views regarding the business, and could not accuse himself
of any fault in his manner of making them known to Mr. Tappitt; but,
nevertheless, he was ill at ease with himself in that he had given
offence. And with all these thoughts were mingled other thoughts
as to Rachel Ray. He did not in the least imagine that any of the
anger felt towards him at the brewery had been caused by his open
admiration of Rachel. It had never occurred to him that Mrs. Tappitt
had regarded him as a possible son-in-law, or that, having so
regarded him, she could hold him in displeasure because he had failed
to fall into her views. He had never regarded himself as being of
value as a possible future husband, or entertained the idea that he
was a prize. He had taken hold in good faith of the Tappitt right
hand which had been stretched out to him, and was now grieved that
that hand should be suddenly withdrawn.

But as he was impulsive, so also was he light-hearted, and when he
had chosen his bedroom and written the note to Mary, in which he
desired her to pack up his belongings and send them to him, he was
almost at ease as regarded that matter. Old Tappitt was, as he said
to himself, an old ass, and if he chose to make that brewery business
a cause of quarrel no one could help it. Mary was bidden in the
note to say very civil things to Mrs. Tappitt; but, at the same
time, to speak out the truth boldly. "Tell her," said he, "that I am
constrained to leave the house because Mr. Tappitt and I cannot agree
at the present moment about matters of business." When this was done
he looked at his watch, and started off on his walk to Bragg's End.

It has been said that Rowan had not made up his mind to ask Rachel
to be his wife,--that he had not made up his mind on this matter,
although he was going to Bragg's End in a mood which would very
probably bring him to such a conclusion. It will, I fear, be thought
from this that he was light in purpose as well as light in heart; but
I am not sure that he was open to any special animadversion of that
nature. It is the way of men to carry on such affairs without any
complete arrangement of their own plans or even wishes. He knew that
he admired Rachel and liked her. I doubt whether he had ever yet
declared to himself that he loved her. I doubt whether he had done so
when he started on that walk,--thinking it probable, however, that he
had persuaded himself of the fact before he reached the cottage door.
He