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do。 She was thinkingof her lover Dick Dewy？ Not precisely。 Of
how weary she was of living alone： how unbearable it would be to
return to Yalbury under the rule of her strange…tempered step…
mother； that it was far better to be married to anybody than do
that； that eight or nine long months had yet to be lived through ere
the wedding could take place。
At the side of the room were high windows of Ham…hill stone； upon
either sill of which she could sit by first mounting a desk and
using it as a footstool。 As the evening advanced here she perched
herself； as was her custom on such wet and gloomy occasions； put on
a light shawl and bonnet； opened the window； and looked out at the
rain。
The window overlooked a field called the Grove； and it was the
position from which she used to survey the crown of Dick's passing
hat in the early days of their acquaintance and meetings。 Not a
living soul was now visible anywhere； the rain kept all people
indoors who were not forced abroad by necessity； and necessity was
less importunate on Sundays than during the week。
Sitting here and thinking againof her lover； or of the sensation
she had created at church that day？well； it is unknownthinking
and thinking she saw a dark masculine figure arising into
distinctness at the further end of the Grovea man without an
umbrella。 Nearer and nearer he came； and she perceived that he was
in deep mourning； and then that it was Dick。 Yes； in the fondness
and foolishness of his young heart； after walking four miles； in a
drizzling rain without overcoat or umbrella； and in face of a remark
from his love that he was not to come because he would be tired； he
had made it his business to wander this mile out of his way again；
from sheer wish of spending ten minutes in her presence。
〃O Dick； how wet you are！〃 she said； as he drew up under the window。
〃Why； your coat shines as if it had been varnished； and your hatmy
goodness； there's a streaming hat！〃
〃O； I don't mind； darling！〃 said Dick cheerfully。 〃Wet never hurts
me； though I am rather sorry for my best clothes。 However； it
couldn't be helped； we lent all the umbrellas to the women。 I don't
know when I shall get mine back！〃
〃And look； there's a nasty patch of something just on your
shoulder。〃
〃Ah； that's japanning； it rubbed off the clamps of poor Jack's
coffin when we lowered him from our shoulders upon the bier！ I
don't care about that； for 'twas the last deed I could do for him；
and 'tis hard if you can't afford a coat for an old friend。〃
Fancy put her hand to her mouth for half a minute。 Underneath the
palm of that little hand there existed for that half…minute a little
yawn。
〃Dick； I don't like you to stand there in the wet。 And you mustn't
sit down。 Go home and change your things。 Don't stay another
minute。〃
〃One kiss after coming so far；〃 he pleaded。
〃If I can reach； then。〃
He looked rather disappointed at not being invited round to the
door。 She twisted from her seated position and bent herself
downwards； but not even by standing on the plinth was it possible
for Dick to get his lips into contact with hers as she held them。
By great exertion she might have reached a little lower； but then
she would have exposed her head to the rain。
〃Never mind； Dick； kiss my hand；〃 she said； flinging it down to him。
〃Now； good…bye。〃
〃Good…bye。〃
He walked slowly away； turning and turning again to look at her till
he was out of sight。 During the retreat she said to herself； almost
involuntarily； and still conscious of that morning's triumph〃I
like Dick； and I love him； but how plain and sorry a man looks in
the rain； with no umbrella； and wet through！〃
As he vanished； she made as if to descend from her seat； but
glancing in the other direction she saw another form coming along
the same track。 It was also that of a man。 He； too； was in black
from top to toe； but he carried an umbrella。
He drew nearer； and the direction of the rain caused him so to slant
his umbrella that from her height above the ground his head was
invisible； as she was also to him。 He passed in due time directly
beneath her； and in looking down upon the exterior of his umbrella
her feminine eyes perceived it to be of superior silkless common
at that date than sinceand of elegant make。 He reached the
entrance to the building； and Fancy suddenly lost sight of him。
Instead of pursuing the roadway as Dick had done he had turned
sharply round into her own porch。
She jumped to the floor； hastily flung off her shawl and bonnet；
smoothed and patted her hair till the curls hung in passable
condition； and listened。 No knock。 Nearly a minute passed； and
still there was no knock。 Then there arose a soft series of raps；
no louder than the tapping of a distant woodpecker； and barely
distinct enough to reach her ears。 She composed herself and flung
open the door。
In the porch stood Mr。 Maybold。
There was a warm flush upon his face； and a bright flash in his
eyes； which made him look handsomer than she had ever seen him
before。
〃Good…evening； Miss Day。〃
〃Good…evening； Mr。 Maybold；〃 she said； in a strange state of mind。
She had noticed； beyond the ardent hue of his face； that his voice
had a singular tremor in it； and that his hand shook like an aspen
leaf when he laid his umbrella in the corner of the porch。 Without
another word being spoken by either； he came into the schoolroom；
shut the door； and moved close to her。 Once inside； the expression
of his face was no more discernible； by reason of the increasing
dusk of evening。
〃I want to speak to you；〃 he then said； 〃seriouslyon a perhaps
unexpected subject； but one which is all the world to meI don't
know what it may be to you； Miss Day。〃
No reply。
〃Fancy； I have come to ask you if you will be my wife？〃
As a person who has been idly amusing himself with rolling a
snowball might start at finding he had set in motion an avalanche；
so did Fancy start at these words from the vicar。 And in the dead
silence which followed them； the breathings of the man and of the
woman could be distinctly and separately heard； and there was this
difference between themhis respirations gradually grew quieter and
less rapid after the enunciation hers； from having been low and
regular； increased in quickness and force； till she almost panted。
〃I cannot； I cannot； Mr。 MayboldI cannot！ Don't ask me！〃 she
said。
〃Don't answer in a hurry！〃 he entreated。 〃And do listen to me。
This is no sudden feeling on my part。 I have loved you for more
than six months！ Perhaps my late interest in teaching the children
here has not been so single…minded as it seemed。 You will
understand my motivelike me better； perhaps； for honestly telling
you that I have struggled against my emotion continually； because I
have thought that it was not well for me to love you！ But I
resolve