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d me-- She nothing has to hide!'" (_In Edith's handwriting_.) SELWICK HALL, DECEMBER THE FIRST. I would have fain let be the records of this sad first day that this chronicle is come to mine hand. But _Father_ and _Mother_ do desire me to set down honestly what hath happed, the which therefore I must essay to do. It was of long time that I had noted a strange difference in _Milly_, and had talked with _Nell_ thereabout, more than once or twice. Though _Milisent_ is by four years elder than I, yet she had alway been the one of us most loving frolicsome merriment. But now it seemed me as though she had grown up over my head, all at once. Not that she was less mirthful at times: nay, rather more, if aught. But at other times she seemed an other maid, and not our _Milly_ at all. It was not our _Milly's_ wont to sit with her hands of her lap, a-gazing from the window; nor to answer sharp and short when one spake to her; nor to appear all unrestful, as though she were in disease of mind. And at last, _Nell_ thinking less thereof than I, I made up my mind to speak with Aunt _Joyce_, that I knew was wise and witty [sensible], and if there were aught gone wrong, should take it less hard than _Mother_, and could break the same to _Mother_ more gentler than we. To say truth, I was feared--and yet I scarce knew why--of that man we met on Saint _Hubert's_ Isle. I had noted that _Milly_ never named him, though he were somewhat cause of mirth betwixt _Helen_ and me: and when an other so did, she seemed as though she essayed to speak as careless as ever she could. This liked me not: nor did it like me that twice I had met _Milly_ coming from the garden, and she went red as fire when she saw me. From all this I feared some secret matter that should not be: and as yester-morrow, when we were come from _Nanny's_, I brake my mind to Aunt _Joyce_. Aunt _Joyce_ did not cry "Pish!" nor fault me for conceiving foolish fantasies, as I was something feared she might. On the contrary part, she heard me very kindly and heedfully, laying down her work to give better ear. When I had done, she saith-- "Tell me, _Edith_, what like is this man." I told her so well as I could. "And how oft hast thou seen him?" "Three times, _Aunt_. The first on Saint _Hubert's_ Isle, whereof you know: the second, I met him once in the lane behind the garden, as I was a-coming home from _Isaac
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