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in the fast…lengthening chain of events？ Midwinter grew doubly
determined to be careful； as the bare doubt that it might be so
passed through his mind。
〃When Mr。 Bashwood comes；〃 he said； 〃will you let me see him； and
speak to him； before anything definite is done？〃
〃Of course I will！〃 rejoined Allan。 He stopped and looked at his
watch。 〃And I'll tell you what I'll do for you； old boy； in the
meantime；〃 he added； 〃I'll introduce you to the prettiest girl in
Norfolk！ There's just time to run over to the cottage before
dinner。 Come along； and be introduced to Miss Milroy。〃
〃You can't introduce me to Miss Milroy today；〃 replied Midwinter；
and he repeated the message of apology which had been brought
from the major that afternoon。 Allan was surprised and
disappointed； but he was not to be foiled in his resolution to
advance himself in the good graces of the inhabitants of the
cottage。 After a little consideration he hit on a means of
turning the present adverse circumstances to good account。 〃I'll
show a proper anxiety for Mrs。 Milroy's recovery；〃 he said；
gravely。 〃I'll send her a basket of strawberries； with my best
respects； to…morrow morning。〃
Nothing more happened to mark the end of that first day in the
new house。
The one noticeable event of the next day was another disclosure
of Mrs。 Milroy's infirmity of temper。 Half an hour after Allan's
basket of strawberries had been delivered at the cottage； it was
returned to him intact （by the hands of the invalid lady's
nurse）； with a short and sharp message； shortly and sharply
delivered。 〃Mrs。 Milroy's compliments and thanks。 Strawberries
invariably disagreed with her。〃 If this curiously petulant
acknowledgment of an act of politeness was intended to irritate
Allan； it failed entirely in accomplishing its object。 Instead of
being offended with the mother； he sympathized with the daughter。
〃Poor little thing；〃 was all he said； 〃she must have a hard life
of it with such a mother as that！〃
He called at the cottage himself later in the day； but Miss
Milroy was not to be seen； she was engaged upstairs。 The major
received his visitor in his working apronfar more deeply
immersed in his wonderful clock； and far less readily accessible
to outer influences； than Allan had seen him at their first
interview。 His manner was as kind as before； but not a word more
could be extracted from him on the subject of his wife than that
Mrs。 Milroy 〃had not improved since yesterday。〃
The two next days passed quietly and uneventfully。 Allan
persisted in making his inquiries at the cottage； but all he saw
of the major's daughter was a glimpse of her on one occasion at a
window on the bedroom floor。 Nothing more was heard from Mr。
Pedgift； and Mr。 Bashwood's appearance was still delayed。
Midwinter declined to move in the matter until time enough had
passed to allow of his first hearing from Mr。 Brock； in answer to
the letter which he had addressed to the rector on the night of
his arrival at Thorpe Ambrose。 He was unusually silent and quiet；
and passed most of his hours in the library among the books。 The
time wore on wearily。 The resident gentry acknowledged Allan's
visit by formally leaving their cards。 Nobody came near the house
afterward； the weather was monotonously fine。 Allan grew a little
restless and dissatisfied。 He began to resent Mrs。 Milroy's
illness； he began to think regretfully of his deserted yacht。
The next daythe twentiethbrought some news with it from the
outer world。 A message was delivered from Mr。 Pedgift； announcing
that his clerk； Mr。 Bashwood； would personally present himself at
Thorpe Ambrose on the following day； and a letter in answer to
Midwinter was received from Mr。 Brock。
The letter was dated the 18th； and the news which it contained
raised not Allan's spirits only； but Midwinter's as well。
On the day on which he wrote； Mr。 Brock announced that he was
about to journey to London； having been summoned thither on
business connected with the interests of a sick relative； to whom
he stood in the position of trustee。 The business completed； he
had good hope of finding one or other of his clerical friends in
the metropolis who would be able and willing to do duty for him
at the rectory； and； in that case； he trusted to travel on from
London to Thorpe Ambrose in a week's' time or less。 Under these
circumstances； he would leave the majority of the subjects on
which Midwinter had written to him to be discussed when they met。
But as time might be of importance； in relation to the
stewardship of the Thorpe Ambrose estate； he would say at once
that he saw no reason why Midwinter should not apply his mind to
learning the steward's duties； and should not succeed in
rendering himself invaluably serviceable in that way to the
interests of his friend。
Leaving Midwinter reading and re…reading the rector's cheering
letter； as if he was bent on getting every sentence in it by
heart； Allan went out rather earlier than usual； to make his
daily inquiry at the cottageor； in plainer words； to make a
fourth attempt at improving his acquaintance with Miss Milroy。
The day had begun encouragingly； and encouragingly it seemed
destined to go on。 When Allan turned the corner of the second
shrubbery； and entered the little paddock where he and the
major's daughter had first met； there was Miss Milroy herself
loitering to and fro on the grass； to all appearance on the watch
for somebody。
She gave a little start when Allan appeared； an d came forward
without hesitation to meet him。 She was not in her best looks。
Her rosy complexion had suffered under confinement to the house；
and a marked expression of embarrassment clouded her pretty face。
〃I hardly know how to confess it； Mr。 Armadale；〃 she said；
speaking eagerly； before Allan could utter a word； 〃but I
certainly ventured here this morning in the hope of meeting with
you。 I have been very much distressed； I have only just heard； by
accident； of the manner in which mamma received the present of
fruit you so kindly sent to her。 Will you try to excuse her？ She
has been miserably ill for years； and she is not always quite
herself。 After your being so very； very kind to me （and to papa）；
I really could not help stealing out here in the hope of seeing
you； and telling you how sorry I was。 Pray forgive and forget；
Mr。 Armadalepray do！〃 her voice faltered over the last words；
and； in her eagerness to make her mother's peace with him； she
laid her hand on his arm。
Allan was himself a little confused。 Her earnestness took him by
surprise； and her evident conviction that he had been offended
honestly distressed him。 Not knowing what else to do； he followed
his instincts； and possessed himself of her hand to begin with。
〃My dear Miss Milroy； if you say a word more you will distress
_me_ next；〃 he rejoined； unconsciously pressing her hand closer
and closer； in the embarrassment of the moment。 〃I never was in
the least offended； I made allowancesupon my honor I didfor
poor Mrs。 Milroy's illness。 Offended！〃 cried Allan； reverting
energetically to the old complimentary strain。 〃I should like to
have my basket of fruit sent back ev