CHAPTER XVI. THE SUBSTITUTION

upymyheart. Almostimmediatelyaftertheconclusionoftheservice,MissMurrayleftthechurch.Wehadtostandintheporch,foritwasraining,andthecarriagewasnotyetcome.Iwonderedathercomingforthsohastily,forneitheryoungMelthamnorSquireGreenwastherebutIsoonfounditwastosecureaninterviewwithMr.Westonashecameout,whichhepresentlydid.Havingsalutedusboth,hewouldhavepassedon,butshedetainedhimfirstwithobservationsuponthedisagreeableweather,andthenwithaskingifhewouldbesokindastocomesometimeto-morrowtoseethegranddaughteroftheoldwomanwhokepttheporter’slodge,forthegirlwasillofafever,andwishedtoseehim.Hepromisedtodoso. “Andatwhattimewillyoubemostlikelytocome,Mr.Weston?Theoldwomanwillliketoknowwhentoexpectyou—youknowsuchpeoplethinkmoreabouthavingtheircottagesinorderwhendecentpeoplecometoseethemthanweareapttosuppose.” HerewasawonderfulinstanceofconsiderationfromthethoughtlessMissMurray.Mr.Westonnamedanhourinthemorningatwhichhewouldendeavourtobethere.Bythistimethecarriagewasready,andthefootmanwaswaiting,withanopenumbrella,toescortMissMurraythroughthechurchyard.IwasabouttofollowbutMr.Westonhadanumbrellatoo,andofferedmethebenefitofitsshelter,foritwasrainingheavily. “No,thankyou,Idon’tmindtherain,”Isa