nd unreliable, and if your opinion
of him is the right one, this is not putting the young man to an unfair
test--true love survives much longer separations than a separation of
six months. And when that time is over, and well over; and when I have
had him under my own eye for another six months, and have learned to
think as highly of him as you do--even then, my dear, after all that
terrible delay, you will still be a married woman before you are
eighteen. Think of this, Neelie, and show that you love me and trust me,
by accepting my proposal. I will hold no communication with Mr. Armadale
myself. I will leave it to you to write and tell him what has been
decided on. He may write back one letter, and one only, to acquaint you
with his decision. After that, for the sake of your reputation, nothing
more is to be said, and nothing more is to be done, and the matter is to
be kept strictly private until the six months' interval is at an end.'

"To this effect the major spoke. His behavior to that little slut of a
girl has produced a stronger impression on me than anything else in the
letter. It has set me thinking (me, of all the people in the world!) of
what they call 'a moral difficulty.' We are perpetually told that there
can be no possible connection between virtue and vice. Can there not?
Here is Major Milroy doing exactly what an excellent father, at
once kind and prudent, affectionate and firm, would do under the
circumstances; and by that very course of conduct he has now smoothed
the way for _me_, as completely as if he had been the chosen accomplice
of that abominable creature, Miss Gwilt. Only think of my reasoning in
this way! But I am in such good spirits, I can do anything to-day. I
have not looked so bright and so young as I look now for months past!

"To return to the letter, for the last time--it is so excessively
dull and stupid that I really can't help wandering away from it into
reflections of my own, as a mere relief.

"After solemnly announcing that she meant to sacrifice herself to her
beloved father's wishes (the brazen assurance of her setting up for a
martyr after what has happened exceeds anything I ever heard or read
of!), Miss Neelie next mentioned that the major proposed taking her to
the seaside for change of air, during the few days that were still to
elapse before she went to school. Armadale was to send his answer
by return of post, and to address her, under cover to her father, at
Lowesto