of sleeping, and go on with my diary.
Even with my drops, I doubt if my head would be very quiet on my
pillow to-night. Since the little excitement of the scene with my
'lady-patronesses' has worn off, I have been troubled with misgivings
which would leave me but a poor chance, under any circumstances, of
getting much rest.

"I can't imagine why, but the parting words spoken to Armadale by that
old brute of a lawyer have come back to my mind! Here they are, as
reported in Mr. Bashwood's letter: 'Some other person's curiosity may
go on from the point where you (and I) have stopped, and some other
person's hand may let the broad daylight in yet on Miss Gwilt.'

"What does he mean by that? And what did he mean afterward when he
overtook old Bashwood in the drive, by telling him to gratify his
curiosity? Does this hateful Pedgift actually suppose there is any
chance--? Ridiculous! Why, I have only to _look_ at the feeble old
creature, and he daren't lift his little finger unless I tell him. _He_
try to pry into my past life, indeed! Why, people with ten times his
brains, and a hundred times his courage, have tried--and have left off
as wise as they began.

"I don't know, though; it might have been better if I had kept my temper
when Bashwood was here the other night. And it might be bet