circumstances and time might favour him. It
is to be feared that he made himself extremely disagreeable to poor
Lady Chiltern, to whom he was intending to open his heart could he
only find an opportunity for so much as that. But Lady Chiltern was
determined not to have his confidence, and at last withdrew from the
scene in order that she might not be entrapped. Before lunch had come
all the party knew what was to happen,--except Adelaide herself. She,
too, perceived that something was in the wind, that there was some
stir, some discomfort, some secret affair forward, or some event
expected which made them all uneasy;--and she did connect it with
the presence of Mr. Spooner. But, in pitiable ignorance of the facts
that were clear enough to everybody else, she went on watching and
wondering, with a half-formed idea that the house would be more
pleasant as soon as Mr. Spooner should have taken his departure. He
was to go after lunch. But on such occasions there is, of course, a
latitude, and "after lunch" may be stretched at any rate to the five
o'clock tea. At three o'clock Mr. Spooner was still hanging about.
Madame Goesler and Phineas, with an openly declared intention of
friendly intercourse, had gone out to walk together. Lord and Lady
Baldock were on horseback. Two or three old ladies hung over the
fire and gossiped. Lady Chiltern had retired to her baby;--when on a
sudden Adelaide Palliser declared her intention of walking into the
village. "Might I accompany you, Miss Palliser?" said Mr. Spooner;
"I want a walk above all things." He was very brave, and persevered
though it was manifest that the lady did not desire his company.
Adelaide said something about an old woman whom she intended to
visit; whereupon Mr. Spooner declared that visiting old women was the
delight of his life. He would undertake to give half a sovereign to
the old woman if Miss Palliser would allow him to come. He was very
brave, and persevered in such a fashion that he carried his point.
Lady Chiltern from her nursery window saw them start through the
shrubbery together.

"I have been waiting for this opportunity all the morning," said Mr.
Spooner, gallantly.

But in spite of his gallantry, and although she had known, almost
from breakfast time, that he had been waiting for something, still
she did not suspect his purpose. It has been said that Mr. Spooner
was still young, being barely over forty years of age; but he had
unfortunately appeare