e the necessary permission, and I gave it. It
is of the utmost importance to me to know what course Major Milroy takes
with his daughter and Armadale after receiving my anonymous letter; and,
unless I invite Armadale's confidence in some way, I am nearly certain
to be kept in the dark. Let him once be trusted with the knowledge that
I am to be Midwinter's wife, and what he tells his friend about his love
affair he will tell me.

"When it had been understood between us that Armadale was to be taken
into our confidence, we began to talk about ourselves again. How the
time flew! What a sweet enchantment it was to forget everything in his
arms! How he loves me!--ah, poor fellow, how he loves me!

"I have promised to meet him to-morrow morning in the Regent's Park. The
less he is seen here the better. The people in this house are strangers
to me, certainly; but it may be wise to consult appearances, as if I
was still at Thorpe Ambrose, and not to produce the impression, even on
their minds, that Midwinter is engaged to me. If any after-inquiries are
made, when I have run my grand risk, the testimony of my London landlady
might be testimony worth having.

"That wretched old Bashwood! Writing of Thorpe Ambrose reminds me of
him. What will he say when the town gossip tells him that Armadale has
taken me to London, in a carriage reserved for ourselves? It really is
too absurd in a man of Bashwood's age and appearance to presume to be in
love!...."

"July 30th.--News at last! Armadale has heard from Miss Milroy. My
anonymous letter has produced its effect. The girl is removed from
Thorpe Ambrose already; and the whole project of the elopement is
blown to the winds at once and forever. This was the substance of what
Midwinter had to tell me when I met him in the Park. I affected to be
excessively astonished, and to feel the necessary feminine longing
to know all the particulars. 'Not that I expect to have my curiosity
satisfied,' I added, 'for Mr. Armadale and I are little better than mere
acquaintances, after all.'

"'You are far more than a mere acquaintance in Allan's eyes,' said
Midwinter. 'Having your permission to trust him, I have already told him
how near and dear you are to me.'

"Hearing this, I thought it desirable, before I put any questions about
Miss Milroy, to attend to my own interests first, and to find out what
effect the announcement of my coming marriage had produced on Armadale.
It was possible that h