, you'd
better keep them yourself. But Bella must have the rest."

It was found on the eve of the day on which she was told that she was
to depart that she had in truth armed herself with a dagger or clasp
knife. She actually displayed it when her uncle told her to come away
from the chest on which she was sitting. She declared that she would
defend herself there to the last gasp of her life; but of course the
knife fell from her hand the first moment that she was touched. "I
did think once that she was going to make a poke at me," Mr. Crump
said afterwards; "but she had screamed herself so weak that she
couldn't do it."

When the morning came, she was taken to the fly and driven to
the station without any further serious outbreak. She had even
condescended to select certain articles, leaving the rest of
the hymeneal wealth behind her. Bella, early on that morning of
departure, with great humility, implored her sister to forgive her;
but no entreaties could induce Camilla to address one gracious word
to the proposed bride. "You've been cheating me all along!" she said;
and that was the last word she spoke to poor Bella.

She went, and the field was once more open to the amorous Vicar
of St. Peter's-cum-Pumpkin. It is astonishing how the greatest
difficulties will sink away, and become as it were nothing, when
they are encountered face to face. It is certain that Mr. Gibson's
position had been one most trying to the nerves. He had speculated on
various modes of escape;--a curacy in the north of England would be
welcome, or the duties of a missionary in New Zealand,--or death. To
tell the truth, he had, during the last week or two, contemplated
even a return to the dominion of Camilla. That there should ever
again be things pleasant for him in Exeter seemed to be quite
impossible. And yet, on the evening of the day but one after the
departure of Camilla, he was seated almost comfortably with his own
Arabella! There is nothing that a man may not do, nothing that he may
not achieve, if he have only pluck enough to go through with it.

"You do love me?" Bella said to him. It was natural that she should
ask him; but it would have been better perhaps if she had held her
tongue. Had she spoken to him about his house, or his income, or the
servants, or the duties of his parish church, it would have been
easier for him to make a comfortable reply.

"Yes;--I love you," he replied; "of course I love you. We have always
been