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had shown him the books on the shelves； and all that the writing
in the books disclosed。 He had said plainly； 〃My one motive for
not telling you this before sprang from my dread of interesting
you in the room which I looked at with horror as the second of
the scenes pointed at in the Dream。 Forgive me this also； and you
will have forgiven me all。〃
With Allan's love for his mother's memory； but one result could
follow such an avowal as this。 He had liked the little room from
the first； as a pleasant contrast to the oppressive grandeur of
the other rooms at Thorpe Ambrose； and； now that he knew what
associations were connected with it； his resolution was at once
taken to make it especially his own。 The same day； all his
personal possessions were collected and arranged in his mother's
roomin Midwinter's presence； and with Midwinter's assistance
given to the work。
Under those circumstances had the change now wrought in the
household arrangements been produced； and in this way had
Midwinter's victory over his own fatalismby making Allan the
daily occupant of a room which he might otherwise hardly ever
have enteredactually favored the fulfillment of the Second
Vision of th e Dream。
The hour wore on quietly as Allan's friend sat waiting for
Allan's return。 Sometimes reading； sometimes thinking placidly；
he whiled away the time。 No vexing cares； no boding doubts；
troubled him now。 The rent…day； which he had once dreaded； had
come and gone harmlessly。 A friendlier understanding had been
established between Allan and his tenants； Mr。 Bashwood had
proved himself to be worthy of the confidence reposed in him； the
Pedgifts； father and son； had amply justified their client's good
opinion of them。 Wherever Midwinter looked； the prospect was
bright； the future was without a cloud。
He trimmed the lamp on the table beside him and looked out at the
night。 The stable clock was chiming the half…hour past eleven as
he walked to the window； and the first rain…drops were beginning
to fall。 He had his hand on the bell to summon the servant； and
send him over to the cottage with an umbrella； when he was
stopped by hearing the familiar footstep on the walk outside。
〃How late you are！〃 said Midwinter； as Allan entered through the
open French window。 〃Was there a party at the cottage？〃
〃No！ only ourselves。 The time slipped away somehow。〃 He answered
in lower tones than usual； and sighed as he took his chair。
〃You seem to be out of spirits？〃 pursued Midwinter。 〃What's the
matter？〃
Allan hesitated。 〃I may as well tell you；〃 he said； after a
moment。 〃It's nothing to be ashamed of； I only wonder you haven't
noticed it before！ There's a woman in it； as usualI'm in love。〃
Midwinter laughed。 〃Has Miss Milroy been more charming to…night
than ever？〃 he asked； gayly。
〃Miss Milroy！〃 repeated Allan。 〃What are you thinking of！ I'm not
in love with Miss Milroy。〃
〃Who is it； then？〃
〃Who is it！ What a question to ask！ Who can it be but Miss
Gwilt？〃
There was a sudden silence。 Allan sat listlessly； with his hands
in his pockets； looking out through the open window at the
falling rain。 If he had turned toward his friend when he
mentioned Miss Gwilt's name he might possibly have been a little
startled by the change he would have seen in Midwinter's face。
〃I suppose you don't approve of it？〃 he said； after waiting a
little。
There was no answer。
〃It's too late to make objections；〃 proceeded Allan。 〃I really
mean it when I tell you I'm in love with her。〃
〃A fortnight since you were in love with Miss Milroy；〃 said the
other； in quiet； measured tones。
〃Pooh！ a mere flirtation。 It's different this time。 I'm in
earnest about Miss Gwilt。〃
He looked round as he spoke。 Midwinter turned his face aside on
the instant； and bent it over a book。
〃I see you don't approve of the thing；〃 Allan went on。 〃Do you
object to her being only a governess？ You can't do that； I'm
sure。 If you were in my place； her being only a governess
wouldn't stand in the way with _you？_〃
〃No；〃 said Midwinter； 〃I can't honestly say it would stand in the
way with me。〃 He gave the answer reluctantly； and pushed his
chair back out of the light of the lamp。
〃A governess is a lady who is not rich；〃 said Allan； in an
oracular manner； 〃and a duchess is a lady who is not poor。 And
that's all the difference I acknowledge between them。 Miss Gwilt
is older than I amI don't deny that。 What age do you guess her
at； Midwinter？ I say； seven or eight and twenty。 What do you
say？〃
〃Nothing。 I agree with you。〃
〃Do you think seven or eight and twenty is too old for me？ If you
were in love with a woman yourself； you wouldn't think seven or
eight and twenty too oldwould you？〃
〃I can't say I should think it too old； if〃
〃If you were really fond of her？〃
Once more there was no answer。
〃Well；〃 resumed Allan； 〃if there's no harm in her being only a
governess； and no harm in her being a little older than I am；
what's the objection to Miss Gwilt？〃
〃I have made no objection。〃
〃I don't say you have。 But you don't seem to like the notion of
it； for all that。〃
There was another pause。 Midwinter was the first to break the
silence this time。
〃Are you sure of yourself； Allan？〃 he asked； with his face bent
once more over the book。 〃Are you really attached to this lady？
Have you thought seriously already of asking her to be your
wife？〃
〃I am thinking seriously of it at this moment；〃 said Allan。 〃I
can't be happyI can't live without her。 Upon my soul； I worship
the very ground she treads on！〃
〃How long〃 His voice faltered； and he stopped。 〃How long；〃 he
reiterated； 〃have you worshipped the very ground she treads on？〃
〃Longer than you think for。 I know I can trust you with all my
secrets〃
〃Don't trust me！〃
〃Nonsense！ I _will_ trust you。 There is a little difficulty in
the way which I haven't mentioned yet。 It's a matter of some
delicacy； and I want to consult you about it。 Between ourselves；
I have had private opportunities with Miss Gwilt〃
Midwinter suddenly started to his feet； and opened the door。
〃We'll talk of this to…morrow；〃 he said。 〃Good…night。〃
Allan looked round in astonishment。 The door was closed again；
and he was alone in the room。
〃He has never shaken hands with me！〃 exclaimed Allan； looking
bewildered at the empty chair。
As the words passed his lips the door opened； and Midwinter
appeared again。
〃We haven't shaken hands；〃 he said； abruptly。 〃God bless you；
Allan！ We'll talk of it to…morrow。 Good…night。〃
Allan stood alone at the window； looking out at the pouring rain。
He felt ill at ease； without knowing why。 〃Midwinter's ways get
stranger and stranger；〃 he thought。 〃What can he mean by putting
me off till to…morrow； when I wanted to speak to him to…night？〃
He took up his bedroom candle a little impatiently； put it down
again； and； walking back to the open window； stood looking out in
the direction of the cottage。 〃I wonder if she's thinking of me？〃
he said to himself softly。
She _was_ thinking of him。 She had just opened her desk to write
to Mrs。 Oldershaw； and her pen had that moment traced the opening
line： 〃Make you