CHAPTER XX. THE FAREWELL

uchanideaneverenteredmyhead,andIgaveabriefbutplainstatementofmymother’splansandprospects. “Thenyouwillleavethisplaceshortly?”saidhe. “Yes,inamonth.” Hepausedaminute,asifinthought.Whenhespokeagain,Ihopeditwouldbetoexpresshisconcernatmydeparturebutitwasonlytosay,—“Ishouldthinkyouwillbewillingenoughtogo?” “Yes—forsomethings,”Ireplied. “Forsomethingsonly—Iwonderwhatshouldmakeyouregretit?” Iwasannoyedatthisinsomedegreebecauseitembarrassedme:Ihadonlyonereasonforregrettingitandthatwasaprofoundsecret,whichhehadnobusinesstotroublemeabout. “Why,”saidI—“whyshouldyousupposethatIdisliketheplace?” “Youtoldmesoyourself,”wasthedecisivereply.“Yousaid,atleast,thatyoucouldnotlivecontentedly,withoutafriendandthatyouhadnofriendhere,andnopossibilityofmakingone—and,besides,Iknowyoumustdislikeit.” “Butifyourememberrightly,Isaid,ormeanttosay,Icouldnotlivecontentedlywithoutafriendintheworld:Iwasnotsounreasonableastorequireonealwaysnearme.IthinkIcouldbehappyinahousefullofenemies,if—”butnothatsentencemustnotbecontinued—Ipaused,andhastilyadded,—“And,besides,wecannotwellleaveaplacewherewehavelivedfortwoorthreeyears,withoutsomefeelingofregret.” “WillyouregrettopartwithMissMurray,yoursoleremainingpupilandcompanion?” “IdaresayIshallinsomedegree:itwasnotwithoutsorrowIpartedwithhersister.” “Icanimaginethat.” “Well,MissMatildaisquiteasgood—betterinonerespect.” “Whatisthat?” “She’shonest.” “Andtheotherisnot?” “Ishouldnotcallherdishonestbutitmustbeconfessedshe’salittleartful.” “Artfulisshe?—Isawshewasgiddyandvain—andnow,”headded,afterapause,“Icanwellbelieveshewasartfultoobutsoexcessivelysoastoassumeanaspectofextremesimplicityandunguardedopenness.Yes,”continuedhe,musingly,“thataccountsforsomelitt