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shall be so glad to see him at the Mere； the day's pleasure won't
be complete till he joins us！〃
〃Should I be right or wrong； Mr。 Armadale； if I guessed that you
were thinking of somebody？〃 asked a voice； softly； behind him。
Allan turned； and found the major誷 daughter at his side。 Miss
Milroy （not unmindful of a certain tender interview which had
taken place behind a carriage） had noticed her admirer standing
thoughtfully by himself； and had determined on giving him another
opportunity； while her father and young Pedgift were at the top
of the watch…tower。
〃You know everything；〃 said Allan； smiling。 〃I _was_ thinking of
somebody。〃
Miss Milroy stole a glance at hima glance of gentle
encouragement。 There could be but one human creature in Mr。
Armadale's mind after what had passed between them that morning！
It would be only an act of mercy to take him back again at once
to the interrupted conversation of a few hours since on the
subject of names。
〃I have bean thinking of somebody； too；〃 she said； half…inviting；
half…repelling the coming avowal。 〃If I tell you the first letter
of my Somebody's name； will you tell me the first letter of
yours？〃
〃I will tell you anything you like；〃 rejoined Allan； with the
utmost enthusiasm。
She still shrank coquettishly from the very subject that she
wanted to approach。 〃Tell me your letter first；〃 she said； in low
tones； looking away from him。
Allan laughed。 〃M；〃 he said； 〃is my first letter。〃
She started a little。 Strange that he should be thinking of her
by her surname instead of her Christian name； but it mattered
little as long as he _was_ thinking of her。
〃What is your letter？〃 asked Allan。
She blushed and smiled。 〃Aif you will have it！〃 she answered；
in a reluctant little whisper。 She stole another look at him； and
luxuriously protracted her enjoyment of the coming avowal once
more。 〃How many syllables is the name in？〃 she asked； drawing
patterns shyly on the ground with the end of the parasol。
No man with the slightest knowledge of the sex would have been
rash enough； in Allan's position； to tell her the truth。 Allan；
who knew nothing whatever of woman's natures； and who told the
truth right and left in all mortal emergencies； answered as if he
had been under examination in a court of justice。
〃It's a name in three syllables；〃 he said。
Miss Milroy's downcast eyes flashed up at him like lightning。
〃Three！〃 she repeated in the blankest astonishment。
Allan was too inveterately straightforward to take the warning
even now。 〃I'm not strong at my spelling； I know；〃 he said； with
his lighthearted laugh。 〃But I don't think I'm wrong； in calling
Midwinter a name in t hree syllables。 I was thinking of my
friend； but never mind my thoughts。 Tell me who A istell me
whom _you_ were thinking of？〃
〃Of the first letter of the alphabet； Mr。 Armadale； and I beg
positively to inform you of nothing more！〃
With that annihilating answer the major's daughter put up her
parasol and walked back by herself to the boat。
Allan stood petrified with amazement。 If Miss Milroy had actually
boxed his ears （and there is no denying that she had privately
longed to devote her hand to that purpose）； he could hardly have
felt more bewildered than he felt now。 〃What on earth have I
done？〃 he asked himself； helplessly； as the major and young
Pedgift joined him； and the three walked down together to the
water…side。 〃I wonder what she'll say to me next？〃
She said absolutely nothing； she never so much as looked at Allan
when he took his place in the boat。 There she sat； with her eyes
and her complexion both much brighter than usual； taking the
deepest interest in the curate's progress toward recovery； in the
state of Mrs。 Pentecost's spirits； in Pedgift Junior （for whom
she ostentatiously made room enough to let him sit beside her）；
in the scenery and the reed…cutter's cottage； in everybody and
everything but Allanwhom she would have married with the
greatest pleasure five minutes since。 〃I'll never forgive him；〃
thought the major's daughter。 〃To be thinking of that ill…bred
wretch when I was thinking of _him；_ and to make me all but
confess it before I found him out！ Thank Heaven； Mr。 Pedgift is
in the boat！〃
In this frame of mind Miss Neelie applied herself forthwith to
the fascination of Pedgift and the discomfiture of Allan。 〃Oh；
Mr。 Pedgift； how extremely clever and kind of you to think of
showing us that sweet cottage！ Lonely； Mr。 Armadale？ I don't
think it's lonely at all； I should like of all things to live
there。 What would this picnic have been without you； Mr。 Pedgift；
you can't think how I have enjoyed it since we got into the boat。
Cool； Mr。 Armadale？ What can you possibly mean by saying it's
cool； it's the warmest evening we've had this summer。 And the
music； Mr。 Pedgift； how nice it was of you to bring your
concertina！ I wonder if I could accompany you on the piano？ I
would so like to try。 Oh； yes； Mr。 Armadale； no doubt you meant
to do something musical； too； and I dare say you sing very well
when you know the words； but； to tell you the truth； I always
did； and always shall； hate Moore's Melodies！〃
Thus； with merciless dexterity of manipulation； did Miss Milroy
work that sharpest female weapon of offense； the tongue； and thus
she would have used it for some time longer； if Allan had only
shown the necessary jealousy； or if Pedgift had only afforded the
necessary encouragement。 But adverse fortune had decreed that she
should select for her victims two men essentially unassailable
under existing circumstances。 Allan was too innocent of all
knowledge of female subtleties and susceptibilities to understand
anything； except that the charming Neelie was unreasonably out of
temper with him without the slightest cause。 The wary Pedgift； as
became one of the quick…witted youth of the present generation；
submitted to female influence； with his eye fixed immovably all
the time on his own interests。 Many a young man of the past
generation； who was no fool； has sacrificed everything for love。
Not one young man in ten thousand of the present generation；
_except_ the fools； has sacrificed a half…penny。 The daughters of
Eve still inherit their mother's merits and commit their mother's
faults。 But the sons of Adam； in these latter days； are men who
would have handed the famous apple back with a bow； and a
〃Thanks； no； it might get me into a scrape。〃 When
Allansurprised and disappointedmoved away out of Miss
Milroy's reach to the forward part of the boat； Pedgift Junior
rose and followed him。 〃You're a very nice girl；〃 thought this
shrewdly sensible young man； 〃but a client's a client； and I am
sorry to inform you； miss； it won't do。〃 He set himself at once
to rouse Allan's spirits by diverting his attention to a new
subject。 There was to be a regatta that autumn on one of the
Broads； and his client's opinion as a yachtsman might be valuable
to the committee。 〃Something new； I should think； to you； sir； in
a sailing match on fresh water？〃 he said； in his most
ingratiatory manner。 And Allan； instantly interested； answered；
〃Quite new。 Do tell me about it！〃
As for the rest of