time in his life, with everybody who came
near him. Impatient with Pedgift Junior, who had called on the previous
evening to announce his departure for London, on business, the next day,
and to place his services at the disposal of his client; ill at ease
with Miss Gwilt, at a secret meeting with her in the park that morning;
and ill at ease in his own company, as he now sat moodily smoking in
the solitude of his room. "I can't live this sort of life much longer,"
thought Allan. "If nobody will help me to put the awkward question to
Miss Gwilt, I must stumble on some way of putting it for myself."

What way? The answer to that question was as hard to find as ever. Allan
tried to stimulate his sluggish invention by walking up and down the
room, and was disturbed by the appearance of the footman at the first
turn.

"Now then! what is it?" he asked, impatiently.

"A letter, sir; and the person waits for an answer."

Allan looked at the address. It was in a strange handwriting. He opened
the letter, and a little note inclosed in it dropped to the ground.
The note was directed, still in the strange handwriting, to "Mrs.
Mandeville, 18 Kingsdown Crescent, Bayswater. Favored by Mr. Armadale."
More and more surprised, Allan turned for information to the signature
at the end of the letter. It was "Anne Milroy."

"Anne Milroy?" he repeated. "It must be the major's wife. What can she
possibly want with me?" By way of discovering what she wanted, Allan
did at last what he might more wisely have done at first. He sat down to
read the letter.

["Private."] "The Cottage, Monday.

"DEAR SIR--The name at the end of these lines will, I fear, recall to
you a very rude return made on my part, some time since, for an act of
neighborly kindness on yours. I can only say in excuse that I am a
great sufferer, and that, if I was ill-tempered enough, in a moment of
irritation under severe pain, to send back your present of fruit, I have
regretted doing so ever since. Attribute this letter, if you please, to
my desire to make some atonement, and to my wish to be of service to our
good friend and landlord, if I possibly can.

"I have been informed of the question which you addressed to my husband,
the day before yesterday, on the subject of Miss Gwilt. From all I have
heard of you, I am quite sure that your anxiety to know more of this
charming person than you know now is an anxiety proceeding from the most
honorable motives. Believing th