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asking you to put Mr。 Armadale to the proof。 It is not only
right； it is absolutely necessary； that you should hold no
communication with him for some time to come； and I will show you
why。 In the first place； if you go to school； the necessary rules
in such placesnecessary for the sake of the other girlswould
not permit you to see Mr。 Armadale or to receive letters from
him； and； if you are to become mistress of Thorpe Ambrose； to
school you must go； for you would be ashamed； and I should be
ashamed； if you occupied the position of a lady of station
without having the accomplishments which all ladies of station
are expected to possess。 In the second place； I want to see
whether Mr。 Armadale will continue to think of you as he thinks
now； without being encouraged in his attachment by seeing you； or
reminded of it by hearing from you。 If I am wrong in thinking him
flighty and unreliable； and if your opinion of him is the right
one； this is not putting the young man to an unfair testtrue
love survives much longer separations than a separation of six
months。 And when that time is over； and well over； and when I
have had him under my own eye for another six months； and have
learned to think as highly of him as you doeven then； my dear；
after all that terrible delay； you will still be a married woman
before you are eighteen。 Think of this； Neelie； and show that you
love me and trust me； by accepting my proposal。 I will hold no
communication with Mr。 Armadale myself。 I will leave it to you to
write and tell him what has been decided on。 He may write back
one letter； and one only； to acquaint you with his decision。
After that； for the sake of your reputation； nothing more is to
be said； and nothing more is to be done； and the matter is to be
kept strictly private until the six months' interval is at an
end。'
〃To this effect the major spoke。 His behavior to that little slut
of a girl has produced a stronger impression on me than anything
else in the letter。 It has set me thinking （me； of all the people
in the world！） of what they call 'a moral difficulty。' We are
perpetually told that there can be no possible connection between
virtue and vice。 Can there not？ Here is Major Milroy doing
exactly what an excellent father； at once kind and prudent；
affectionate and firm； would do under the circumstances； and by
that very course of conduct he has now smoothed the way for _me；_
as completely as if he had been the chosen accomplice of that
abominable creature； Miss Gwilt。 Only think of my reasoning in
this way！ But I am in such good spirits； I can do anything
to…day。 I have not looked so bright and so young as I look now
for months past！
〃To return to the letter； for the last timeit is so excessively
dull and stupid that I really can't help wandering away from it
into reflections of my own； as a mere relief。
〃After solemnly announcing that she meant to sacrifice herself to
her beloved father's wishes （the brazen assurance of her setting
up for a martyr after what has happened exceeds anything I ever
heard or read of！）； Miss Neelie next mentioned that the major
proposed taking her to the seaside for change of air； during the
few days that were still to elapse before she went to school。
Armadale was to send his answer by return of post； and to address
her； under cover to her father； at Lowestoft。 With this； and with
a last outburst of tender protestation； crammed crookedly into a
corner of the page； the letter ended。 （N。B。The major's object
in taking her to the seaside is plain enough。 He still privately
distrusts Armadale； and he is wisely determined to prevent any
more clandestine meetings in the park before the girl is safely
disposed of at school。）
〃When I had done with the letterI had requested permission to
read parts of it which I particularly admired； for the second and
third time！we all consulted together in a friendly way about
what Armadale was to do。
〃He was fool enough； at the outset； to protest against submitting
to Major Milroy's conditions。 He declared； with his odious red
face looking the picture of brute health； that he should never
survive a six months' separation from his beloved Neelie。
Midwinter （as may easily be imagined） seemed a little ashamed of
him； and joined me in bringing him to his senses。 We showed him；
what would have been plain enough to anybody but a booby； that
there was no honorable or even decent alternative left but to
follow the example of submission set by the young lady。 'Wait；
and you will have her for your wife；' was what I said。 'Wait； and
you will force the major to alter his unjust opinion of you；' was
what Midwinter added。 With two clever people hammering common
sense into his head at that rate； it is needless to say that his
head gave way； and he submitted。
〃Having decided him to accept the major's conditions （I was
careful to warn him； before he wrote to Miss Milroy； that my
engagement to Midwinter was to be kept as strictly secret from
her as from everybody else）； the next question we had to settle
related to his future proceedings。 I was ready with the necessary
arguments to stop him； if he had proposed returning to Thorpe
Ambrose。 But he proposed nothing of the sort。 On the contrary； he
declared； of his own accord； that nothing would induce him to go
back。 The place and the people were associated with everything
that was hateful to him。 There would be no Miss Milroy now to
meet him in the park； and no Midwinter to keep him company in the
solitary house。 'I'd rather break stones on the road；' was the
sensible and cheerful way in which he put it； 'than go back to
Thorpe Ambrose。'
〃The first suggestion after this came from Midwinter。 The sly old
clergyman who gave Mrs。 Oldershaw and me so much trouble has； it
seems； been ill； but has been latterly reported better。 'Why not
go to Somersetshire；' said Midwinter； 'and see your good friend；
and my good friend； Mr。 Brock？'
〃Armadale caught at the proposal readily enough。 He longed； in
the first place； to see 'dear old Brock；' and he longed； in the
second place； to see his yacht。 After staying a few days more in
London with Midwinter； he would gladly go to Somersetshire。 But
what after that？
〃Seeing my opportunity； _I_ came to the rescue this time。 'You
have got a yacht； Mr。 Armadale；' I said； 'and you know that
Midwinter is going to Italy。 When you are tired of Somersetshire；
why not make a voyage to the Mediterranean； and meet your friend；
and your friend's wife； at Naples？'
〃I made the allusion to 'his friend's wife' with the most
becoming modesty and confusion。 Armadale was enchanted。 I had hit
on the best of all ways of occupying the weary time。 He started
up； and wrung my hand in quite an ecstasy of gratitude。 How I do
hate people who can only express their feelings by hurting other
people's hands！
〃Midwinter was as pleased with my proposal as Armadale； but he
saw difficulties in the way of carrying it out。 He considered the
yacht too small for a cruise to the Mediterranean； and he thought
it desirable to hire a larger vessel。 His friend thought
otherwise。 I left them arguing the question。 It was quite enough