ce. But Rhoda gave ear to him, of that there
could be little doubt; and since his inheritance of ample means the
affair began to have a new aspect. That Everard persevered, though the
world of women was now open to him--for, on a moderate computation, any
man with Barfoot's personal advantages, and armed with fifteen hundred
a year, may choose among fifty possible maidens--seemed to argue that
he was really in love. But what it would cost Rhoda to appear before
her friends in the character of a bride! What a humbling of her glory!

Was she capable of the love which defies all humiliation? Or, loving
ardently, would she renounce a desired happiness from dread of female
smiles and whispers? Or would it be her sufficient satisfaction to
reject a wealthy suitor, and thus pose more grandly than ever before
the circle who saw in her an example of woman's independence? Powerful
was the incitement to curiosity in a situation which, however it ended,
would afford such matter for emotional hypothesis.

They did not talk of Everard. Whether Rhoda replied to his letters from
abroad Miss Barfoot had no means of ascertaining. But after his return
he had a very cold reception--due, perhaps, to some audacity he had
allowed himself in his correspondence. Rhoda again avoided meeting with
him, and, as Miss Barfoot noticed, threw herself with increased energy
into all her old pursuits.

'What about your holiday this year?' Mary asked one evening in June.
'Shall you go first, or shall I?'

'Please make whatever arrangements you like.'

Miss Barfoot had a reason for wishing to postpone her holiday until
late in August. She said so, and proposed that Rhoda should take any
three weeks she liked prior to that.

'Miss Vesper,' she added, 'can manage your room very well. We shall be
much more at ease in that respect than last year.'

'Yes. Miss Vesper is getting to be very useful and trustworthy.'

Rhoda mused when she had made this remark.

'Do you know,' she asked presently, 'whether she sees much of Mrs.
Widdowson?'

'I have no idea.'

They decided that Rhoda should go away at the close of July. Where was
her holiday to be spent? Miss Barfoot suggested the lake country.

'I was thinking of it myself,' said Rhoda. 'I should like to have some
sea-bathing, though. A week by the shore, and then the rest of the time
spent in vagabondage among the mountains, would suit me very well. Mrs.
Cosgrove is at home in Cumberland; I must ask he