He stared and his thin jaws worked. His nostrils also twitched.

"I didn't know there was another."

"More didn't I," answered she. "I'm nothing if not honest, and I tell
you frankly that I didn't know it either till he offered. He was a
lifelong friend, and I asked him about what I ought to be doing, and
then it came out he had already thought of me as a wife and was biding
his time. He had nought but praise for you, as all men have; but there
it is--Richard Gurd is very wishful to marry me; and you must understand
this clearly, Job. If it had been any lesser man than him, or any other
man in the world, for that matter, I wouldn't have taken him. I'm very
fond of you, and a finer character I've never known; but when Richard
offered--well, you're among the clever ones and I'm sure you'd be the
last to put yourself up against a man of his standing and fame. And my
first husband's lifelong friend, you must remember. And though, after
all these years, it may seem strange to a great many people, it won't
seem strange to you, I hope."

"It's a very ill-convenient time to hear this," said Mr. Legg mildly.

Then he stopped and regarded her with his little, shrewd eyes. He seemed
less occupied with the tremendous present than the future. Presently he
went on again, while Mrs. Northover stared at him with an expression of
genuine sadness.

"All I can say is that I wish Gurd had offered sooner, and not led me
into this tremendous misfortune. Of course, him and me aren't in the
same street and I won't pretend it, for none would be deceived if I did.
But I say again it's very unfortunate he hung fire till he heard that I
had made my offer. For if he'd spoke first, I should have held my peace
and gone on my appointed way and stopped at 'The Seven Stars.' But now,
if this happens, all is over and the course of my life is changed. In
fact, it is not too much to say I shall leave Bridport, though how any
person can live comfortably away from Bridport, I don't know."

Mrs. Northover felt relief that he should thus fasten on such a minor
issue, and never liked him better than at that moment. "Thank God, he's
took it, lying down!" she thought, then spoke.

"Don't you leave, my dear man. Bridport won't be Bridport without you,
and you've always been a true and valued friend to me, and such a
helpful and sensible creature that I shall only know in the next world
all I owe you. And between us, I don't see no reason at all why you
sho