Oh, yes."

"Come out, then, to-morrow, when we are walking. In that way we shall
get used to each other. You are troubled now, and I will go." Then
he left her, and she felt herself to be bound to him by infinite
gratitude.

A week went on and she had become used to his company. A week passed
and he had spoken no word to her that a brother might not have
spoken. They had walked together when no one else had been within
hearing, and yet he had spared her. She had begun to think that he
would spare her altogether, and she was certainly grateful. Might
it not be that she had misunderstood him, and had misunderstood the
meaning of them all? Might it not be that she had troubled herself
with false anticipations? Surely it was so; for how could it be that
such a man should wish to make such a woman his wife?

"Well, Arthur?" said his brother to him one day.

"I have nothing to say about it," said Arthur.

"You haven't changed your mind?"

"Never! Upon my word, to me, in that dress, she is more beautiful
than ever."

"I wish you would make her take it off."

"I dare not ask her yet."

"You know what they say about widows generally, my boy."

"That is all very well when one talks about widows in general. It
is easy to chaff about women when one hasn't got any woman in one's
mind. But as it is now, having her here, loving her as I do,--by
heaven! I cannot hurry her. I don't dare to speak to her after that
fashion. I shall do it in time, I suppose;--but I must wait till the
time comes."

CHAPTER LXXI

The Ladies at Longbarns Doubt

It came at last to be decided among them that when old Mr. Wharton
returned to town,--and he had now been at Wharton longer than he had
ever been known to remain there before,--Emily should still remain in
Herefordshire, and that at some period not then fixed she should go
for a month to Longbarns. There were various reasons which induced
her to consent to this change of plans. In the first place she found
herself to be infinitely more comfortable in the country than in
town. She could go out and move about and bestir herself, whereas in
Manchester Square she could only sit and mope at home. Her father had
assured her that he thought that it would be better that she should
be away from the reminiscences of the house in town. And then when
the first week of February was past Arthur would be up in town, and
she would be far away from him at Longbarns, whereas in London she
woul