account. He began to realise the interest that would be
taken by the entire county in a matter which did not concern them in the
very least. He realised the astonished look of his mother, and felt
already his ear transfixed by Minnie's persistent "Why?" Theo saw all
these hindrances by degrees. He said to himself, indignantly, that it
was nobody's business but his own, and that he hoped he was able to
judge for himself. But these reflections do not make an end of a
difficulty; they only show more distinctly a consciousness of it. And
thus it was that he put off making to Lady Markland the proposal he
intended to make, just as she, on her side, put off asking him whether
he had done anything in the matter. In the meantime, while the summer
lasted, there were many reasons and excuses for putting off from day to
day.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The moment, however, was approaching when Warrender had to declare for
himself what he intended to do. It is true that he had given indications
of previous intention which had put his family on their guard. He had
said to Cavendish and to others that it was doubtful whether he would
return to Oxford,--words which had made the ladies look at each other,
which had drawn a sharp exclamation from Minnie, but which even she had
consented to say nothing of until his resolution was more evident. It
might be but a caprice of the moment, one of the hasty expressions which
Theo was not unaccustomed to launch at his little audience, making them
stare and exclaim, but which were never meant to come to anything. Most
likely this was the case now. And the preparations went on as usual
without anything further said. Mrs. Warrender had curbed her own
impatience; she had yielded to his wishes and remained at the Warren,
with a sympathy for his sudden fascination and for the object of it
which no one else shared; but she looked not without longing for the
time when he should return to his studies,--when there should no longer
be any duty to keep her to the Warren, nothing to make self-denial
necessary. The thought of the free air outside this little green island
of retreat almost intoxicated her by times, as the autumn days stole on,
and October came red and glowing, with sharp winds but golden sunsets
which tinged the woods. By this time, Chatty, too, began to have
sensations unusual to her,--such as must thrill through the boat upon
the shore, when the little waves run up and kiss its sides, wooing