CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.

ithagutturalnortherntone,whichsoundedharshinmyears,accustomedtothesilveryutteranceoftheSouth. “‘Thelandlordoftheinn,wherethecoachstopped,directedmehere,’saidI.‘Idoubtedatfirsttheaccuracyofhisinformation,notbeingawarethatyouhadsucharesidenceasthis.’ “‘Oh,itisallright!’hereplied,‘onlyIwaskepthalfanhourbehindtime,waitingforyou—thatisall.Ithoughtyoumustbecomingbytheeighto’clockcoach.’ “Iexpressedregretthathehadhadtowaithemadenoanswer,butstirredthefire,asiftocoveramovementofimpatiencethenhescannedmeagain. “IfeltaninwardsatisfactionthatIhadnot,inthefirstmomentofmeeting,betrayedanywarmth,anyenthusiasmthatIhadsalutedthismanwithaquietandsteadyphlegm. “‘HaveyouquitebrokenwithTynedaleandSeacombe?’heaskedhastily. “‘IdonotthinkIshallhaveanyfurthercommunicationwiththemmyrefusaloftheirproposalswill,Ifancy,operateasabarrieragainstallfutureintercourse.’ “‘Why,’saidhe,‘Imayaswellremindyouattheveryoutsetofourconnection,that“nomancanservetwomasters.”AcquaintancewithLordTynedalewillbeincompatiblewithassistancefromme.’Therewasakindofgratuitousmenaceinhiseyeashelookedatmeinfinishingthisobservation. “Feelingnodispositiontoreplytohim,Icontentedmyselfwithaninwardspeculationonthedifferenceswhichexistintheconstitutionofmen’sminds.IdonotknowwhatinferenceMr.Crimsworthdrewfrommysilence—whetherheconsidereditasymptomofcontumacityoranevidenceofmybeingcowedbyhisperemptorymanner.Afteralongandhardstareatme,herosesharplyfromhisseat. “‘To-morrow,’saidhe,‘Ishallcallyourattentiontosomeotherpointsbutnowitissuppertime,andMrs.Crimsworthisprobablywaitingwillyoucome?’ “Hestrodefromtheroom,andIfollowed.Incrossingthehall,IwonderedwhatMrs.Crimsworthmightbe.‘Isshe,’thoughtI,‘asalientowhatIlikeasTynedale,Seacombe,theMissesSeacombe—astheaffectionaterelativenowstridingbeforeme?orisshebetterthanthese?ShallI,inconversingwithher,feelfreetoshowsomethingofmyrealnatureor—’Furtherconjectureswerearrestedbymyentranceintothedining-room. “Alamp,burningunderashadeofground-glass,showedahandsomeapartment,wainscotedwithoaksupperwaslaidonthetablebythefire-place,standingasifwaitingourentrance,appearedaladyshewasyoung,tall,andwellshapedherdresswashandsomeandfashionable:somuchmyfirstglancesufficedtoascertain.AgaysalutationpassedbetweenherandMr.Crimsworthshechidhim,halfplayfully,halfpoutingly,forbeinglatehervoice(Ialwaystakevoicesintotheaccountinjudgingofcharacter)waslively—itindicated,Ithought,goodanimalspirits.Mr.Crimsworthsooncheckedheranimatedscoldingwithakiss—akissthatstilltoldofthebridegroom(theyhadnotyetbeenmarriedayear)shetookherseatatthesupper-tableinfirst-ratespirits.Perceivingme,shebeggedmypardonfornotnoticingmebefore,andthenshookhandswithme,asladiesdowhenaflowofgood-humourdisposesthemtobecheerfultoall,eventhemostindifferentoftheiracquaintance.Itwasnowfurtherobvioustomethatshehadagoodcomplexion,andfeaturessufficientlymarkedbutagreeableherhairwasred—quitered.SheandEdwardtalkedmuch,alwaysinaveinofplayfulcontentionshewasvexed,orpr