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it to…night。'
His father looked absently at him and turned away again。 Shortly
afterwards they retired for the night。 Alone in his bedroom Edward
opened and read what he had not dared to refer to in their presence。
The envelope contained another envelope in Cytherea's handwriting；
addressed to ' Manston； Esq。； Old Manor House。' Inside this was
the note she had written to the steward after her detention in his
house by the thunderstorm
'KNAPWATER HOUSE；
September 20th。
'I find I cannot meet you at seven o'clock by the waterfall as I
promised。 The emotion I felt made me forgetful of realities。
'C。 GRAYE。'
Miss Aldclyffe had not written a line； and； by the unvarying rule
observable when words are not an absolute necessity； her silence
seemed ten times as convincing as any expression of opinion could
have been。
He then； step by step； recalled all the conversation on the subject
of Cytherea's feelings that had passed between himself and Miss
Aldclyffe in the afternoon； and by a confusion of thought； natural
enough under the trying experience； concluded that because the lady
was truthful in her portraiture of effects； she must necessarily be
right in her assumption of causes。 That is； he was convinced that
Cythereathe hitherto…believed faithful Cythereahad； at any rate；
looked with something more than indifference upon the extremely
handsome face and form of Manston。
Did he blame her； as guilty of the impropriety of allowing herself
to love the newcomer in the face of his not being free to return her
love？ No； never for a moment did he doubt that all had occurred in
her old； innocent； impulsive way； that her heart was gone before she
knew itbefore she knew anything； beyond his existence； of the man
to whom it had flown。 Perhaps the very note enclosed to him was the
result of first reflection。 Manston he would unhesitatingly have
called a scoundrel； but for one strikingly redeeming fact。 It had
been patent to the whole parish； and had come to Edward's own
knowledge by that indirect channel； that Manston； as a married man；
conscientiously avoided Cytherea after those first few days of his
arrival during which her irresistibly beautiful and fatal glances
had rested upon himhis upon her。
Taking from his coat a creased and pocket…worn envelope containing
Cytherea's letter to himself； Springrove opened it and read it
through。 He was upbraided therein； and he was dismissed。 It bore
the date of the letter sent to Manston； and by containing within it
the phrase； 'All the day long I have been thinking；' afforded
justifiable ground for assuming that it was written subsequently to
the other （and in Edward's sight far sweeter one） to the steward。
But though he accused her of fickleness； he would not doubt the
genuineness； in its kind； of her partiality for him at Budmouth。 It
was a short and shallow feelingnot perfect love：
'Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds。'
But it was not flirtation； a feeling had been born in her and had
died。 It would be well for his peace of mind if his love for her
could flit away so softly； and leave so few traces behind。
Miss Aldclyffe had shown herself desperately concerned in the whole
matter by the alacrity with which she had obtained the letter from
Manston； and her labours to induce himself to marry his cousin。
Taken in connection with her apparent interest in； if not love for；
Cytherea； her eagerness； too； could only be accounted for on the
ground that Cytherea indeed loved the steward。
5。 DECEMBER THE FOURTH
Edward passed the night he scarcely knew how； tossing feverishly
from side to side； the blood throbbing in his temples； and singing
in his ears。
Before the day began to break he dressed himself。 On going out upon
the landing he found his father's bedroom door already open。 Edward
concluded that the old man had risen softly； as was his wont； and
gone out into the fields to start the labourers。 But neither of the
outer doors was unfastened。 He entered the front room； and found it
empty。 Then animated by a new idea； he went round to the little
back parlour； in which the few wrecks saved from the fire were
deposited； and looked in at the door。 Here； near the window； the
shutters of which had been opened half way； he saw his father
leaning on the bureau； his elbows resting on the flap； his body
nearly doubled； his hands clasping his forehead。 Beside him were
ghostly…looking square folds of parchmentthe leases of the houses
destroyed。
His father looked up when Edward entered； and wearily spoke to the
young man as his face came into the faint light。
'Edward； why did you get up so early？'
'I was uneasy； and could not sleep。'
The farmer turned again to the leases on the bureau； and seemed to
become lost in reflection。 In a minute or two； without lifting his
eyes； he said
'This is more than we can bear； Tedmore than we can bear！ Ted；
this will kill me。 Not the loss onlythe sense of my neglect about
the insurance and everything。 Borrow I never will。 'Tis all misery
now。 God help usall misery now！'
Edward did not answer； continuing to look fixedly at the dreary
daylight outside。
'Ted；' the farmer went on； 'this upset of be…en burnt out o' home
makes me very nervous and doubtful about everything。 There's this
troubles me besidesour liven here with your cousin； and fillen up
her house。 It must be very awkward for her。 But she says she
doesn't mind。 Have you said anything to her lately about when you
are going to marry her？'
'Nothing at all lately。'
'Well； perhaps you may as well； now we are so mixed in together。
You know； no time has ever been mentioned to her at all； first or
last； and I think it right that now； since she has waited so
patiently and so longyou are almost called upon to say you are
ready。 It would simplify matters very much； if you were to walk up
to church wi' her one of these mornings； get the thing done； and go
on liven here as we are。 If you don't I must get a house all the
sooner。 It would lighten my mind； too； about the two little
freeholds over the hillnot a morsel a…piece； divided as they were
between her mother and me； but a tidy bit tied together again。 Just
think about it； will ye； Ted？'
He stopped from exhaustion produced by the intense concentration of
his mind upon the weary subject； and looked anxiously at his son。
'Yes； I will；' said Edward。
'But I am going to see her of the Great House this morning；' the
farmer went on； his thoughts reverting to the old subject。 'I must
know the rights of the matter； the when and the where。 I don't like
seeing her； but I'd rather talk to her than the steward。 I wonder
what she'll say to me。'
The younger man knew exactly what she would say。 If his father
asked her what he was to do； and when； she would simply refer him to
Manston： her character was not that of a woman who shrank from a
proposition she had once laid down。 If his father were to say to
her that his son had