y active intentions. And Elinor had never done anything of this kind,
any more than she had pursued music almost as a profession, which was
what Helena Gaythorne had done; or learned to draw, like Maud (who once
had a little thing in the Royal Academy); or studied the Classics,
like Gertrude. John thought of her little tunes as he listened to Miss
Gaythorne's performance, and almost laughed out at the comparison. He
was very fond of music, and Miss Gaythorne's playing was something which
the most cultivated audience might have been glad to listen to. He was
ashamed to confess to himself that he liked the "tunes" best. No, he
would not confess it even to himself; but when he stood behind the
performer listening, it occurred to him that he was capable of walking
all the miles of hill and hollow which divided the one place from the
other, only for the inane satisfaction of seeing that baby spread on
Elinor's lap, or hearing her play to him one of her "tunes."

He went with the Gaythornes to their country-place twice in the month of
June, and dined at the house several times, and was invited on other
occasions, becoming, in short, one of the _habitues_ when there was
anything going on in the house--till people began to ask, which was it?
It was thought generally that Helena was the attraction, for John was
known to be a musical man, always to be found where specially good music
was going. Some friends of the family had even gone so far as to say
among themselves what a good thing it was that dear Helena's lot was
likely to be cast with one who would appreciate her gift. "It generally
happens in these cases that a girl marries somebody who does not know
one note from another," they said to each other. When, all at once, John
flagged in his visits; went no more to Dorking; and finally ceased to be
more assiduous or more remarked than the other young men who were on
terms of partial intimacy at the Gaythorne house. He had, indeed, tried
very hard to make himself fall in love with one of Sir John's girls. It
would have been an excellent connection, and the man might think himself
fortunate who secured any one of the three for his wife. Proceeding from
his certainty on these points, and also a general liking for their
company, John had gone into it with a settled purpose, determined to
fall in love if he could: but he found that the thing was not to be
done. It was a pity; but it could not be helped. He was in a condition
now whe