are that the stranger was Major Grantly; but the intelligent
reader has in this respect had much advantage over John Eames, who
up to this time had never even heard of his cousin Grace Crawley's
lover. "I think you were asking for a ticket to Guestwick," said
Johnny;--whereupon the major owned that such was the case. "I lived
at Guestwick the greater part of my life," said Johnny, "and it's
the dullest, dearest little town in all England." "I never was
there before," said the major, "and indeed I can hardly say I am
going there now. I shall only pass through it." Then he got out his
newspaper, and Johnny also got out his, and for a time there was no
conversation between them. John remembered how holy was the errand
upon which he was intent, and gathered his thoughts together,
resolving that having so great a matter on his mind he would think
about nothing else and speak about nothing at all. He was going
down to Allington to ask Lily Dale for the last time whether she
would be his wife; to ascertain whether he was to be successful or
unsuccessful in the one great wish of his life; and, as such was
the case with him,--as he had in hand a thing so vital, it could
be nothing to him whether the chance companion of his voyage was
an agreeable or a disagreeable person. He himself, in any of the
ordinary circumstances of life, was prone enough to talk with any
one he might meet. He could have travelled for twelve hours together
with an old lady, and could listen to her or make her listen to him
without half an hour's interruption. But this journey was made on no
ordinary occasion, and it behoved him to think of Lily. Therefore,
after the first little almost necessary effort at civility, he fell
back into gloomy silence. He was going to do his best to win Lily
Dale, and this doing of his best would require all his thoughts and
all his energy.

And probably Major Grantly's mind was bent in the same direction. He,
too, had this work before him, and could not look upon his work as a
thing that was altogether pleasant. He might probably get that which
he was intent upon obtaining. He knew,--he almost knew,--that he had
won the heart of the girl whom he was seeking. There had been that
between him and her which justified him in supposing that he was dear
to her, although no expression of affection had ever passed from her
lips to his ears. Men may know all that they require to know on that
subject without any plainly spoken words.