CHAPTER XIV. THE RECTOR

onnet,andgentlystirredbythebreeze,herfaircheekflushedwithgratifiedvanity,hersmilingblueeyes,nowslylyglancingtowardsheradmirer,nowgazingdownwardathermyrtlesprig.ButSnap,runningbeforeme,interruptedherinthemidstofsomehalf-pert,half-playfulrepartee,bycatchingholdofherdressandvehementlytuggingthereattillMr.Hatfield,withhiscane,administeredaresoundingthwackupontheanimal’sskull,andsentityelpingbacktomewithaclamorousoutcrythataffordedthereverendgentlemangreatamusement:butseeingmesonear,hethought,Isuppose,hemightaswellbetakinghisdepartureand,asIstoopedtocaressthedog,withostentatiouspitytoshowmydisapprovalofhisseverity,Iheardhimsay:“WhenshallIseeyouagain,MissMurray?” “Atchurch,Isuppose,”repliedshe,“unlessyourbusinesschancestobringyouhereagainattheprecisemomentwhenIhappentobewalkingby.” “Icouldalwaysmanagetohavebusinesshere,ifIknewpreciselywhenandwheretofindyou.” “ButifIwould,Icouldnotinformyou,forIamsoimmethodical,Inevercantellto-daywhatIshalldoto-morrow.” “Thengivemethat,meantime,tocomfortme,”saidhe,halfjestinglyandhalfinearnest,extendinghishandforthesprigofmyrtle. “No,indeed,Ishan’t.” “Do!praydo!Ishallbethemostmiserableofmenifyoudon’t.Youcannotbesocruelastodenymeafavoursoeasilygrantedandyetsohighlyprized!”pleadedheasardentlyasifhislifedependedonit. BythistimeIstoodwithinaveryfewyardsofthem,impatientlywaitinghisdeparture. “Therethen!takeitandgo,”saidRosalie. Hejoyfullyreceivedthegift,murmuredsomethingthatmadeherblushandtossherhead,butwithalittlelaughthatshowedherdispleasurewasentirelyaffectedandthenwithacourteoussalutationwithdrew. “Didyoueverseesuchaman,MissGrey?”saidshe,turningtome“I’msogladyoucame!IthoughtInevershouldgetridofhimandIwassoterriblyafraidofpapaseeinghim.” “Hashebeenwithyoulong?” “No,notlong,buthe’ssoextremelyimpertinent:andhe’salwayshangingabout,pretendinghisbusinessorhisclericaldutiesrequirehisattendanceintheseparts,andreallywatchingforpoorme,andpouncinguponmewhereverheseesme.” “Well,yourmammathinksyououghtnottogobeyondtheparkorgardenwithoutsomediscreet,matronlypersonlikemetoaccompanyyou,andkeepoffallintruders.ShedescriedMr.Hatfieldhurryingpastthepark-gates,andforthwithdespatchedmewithinstructionstoseekyouupandtotakecareofyou,andlikewisetowarn—” “Oh,mamma’ssotiresome!AsifIcouldn’ttakecareofmyself.ShebotheredmebeforeaboutMr.HatfieldandItoldhershemighttrustme:Inevershouldforgetmyrankandstationforthemostdelightfulmanthateverbreathed.Iwishhewouldgodownonhiskneesto-morrow,andimploremetobehiswife,thatImightjustshowherhowmistakensheisinsupposingthatIcouldever—Oh,itprovokesmeso!TothinkthatIcouldbesuchafoolastofallinlove!Itisquitebeneaththedignityofawomantodosuchathing.Love!Idetesttheword!Asappliedtooneofoursex,Ithinkitaperfectinsult.ApreferenceImightacknowledgebutneverforonelikepoorMr.Hatfield,whohasnotsevenhundredayeartoblesshimselfwith.Iliketotalktohim,becausehe’ssocleverandamusing—IwishSirThomasAshbywerehalfasnicebesides,Imusthavesomebodytoflirtwith,andnooneelsehasthesensetocomehereandwhenwegoout,mammawon’tletmeflirtwithanybodybutSirThomas—ifhe’sthereandifhe’snotthere,I’mboundhandandfoot,forfearsomebodyshouldgoandmakeupsomeexaggeratedstory,andputitintohisheadthatI’mengaged,orlikelytobeengaged,tosomebodyelseor,whatismoreprobable,forfearhisnastyoldmothershouldseeorhearofmyongoings,andconcludethatI’mnotafitwifeforherexcellentson:asifthesaidsonwerenotthegreatestscampinChristendomandasifanywomanofcommondecencywerenotaworldtoogoodforhim.” “Isitreallyso,MissMurray?anddoesyourmammaknowit,andyetwishyoutomarryhim?” “Tobesure,shedoes!SheknowsmoreagainsthimthanIdo,Ibelieve:shekeepsitfrommelestIshouldbediscouragednotknowinghowlittleIcareaboutsuchthings.Forit’snogreatmatter,really:he’llbeallrightwhenhe’smarried,asmammasaysandreformedrakesmakethebesthusbands,everybodyknows.Ionlywishhewerenotsougly—that’sallIthinkabout:butthenthere’snochoicehereinthecountryandpapawillnotletusgotoLondon—” “ButIshouldthinkMr.Hatfieldwouldbefarbetter.” “Andsohewould,ifhewerelordofAshbyPark—there’snotadoubtofit:butthefactis,ImusthaveAshbyPark,whoeversharesitwithme.” “ButMr.Hatfieldthinksyoulikehimallthistimeyoudon’tconsiderhowbitterlyhewillbedisappointedwhenhefindshimselfmistaken.” “No,indeed!Itwillbeaproperpunishmentforhispresumption—foreverdaringtothinkIcouldlikehim.Ishouldenjoynothingsomuchasliftingtheveilfromhiseyes.” “Thesoonery