g you to forgive her.

Thus it was settled that Mary Lowther should leave Bullhampton, again
returning to Loring, as she had done before, in order that she might
escape from her suitor. In writing to her aunt she had thought it
best to say nothing of Walter Marrable. She had not as yet written
to her cousin, postponing that work for the following day. She would
have postponed it longer had it been possible; but she felt herself
to be bound to let him have her reply before he left Dunripple. She
would have much preferred to return to Loring, to have put miles
between herself and Bullhampton, before she wrote a letter which
must contain words of happy joy. It would have gratified her to have
postponed for awhile all her future happiness, knowing that it was
there before her, and that it would come to her at last. But it could
not be postponed. Her cousin's letter was burning her pocket. She
already felt that she was treating him badly in keeping it by her
without sending him the reply that would make him happy. She could
not bring herself to write the letter till the other matter was
absolutely settled; and yet, all delay was treachery to him; for,--as
she repeated to herself again and again,--there could be no answer
but one. She had, however, settled it all now. On the Saturday
morning she would start for Loring, and she would write her letter
on the Friday in time for that day's post. Walter would still be at
Dunripple on the Sunday, and on the Sunday morning her letter would
reach him. She had studied the course of post between Bullhampton and
her lover's future residence, and knew to an hour when her letter
would be in his hands.

On that afternoon she could hardly maintain the tranquillity of her
usual demeanour when she met the Vicar before dinner. Not a word,
however, was said about Gilmore. Fenwick partly understood that he
and his wife were in some degree responsible for the shipwreck that
had come, and had determined that Mary was to be forgiven,--at any
rate by him. He and his wife had taken counsel together, and had
resolved that, unless circumstances should demand it, they would
never again mention the Squire's name in Mary Lowther's hearing. The
attempt had been made and had utterly failed, and now there must be
an end of it. On the next morning he heard that Gilmore had gone up
to London, and he went up to the Privets to learn what he could from
the servants there. No one knew more than that the Squire