letter has gone to the post. I had begun to feel a
little easier, when the children came in to thank me for taking them to
the show. One of them is a girl, and the girl upset me. She is a forward
child, and her hair is nearly the color of mine. She said, 'I shall
be like you when I have grown bigger, shan't I?' Her idiot of a mother
said, 'Please to excuse her, miss,' and took her out of the room,
laughing. Like me! I don't pretend to be fond of the child; but think of
her being like me!"

"Saturday morning.--I have done well for once in acting on impulse, and
writing as I did to Mrs. Oldershaw. The only new circumstance that has
happened is another circumstance in my favor!

"Major Milroy has answered Armadale's letter, entreating permission
to call at the cottage and justify himself. His daughter read it in
silence, when Armadale handed it to her at their meeting this morning,
in the park. But they talked about it afterward, loud enough for me to
hear them. The major persists in the course he has taken. He says his
opinion of Armadale's conduct has been formed, not on common report, but
on Armadale's own letters, and he sees no reason to alter the conclusion
at which he arrived when the correspondence between them was closed.

"This little matter had, I confess, slipped out of my memory. It might
have ended awkwardly for _me_. If Major Milroy had been less obstinately
wedded to his own opinion, Armadale might have justified himself; the
marriage engagement might have been acknowledged; and all _my_ power of
influencing the matter might have been at an end. As it is, they must
continue to keep the engagement strictly secret; and Miss Milroy, who
has never ventured herself near the great house since the thunder-storm
forced her into it for shelter, will be less likely than ever to venture
there now. I can part them when I please; with an anonymous line to the
major, I can part them when I please!

"After having discussed the letter, the talk between them turned on
what they were to do next. Major Milroy's severity, as it soon appeared,
produced the usual results. Armadale returned to the subject of the
elopement; and this time she listened to him. There is everything to
drive her to it. Her outfit of clothes is nearly ready; and the summer
holidays, at the school which has been chosen for her, end at the end of
next week. When I left them, they had decided to meet again and settle
something on Monday.

"The last