yes to his true
character,--how sedulously he had endeavoured to persuade her that
it was her duty to rob her father on his behalf, how continually he
had endeavoured to make her think that appearance in the world was
everything, and that, being in truth poor adventurers, it behoved
them to cheat the world into thinking them rich and respectable.
Every hint that had been so given had been a wound to her, and those
wounds were all now remembered. Though since his death she had never
allowed a word to be spoken in her presence against him, she could
not but hate his memory. How glorious was that other man in her
eyes, as he stood there at the door welcoming her to Longbarns,
fair-haired, open-eyed, with bronzed brow and cheek, and surely the
honestest face that a loving woman ever loved to gaze on. During the
various lessons she had learned in her married life, she had become
gradually but surely aware that the face of that other man had been
dishonest. She had learned the false meaning of every glance of his
eyes, the subtlety of his mouth, the counterfeit manoeuvres of
his body,--the deceit even of his dress. He had been all a lie from
head to foot; and he had thrown her love aside as useless when she
also would not be a liar. And here was this man,--spotless in her
estimation, compounded of all good qualities, which she could now see
and take at their proper value. She hated herself for the simplicity
with which she had been cheated by soft words and a false demeanour
into so great a sacrifice.

Life at Longbarns was very quiet during the days which she passed
there before he left them. She was frequently alone with him, but he,
if he still loved her, did not speak of his love. He explained it
all one day to his mother. "If it is to be," said the old lady, "I
don't see the use of more delay. Of course the marriage ought not to
be till March twelvemonths. But if it is understood that it is to
be, she might alter her dress by degrees,--and alter her manner of
living. Those things should always be done by degrees. I think it had
better be settled, Arthur, if it is to be settled."

"I am afraid, mother."

"Dear me! I didn't think you were the man ever to be afraid of a
woman. What can she say to you?"

"Refuse me."

"Then you'd better know it at once. But I don't think she'll be fool
enough for that."

"Perhaps you hardly understand her, mother."

Mrs. Fletcher shook her head with a look of considerable annoyance