very far gone in tenderness.

'Indeed now!' said Mrs Pipkin, who did not in the least understand the
meaning of her friend's last remark.

'Mr Fisker came to me with tidings from San Francisco which I had not
heard before, and has offered to take me back with him.' Mrs Pipkin's
apron was immediately at her eyes. 'I must go some day, you knew.'

'I suppose you must. I couldn't hope as you'd stay here always. I wish
I could. I never shall forget the comfort it's been. There hasn't been
a week without everything settled; and most ladylike,--most ladylike!
You seem to me, Mrs Hurtle, just as though you had the bank in your
pocket.' All this the poor woman said, moved by her sorrow to speak
the absolute truth.

'Mr Fisker isn't in any way a special friend of mine, but I hear that
he will be taking other ladies with him, and I fancy I might as well
join the party. It will be less dull for me, and I shall prefer
company just at present for many reasons. We shall start on the first
of September.' As this was said about the middle of August there was
still some remnant of comfort for poor Mrs Pipkin. A fortnight gained
was something; and as Mr Fisker had come to England on business, and
as business is always uncertain, there might possibly be further
delay. Then Mrs Hurtle made a further communication to Mrs Pipkin,
which, though not spoken till the latter lady had her hand on the
door, was, perhaps, the one thing which Mrs Hurtle had desired to say.
'By-the-bye, Mrs Pipkin I expect Mr Montague to call to-morrow at
eleven. Just show him up when he comes.' She had feared that unless
some such instructions were given, there might be a little scene at
the door when the gentleman came.

'Mr Montague;--oh! Of course, Mrs Hurtle,--of course. I'll see to it
myself.' Then Mrs Pipkin went away abashed,--feeling that she had made
a great mistake in preferring any other man to Mr Montague, if, after
all, recent difficulties were to be adjusted.

On the following morning Mrs Hurtle dressed herself with almost more
than her usual simplicity, but certainly with not less than her usual
care, and immediately after breakfast seated herself at her desk,
nursing an idea that she would work as steadily for the next hour as
though she expected no special visitor. Of course she did not write a
word of the task which she had prescribed to herself. Of course she
was disturbed in her mind, though she had dictated to herself absolute
quiescence.