own there in Sussex,
but when he heard that they intended to be married shortly he put
his hand into his pocket, as a magnificent uncle, overflowing with
millions, ought to do."

"I did not hear that."

"Hamel sent my money back at once."

"And poor Tom! You were so good to poor Tom."

"I like Tom."

"But he did behave badly."

"Well; yes. One gentleman shouldn't strike another, even though he be
ever so much in love. It's an uncomfortable proceeding, and never has
good results. But then, poor fellow, he has been so much in earnest."

"Why couldn't he take a No when he got it?"

"Why didn't I take a No when I got it?"

"That was very different. He ought to have taken it. If you had taken
it you would have been very wrong, and have broken a poor girl's
heart. I am sure you knew that all through."

"Did I?"

"And then you were too good-natured. That was it. I don't think you
really love me;--not as I love you. Oh, Jonathan, if you were to
change your mind now! Suppose you were to tell me that it was a
mistake! Suppose I were to awake and find myself in bed at Kingsbury
Crescent?"

"I hope there may be no such waking as that!"

"I should go mad,--stark mad. Shake me till I find out whether it is
real waking, downright, earnest. But, Jonathan, why did you call me
Miss Dormer when you went away? That was the worst of all. I remember
when you called me Ayala first. It went through and through me like
an electric shock. But you never saw it;--did you?"

On that afternoon when she returned home she wrote to her sister
Lucy, giving a sister's account to her sister of all her happiness.
"I am sure Isadore is second best, but Jonathan is best. I don't want
you to say so; but if you contradict me I shall stick to it. You
remember my telling you that the old woman in the railway said that
I was perverse. She was a clever old woman, and knew all about it,
for I was perverse. However, it has come all right now, and Jonathan
is best of all. Oh, my man,--my man! Is it not sweet to have a man
of one's own to love?" If this letter had been written on the day
before,--as would have been the case had not Ayala been taken out
hunting,--it would have reached Merle Park on the Wednesday, the news
would have been made known to Aunt Emmeline, and so conveyed to poor
Tom, and that disagreeable journey from Merle Park to Stalham would
have been saved. But there was no time for writing on the Monday. The
letter was sent away in