n
saw the look and was puzzled; he did not believe the vicar capable of
going straight to Mrs. Ambrose with the story of the last night's
interview. But he was already so much disturbed that he did not attempt
to explain to himself what was happening.

But when lunch was over, and he realised that he had declared his
intention of leaving Billingsfield on the next day, he saw that if he
meant to see Mrs. Goddard before he left he must go to her at once. He
therefore waited until he heard Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose talking together in
the sitting-room and then slipped quietly out by the garden to the road.

He had no idea what he should say when he met Mrs. Goddard. He meant, of
course, to let her understand, or at least suppose, that he was leaving
suddenly on her account, but he did not know in the least how to
accomplish it. He trusted that the words necessary to him would come into
his head spontaneously. His heart beat fast and he was conscious that he
blushed as he rang the bell of the cottage. Almost before he knew where
he was, he found himself ushered into the little drawing-room and in the
presence of the woman he now felt sure that he loved. But to his great
annoyance she was not alone; Nellie was with her. Mrs. Goddard sat near
the fire, reading a review; Nellie was curled up in a corner of the deep
sofa with a book, her thick brown curls falling all over her face and
hands as she read. Mrs. Goddard extended her hand, without rising.

"How do you do, Mr. Short?" she said. The young man stood hat in hand in
the middle of the room, feeling very nervous. It was strange that he
should experience any embarrassment now, considering how many hours he
had spent in her company during the last few days. He blushed and
stammered.

"How do you do? I, in fact--I have come to say good-bye," he blurted out.

"So soon?" said Mrs. Goddard calmly. "Pray sit down."

"Are you really going away, Mr. Short?" asked Nellie. "We are so sorry to
lose you." The child had caught the phrase from a book she had been
reading, and thought it very appropriate. Her mother smiled.

"Yes--as Nellie says--we are sorry to lose you," she said. "I thought you
were to stay until Monday?"

"So I was--but--very urgent business--not exactly business of course, but
work--calls me away sooner." Having delivered himself of this masterpiece
of explanation John looked nervously at Nellie and then at his hat and
then, with an imploring glance, at Mrs. Godda