CHAPTER XVI. THE SUBSTITUTION

ose.” HerewasawonderfulinstanceofconsiderationfromthethoughtlessMissMurray.Mr.Westonnamedanhourinthemorningatwhichhewouldendeavourtobethere.Bythistimethecarriagewasready,andthefootmanwaswaiting,withanopenumbrella,toescortMissMurraythroughthechurchyard.IwasabouttofollowbutMr.Westonhadanumbrellatoo,andofferedmethebenefitofitsshelter,foritwasrainingheavily. “No,thankyou,Idon’tmindtherain,”Isaid.Ialwayslackedcommonsensewhentakenbysurprise. “Butyoudon’tlikeit,Isuppose?—anumbrellawilldoyounoharmatanyrate,”hereplied,withasmilethatshowedhewasnotoffendedasamanofworsetemperorlesspenetrationwouldhavebeenatsucharefusalofhisaid.Icouldnotdenythetruthofhisassertion,andsowentwithhimtothecarriageheevenofferedmehishandongettingin:anunnecessarypieceofcivility,butIacceptedthattoo,forfearofgivingoffence.Oneglancehegave,onelittlesmileatparting—itwasbutforamomentbutthereinIread,orthoughtIread,ameaningthatkindledinmyheartabrighterflameofhopethanhadeveryetarisen. “Iwouldhavesentthefootmanbackforyou,MissGrey,ifyou’dwaitedamoment—youneedn’thavetakenMr.Weston’sumbrella,”observedRosalie,withaveryunamiableclouduponherprettyface. “Iwouldhavecomewithoutanumbrella,butMr.Westonofferedmethebenefitofhis,andIcouldnothaverefuseditmorethanIdidwithoutoffendinghim,”repliedI,smilingplacidlyformyinwardhappinessmadethatamusing,whichwouldhavewoundedmeatanothertime. Thecarriagewasnowinmotion.MissMurraybentforwards,andlookedoutofthewindowaswewerepassingMr.Weston.Hewaspacinghomewardsalongthecauseway,anddidnotturnhishead. “Stupidass!”criedshe,throwingherselfbackagainintheseat.“Youdon’tknowwhatyou’velostbynotlookingthisway!” “Whathashelost?” “Abowfromme,thatwouldhaveraisedhimtotheseventhheaven!” Imadenoanswer.Isawshewasoutofhumour,andIderivedasecretgratificationfromthefact,notthatshewasvexed,butthatshethoughtshehadreasontobeso.Itmademethinkmyhopeswerenotentirelytheoffspringofmywishesandimagination. “ImeantotakeupMr.WestoninsteadofMr.Hatfield,”saidmycompanion,afteras