CHAPTER XVIII.

nestcontemplationofsomeprint,andshenotonlymighthavepassedhimunseen,butwasobligedtotouchaswellasaddresshimbeforeshecouldcatchhisnotice.Whenhedidperceiveandacknowledgeher,however,itwasdonewithallhisusualfranknessandgoodhumour.“Ha!isityou?Thankyou,thankyou.Thisistreatingmelikeafriend.HereIam,yousee,staringatapicture.Icannevergetbythisshopwithoutstopping.Butwhatathinghereis,bywayofaboat!Dolookatit.Didyoueverseethelike?Whatqueerfellowsyourfinepaintersmustbe,tothinkthatanybodywouldventuretheirlivesinsuchashapelessoldcockleshellasthat?Andyetherearetwogentlemenstuckupinitmightilyattheirease,andlookingaboutthemattherocksandmountains,asiftheywerenottobeupsetthenextmoment,whichtheycertainlymustbe.Iwonderwherethatboatwasbuilt!”(laughingheartily)“Iwouldnotventureoverahorsepondinit.Well,”(turningaway),“now,whereareyoubound?CanIgoanywhereforyou,orwithyou?CanIbeofanyuse?” “None,Ithankyou,unlessyouwillgivemethepleasureofyourcompanythelittlewayourroadliestogether.Iamgoinghome.” “ThatIwill,withallmyheart,andfarther,too.Yes,yeswewillhaveasnugwalktogether,andIhavesomethingtotellyouaswegoalong.There,takemyarmthat’srightIdonotfeelcomfortableifIhavenotawomanthere.Lord!whataboatitis!”takingalastlookatthepicture,astheybegantobeinmotion. “Didyousaythatyouhadsomethingtotellme,sir?” “Yes,Ihave,presently.Butherecomesafriend,CaptainBrigdenIshallonlysay,‘Howd’yedo?’aswepass,however.Ishallnotstop.‘Howd’yedo?’Brigdenstarestoseeanybodywithmebutmywife.She,poorsoul,istiedbytheleg.Shehasablisterononeofherheels,aslargeasathree-shillingpiece.Ifyoulookacrossthestreet,youwillseeAdmiralBrandcomingdownandhisbrother.Shabbyfellows,bothofthem!Iamgladtheyarenotonthissideoftheway.Sophycannotbearthem.Theyplayedmeapitifultrickonce:gotawaywithsomeofmybestmen.Iwilltellyouthewholestoryanothertime.TherecomesoldSirArchibaldDrewandhisgrandson.Look,heseesushekisseshishandtoyouhetakesyouformywife.Ah!thepeacehascometoosoonforthatyounker.PooroldSirArchibald!HowdoyoulikeBath,MissElliot?Itsuitsusverywell.Wearealwaysmeetingwithsomeoldfriendorotherthestreetsfullofthemeverymorningsuretohaveplentyofchatandthenwegetawayfromthemall,andshutourselvesinourlodgings,anddrawinourchairs,andareassnugasifwewereatKellynch,ay,orasweusedtobeevenatNorthYarmouthandDeal.Wedonotlikeourlodgingsheretheworse,Icantellyou,forputtingusinmindofthosewefirsthadatNorthYarmouth.Thewindblowsthroughoneofthecupboardsjustinthesameway.” Whentheyweregotalittlefarther,Anneventuredtopressagainforwhathehadtocommunicate.ShehopedwhenclearofMilsomStreettohavehercuriositygratifiedbutshewasstillobligedtowait,fortheAdmiralhadmadeuphismindnottobegintilltheyhadgainedthegreaterspaceandquietofBelmontandasshewasnotreallyMrsCroft,shemustlethimhavehisownway.AssoonastheywerefairlyascendingBelmont,hebegan— “Well,nowyoushallhearsomethingthatwillsurpriseyou.Butfirstofall,youmusttellmethenameoftheyoungladyIamgoingtotalkabout.Thatyounglady,youknow,thatwehaveallbeensoconcernedfor.TheMissMusgrove,thatallthishasbeenhappeningto.HerChristianname:IalwaysforgetherChristianname.” Annehadbeenashamedtoappeartocomprehendsosoonasshereallydidbutnowshecouldsafelysuggestthenameof“Louisa.” “Ay,ay,MissLouisaMusgrove,thatisthename.IwishyoungladieshadnotsuchanumberoffineChristiannames.IshouldneverbeoutiftheywereallSophys,orsomethingofthatsort.Well,thisMissLouisa,weallthought,youknow,wastomarryFrederick.Hewascourtingherweekafterweek.Theonlywonderwas,whattheycouldbewaitingfor,tillthebusinessatLymecamethen,indeed,itwasclearenoughthattheymustwaittillherbrainwassettoright.Buteventhentherewassomethingoddintheirwayofgoingon.InsteadofstayingatLyme,hewentofftoPlymouth,andthenhewentofftoseeEdward.WhenwecamebackfromMinehea