CHAPTER XXV. CONCLUSION

enthereafewweeks,Isupposehehasmadenofriendsyet,andwantsalittlesociety.” Themorrowcame.WhatafeverofanxietyandexpectationIwasinfrombreakfasttillnoon—atwhichtimehemadehisappearance!Havingintroducedhimtomymother,Itookmyworktothewindow,andsatdowntoawaittheresultoftheinterview.Theygotonextremelywelltogether—greatlytomysatisfaction,forIhadfeltveryanxiousaboutwhatmymotherwouldthinkofhim.Hedidnotstaylongthattime:butwhenherosetotakeleave,shesaidsheshouldbehappytoseehim,wheneverhemightfinditconvenienttocallagainandwhenhewasgone,Iwasgratifiedbyhearinghersay,—“Well!Ithinkhe’saverysensibleman.Butwhydidyousitbackthere,Agnes,”sheadded,“andtalksolittle?” “Becauseyoutalkedsowell,mamma,Ithoughtyourequirednoassistancefromme:and,besides,hewasyourvisitor,notmine.” Afterthat,heoftencalleduponus—severaltimesinthecourseofaweek.Hegenerallyaddressedmostofhisconversationtomymother:andnowonder,forshecouldconverse.Ialmostenviedtheunfettered,vigorousfluencyofherdiscourse,andthestrongsenseevincedbyeverythingshesaid—andyet,Ididnotfor,thoughIoccasionallyregrettedmyowndeficienciesforhissake,itgavemeverygreatpleasuretositandhearthetwobeingsIlovedandhonouredaboveeveryoneelseintheworld,discoursingtogethersoamicably,sowisely,andsowell.Iwasnotalwayssilent,howevernorwasIatallneglected.IwasquiteasmuchnoticedasIwouldwishtobe:therewasnolackofkindwordsandkinderlooks,noendofdelicateattentions,toofineandsubtletobegraspedbywords,andthereforeindescribable—butdeeplyfeltatheart. Ceremonywasquicklydroppedbetweenus:Mr.Westoncameasanexpectedguest,welcomeatalltimes,andneverderangingtheeconomyofourhouseholdaffairs.Heevencalledme“Agnes:”thenamehadbeentimidlyspokenatfirst,but,findingitgavenooffenceinanyquarter,heseemedgreatlytopreferthatappellationto“MissGrey”andsodidI.Howtediousandgloomywerethosedaysinwhichhedidnotcome!Andye