to
tear, at increasingly frequent intervals, the veil of conventional
formality.

Her mood now, as she accompanied George Cannon on the unknown adventure,
was one of abashed but still fierce resentment. She of course believed
Sarah Gailey's statement that there had been "talk" about herself and
the landlord, and yet it was so utterly monstrous as to be almost
incredible. She was absolutely sure that she had never by her behaviour
furnished the slightest excuse for such "talk." No eavesdropper could
ever have caught the least word or gesture to justify it. Could a
malicious eavesdropper have assisted at the secret operations of her
inmost mind, even then he could scarcely have seen aught to justify it.
Existence at Brighton had been too strenuous and strange--and, with
Sarah Gailey in the house, too full of responsibilities--to favour
dalliance. Hilda, examining herself, could not say that she had not once
thought of George Cannon as a husband; because just as a young solitary
man will imagine himself the spouse of a dozen different girls in a
week, so will an unmated girl picture herself united to every eligible
and passably sympathetic male that crosses her path. It is the everyday
diversion of the fancy. But she could say that she had not once thought
seriously of George Cannon as a husband. Why, he was not of her
generation! Although she did not know his age, she guessed that he must
be nearer forty than thirty. He was of the generation of Sarah Gailey,
and Sarah Gailey was the contemporary of her dead mother! And he had
never shown for her any sentiment but that of a benevolently teasing
kindliness. Moreover, she was afraid of him, beyond question. And
withal, he patently lacked certain qualities which were to be found in
her image of a perfect man. No! She had more often thought of Edwin
Clayhanger as a husband. Indeed she had married Edwin Clayhanger several
times. The haunting youth would not leave her alone. And she said to
herself, hot and indignant: "I shall have to leave Brighton! I can see
that! Sarah Gailey's brought it on herself!" Yes, she was actually angry
with Sarah Gailey, who however had only informed her of a fact which she
would have been sorry not to know! And in leaving Brighton, that fancy
of hers took her straight to Bursley, to stay with Janet Orgreave in the
house next to the new house of the Clayhangers!

Whither was George Cannon leading her? He had not yet said a word in
explanation of