own here with a friend of yours,
Grace."

"A friend of mine?" said Grace.

"So he says, and he is at Allington at this moment. He passed me in a
gig going there."

"And what was his name?" Lily asked.

"I have not the remotest idea," said Johnny. "He is a man about my
own age, very good-looking, and apparently very well able to take
care of himself. He is short-sighted, and holds a glass in one eye
when he looks out of a carriage window. That's all I know about him."

Grace Crawley's face had become suffused with blushes at the first
mention of the friend and the gig; but then Grace blushed very
easily. Lily knew all about it at once;--at once divined who must
be the friend in the gig, and was almost beside herself with joy.
Lady Julia, who had heard no more of the major than had Johnny, was
still clever enough to perceive that the friend must be a particular
friend,--for she had noticed Miss Crawley's blushes. And Grace
herself had no doubt as to the man. The picture of her lover, with
the glass in his eye as he looked out of the window, had been too
perfect to admit of a doubt. In her distress she put out her hand and
took hold of Lily's dress.

"And you say he is at Allington now?" said Lily.

"I have no doubt he is at the Small House at this moment," said
Johnny.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Showing How Major Grantly Took a Walk

[Illustration]

Major Grantly drove his gig into the yard of the "Red Lion" at
Allington, and from thence walked away at once to Mrs. Dale's house.
When he reached the village he had hardly made up his mind as to the
way in which he would begin his attack; but now, as he went down
the street, he resolved that he would first ask for Mrs. Dale. Most
probably he would find himself in the presence of Mrs. Dale and her
daughter, and of Grace also, at his first entrance; and if so, his
position would be awkward enough. He almost regretted now that he had
not written to Mrs. Dale, and asked for an interview. His task would
be very difficult if he should find all the ladies together. But he
was strong in the feeling that when his purpose was told it would
meet the approval at any rate of Mrs. Dale; and he walked boldly
on, and bravely knocked at the door of the Small House, as he had
already learned that Mrs. Dale's residence was called by all the
neighbourhood. Nobody was at home, the servant said; and then, when
the visitor began to make further inquiry, the girl explained that
the t