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passion； his acts of devotion； the unreasoning heat of his rapture；
her tacit acceptance of it； and yet her uneasiness under the
delight。 Then his declaration amid the evergreens： the utter
change produced in her manner thereby； seemingly the result of a
rigid determination： and the total concealment of her reason by
herself and her parents； whatever it was。 Then the lady's course
dropped into darkness； and nothing more was visible till she was
discovered here at Knapwater； nearly fifty years old； still
unmarried and still beautiful； but lonely； embittered； and haughty。
Cytherea imagined that her father's image was still warmly cherished
in Miss Aldclyffe's heart； and was thankful that she herself had not
been betrayed into announcing that she knew many particulars of this
page of her father's history； and the chief one； the lady's
unaccountable renunciation of him。 It would have made her bearing
towards the mistress of the mansion more awkward； and would have
been no benefit to either。
Thus conjuring up the past； and theorizing on the present； she lay
restless； changing her posture from one side to the other and back
again。 Finally； when courting sleep with all her art； she heard a
clock strike two。 A minute later； and she fancied she could
distinguish a soft rustle in the passage outside her room。
To bury her head in the sheets was her first impulse； then to
uncover it； raise herself on her elbow； and stretch her eyes wide
open in the darkness； her lips being parted with the intentness of
her listening。 Whatever the noise was； it had ceased for the time。
It began again and came close to her door； lightly touching the
panels。 Then there was another stillness； Cytherea made a movement
which caused a faint rustling of the bed…clothes。
Before she had time to think another thought a light tap was given。
Cytherea breathed： the person outside was evidently bent upon
finding her awake； and the rustle she had made had encouraged the
hope。 The maiden's physical condition shifted from one pole to its
opposite。 The cold sweat of terror forsook her； and modesty took
the alarm。 She became hot and red； her door was not locked。
A distinct woman's whisper came to her through the keyhole：
'Cytherea！'
Only one being in the house knew her Christian name； and that was
Miss Aldclyffe。 Cytherea stepped out of bed； went to the door； and
whispered back； 'Yes？'
'Let me come in； darling。'
The young woman paused in a conflict between judgment and emotion。
It was now mistress and maid no longer； woman and woman only。 Yes；
she must let her come in； poor thing。
She got a light in an instant； opened the door； and raising her eyes
and the candle； saw Miss Aldclyffe standing outside in her dressing…
gown。
'Now you see that it is really myself； put out the light；' said the
visitor。 'I want to stay here with you； Cythie。 I came to ask you
to come down into my bed； but it is snugger here。 But remember that
you are mistress in this room； and that I have no business here； and
that you may send me away if you choose。 Shall I go？'
'O no； you shan't indeed if you don't want to；' said Cythie
generously。
The instant they were in bed Miss Aldclyffe freed herself from the
last remnant of restraint。 She flung her arms round the young girl；
and pressed her gently to her heart。
'Now kiss me；' she said。
Cytherea； upon the whole； was rather discomposed at this change of
treatment； and； discomposed or no； her passions were not so
impetuous as Miss Aldclyffe's。 She could not bring her soul to her
lips for a moment； try how she would。
'Come； kiss me；' repeated Miss Aldclyffe。
Cytherea gave her a very small one； as soft in touch and in sound as
the bursting of a bubble。
'More earnestly than thatcome。'
She gave another； a little but not much more expressively。
'I don't deserve a more feeling one； I suppose；' said Miss
Aldclyffe； with an emphasis of sad bitterness in her tone。 'I am an
ill…tempered woman； you think； half out of my mind。 Well； perhaps I
am； but I have had grief more than you can think or dream of。 But I
can't help loving youyour name is the same as mineisn't it
strange？'
Cytherea was inclined to say no； but remained silent。
'Now； don't you think I must love you？' continued the other。
'Yes；' said Cytherea absently。 She was still thinking whether duty
to Owen and her father； which asked for silence on her knowledge of
her father's unfortunate love； or duty to the woman embracing her；
which seemed to ask for confidence； ought to predominate。 Here was
a solution。 She would wait till Miss Aldclyffe referred to her
acquaintanceship and attachment to Cytherea's father in past times：
then she would tell her all she knew： that would be honour。
'Why can't you kiss me as I can kiss you？ Why can't you！' She
impressed upon Cytherea's lips a warm motherly salute； given as if
in the outburst of strong feeling； long checked； and yearning for
something to love and be loved by in return。
'Do you think badly of me for my behaviour this evening； child？ I
don't know why I am so foolish as to speak to you in this way。 I am
a very fool； I believe。 Yes。 How old are you？'
'Eighteen。'
'Eighteen！ 。 。 。 Well； why don't you ask me how old I am？'
'Because I don't want to know。'
'Never mind if you don't。 I am forty…six； and it gives me greater
pleasure to tell you this than it does to you to listen。 I have not
told my age truly for the last twenty years till now。'
'Why haven't you？'
'I have met deceit by deceit； till I am weary of itweary； weary
and I long to be what I shall never be againartless and innocent；
like you。 But I suppose that you； too； will； prove to be not worth
a thought； as every new friend does on more intimate knowledge。
Come； why don't you talk to me； child？ Have you said your prayers？'
'Yesno！ I forgot them to…night。'
'I suppose you say them every night as a rule？'
'Yes。'
'Why do you do that？'
'Because I have always done so； and it would seem strange if I were
not to。 Do you？'
'I？ A wicked old sinner like me！ No； I never do。 I have thought
all such matters humbug for yearsthought so so long that I should
be glad to think otherwise from very weariness； and yet； such is the
code of the polite world； that I subscribe regularly to Missionary
Societies and others of the sort。 。 。 。 Well； say your prayers；
dearyou won't omit them now you recollect it。 I should like to
hear you very much。 Will you？'
'It seems hardly'
'It would seem so like old times to mewhen I was young； and
nearerfar nearer Heaven than I am now。 Do； sweet one；'
Cytherea was embarrassed； and her embarrassment arose from the
following conjuncture of affairs。 Since she had loved Edward
Springrove； she had linked his name with her brother Owen's in her
nightly supplications to the Almighty。 She wished to keep her love
for him a secret； and； above all； a secret from a woman like Miss
Aldclyffe； yet her conscience and the honesty of her love would not
for an instant allow her to think of omitting his dear name； and so
endanger the efficacy of all her previous prayers for his su