) at his recognizing _you_. I doubted his remembering your figure
in a summer dress after he had only seen it in a winter dress; and
though we were talking when he met us, and your voice is one among your
many charms, I doubted his remembering your voice, either. And yet
I felt persuaded that he knew you. 'How?' you will ask. My dear, as
ill-luck would have it, we were speaking at the time of young Armadale.
I firmly believe that the name was the first thing that struck him; and
when he heard _that_, your voice certainly and your figure perhaps,
came back to his memory. 'And what if it did?' you may say. Think again,
Lydia, and tell me whether the parson of the place where Mrs. Armadale
lived was not likely to be Mrs. Armadale's friend? If he _was_ her
friend, the very first person to whom she would apply for advice
after the manner in which you frightened her, and after what you most
injudiciously said on the subject of appealing to her son, would be the
clergyman of the parish--and the magistrate, too, as the landlord at the
inn himself told you.

"You will now understand why I left you in that extremely uncivil
manner, and I may go on to what happened next.

"I followed the old gentleman till he turned into a quiet street,
and then accosted him, with respect for the Church written (I flatter
myself) in every line of my face.

"'Will you excuse me,' I said, 'if I venture to inquire, sir, whether
you recognized the lady who was walking with me when you happened to
pass us in the Gardens?'

"'Will you excuse my asking, ma'am, why you put that question?' was all
the answer I got.

"'I will endeavor to tell you, sir,' I said. 'If my friend is not an
absolute stranger to you, I should wish to request your attention to a
very delicate subject, connected with a lady deceased, and with her son
who survives her.'

"He was staggered; I could see that. But he was sly enough at the same
time to hold his tongue and wait till I said something more.

"'If I am wrong, sir, in thinking that you recognized my friend,' I went
on, 'I beg to apologize. But I could hardly suppose it possible that a
gentleman in your profession would follow a lady home who was a total
stranger to him.'

"There I had him. He colored up (fancy that, at his age!), and owned the
truth, in defense of his own precious character.

"'I have met with the lady once before, and I acknowledge that I
recognized her in the Gardens,' he said. 'You will excuse m