eed, was stronger than
ever since the intimacy of lovers' dialogue had revealed to him more of
Marian's heart and mind. Undeniably he was in love. Not passionately,
not with the consuming desire which makes every motive seem paltry
compared with its own satisfaction; but still quite sufficiently in love
to have a great difficulty in pursuing his daily tasks. This did not
still the voice which bade him remember all the opportunities and hopes
he was throwing aside. Since the plighting of troth with Marian he had
been over to Wimbledon, to the house of his friend and patron Mr Horace
Barlow, and there he had again met with Miss Rupert. This lady had no
power whatever over his emotions, but he felt assured that she
regarded him with strong interest. When he imagined the possibility of
contracting a marriage with Miss Rupert, who would make him at once
a man of solid means, his head drooped, and he wondered at his
precipitation. It had to be confessed that he was the victim of a vulgar
weakness. He had declared himself not of the first order of progressive
men.

The conversation with Amy Reardon did not tend to put his mind at rest.
Amy was astonished at so indiscreet a step in a man of his calibre. Ah!
if only Amy herself were free, with her ten thousand pounds to dispose
of! She, he felt sure, did not view him with indifference. Was there not
a touch of pique in the elaborate irony with which she had spoken of his
choice?--But it was idle to look in that direction.

He was anxious on his sisters' account. They were clever girls, and with
energy might before long earn a bare subsistence; but it began to be
doubtful whether they would persevere in literary work. Maud, it was
clear, had conceived hopes of quite another kind. Her intimacy with Mrs
Lane was effecting a change in her habits, her dress, even her modes of
speech. A few days after their establishment in the new lodgings, Jasper
spoke seriously on this subject with the younger girl.

'I wonder whether you could satisfy my curiosity in a certain matter,'
he said. 'Do you, by chance, know how much Maud gave for that new jacket
in which I saw her yesterday?'

Dora was reluctant to answer.

'I don't think it was very much.'

'That is to say, it didn't cost twenty guineas. Well, I hope not.

I notice, too, that she has been purchasing a new hat.'

'Oh, that was very inexpensive. She trimmed it herself.'

'Did she? Is there any particular, any quite special, re