CHAPTER XXV. CONCLUSION

dit,Ifoundmycompanionwascheerfulenough. “I’mafraidI’vebeenwalkingtoofastforyou,Agnes,”saidhe:“inmyimpatiencetoberidofthetown,Iforgottoconsultyourconveniencebutnowwe’llwalkasslowlyasyouplease.Isee,bythoselightcloudsinthewest,therewillbeabrilliantsunset,andweshallbeintimetowitnessitseffectuponthesea,atthemostmoderaterateofprogression.” Whenwehadgotabouthalf-wayupthehill,wefellintosilenceagainwhich,asusual,hewasthefirsttobreak. “Myhouseisdesolateyet,MissGrey,”hesmilinglyobserved,“andIamacquaintednowwithalltheladiesinmyparish,andseveralinthistowntooandmanyothersIknowbysightandbyreportbutnotoneofthemwillsuitmeforacompanioninfact,thereisonlyonepersonintheworldthatwill:andthatisyourselfandIwanttoknowyourdecision?” “Areyouinearnest,Mr.Weston?” “Inearnest!HowcouldyouthinkIshouldjestonsuchasubject?” Helaidhishandonmine,thatrestedonhisarm:hemusthavefeltittremble—butitwasnogreatmatternow. “IhopeIhavenotbeentooprecipitate,”hesaid,inaserioustone.“Youmusthaveknownthatitwasnotmywaytoflatterandtalksoftnonsense,oreventospeaktheadmirationthatIfeltandthatasinglewordorglanceofminemeantmorethanthehoniedphrasesandferventprotestationsofmostothermen.” Isaidsomethingaboutnotlikingtoleavemymother,anddoingnothingwithoutherconsent. “IsettledeverythingwithMrs.Grey,whileyouwereputtingonyourbonnet,”repliedhe.“ShesaidImighthaveherconsent,ifIcouldobtainyoursandIaskedher,incaseIshouldbesohappy,tocomeandlivewithus—forIwassureyouwouldlikeitbetter.Butsherefused,sayingshecouldnowaffordtoemployanassistant,andwouldcontinuetheschooltillshecouldpurchaseanannuitysufficienttomaintainherincomfortablelodgingsand,meantime,shewouldspendhervacationsalternatelywithusandyoursister,andshouldbequitecontentedifyouwerehappy.AndsonowIhaveoverruledyourobjectionsonheraccount.Haveyouanyother?” “No—none.” “Y