d I reflected, ingeniously, that it
probably had a humanizing effect upon her. Ambrose Tester did n't go
away after I had told him that I would comply with his request. He
lingered, fidgeting with his stick and gloves, and I perceived that he
had more to tell me, and that the real reason why he wished me to go and
see Lady Vandeleur was not that she had newspapers on her mirrors. He
came out with it at last, for that "Rather!" of his (with the way I took
it) had broken the ice.

"You say you don't think she behaved well" (he naturally wished to
defend her). "But I dare say you don't understand her position. Perhaps
you would n't behave any better in her place."

"It's very good of you to imagine me there!" I remarked, laughing.

"It's awkward for me to say. One doesn't want to dot one's i's to that
extent."

"She would be delighted to marry you. That's not such a mystery."

"Well, she likes me awfully," Mr. Tester said, looking like a handsome
child. "It's not all on one side; it's on both. That's the difficulty."

"You mean she won't let you go?--she holds you fast?"

But the poor fellow had, in delicacy, said enough, and at this he jumped
up. He stood there a moment, smoothing his hat; then he broke out again:
"Please do this. Let her know--make her feel. You can bring it in, you
know." And here he paused, embarrassed.

"What can I bring in, Mr. Tester? That's the difficulty, as you say."

"What you told me the other day. You know. What you have told me
before."

"What I have told you--?"

"That it would put an end to Joscelind! If you can't work round to it,
what's the good of being--you?" And with this tribute to my powers he
took his departure.

VII.

It was all very well of him to be so flattering, but I really did n't
see myself talking in that manner to Lady Vandeleur. I wondered why he
didn't give her this information himself, and what particular value it
could have as coming from me. Then I said to myself that of course he
_had_ mentioned to her the truth I had impressed upon him (and which by
this time he had evidently taken home), but that to enable it to produce
its full effect upon Lady Yandeleur the further testimony of a witness
more independent was required. There was nothing for me but to go and
see her, and I went the next day, fully conscious that to execute Mr.
Tester's commission I should have either to find myself very brave or
to find her strangely confidential; and fully pr