What girl was ever quite frank about her likings?  I don’t think I was more of a cheat than others; but I never could tell of myself.  It is quite true that this duplicity and reserve seldom deceives.  Our hypocrisies are forced upon some of our sex by the acuteness and vigilance of all in this field of enquiry; but if we are sly, we are also lynx-eyed, capital detectives, most ingenious in fitting together the bits and dovetails of a cumulative case; and in those affairs of love and liking, have a terrible exploratory instinct, and so, for the most part, when detected we are found out not only to be in love, but to be rogues moreover.

Lady Mary was very kind; but had Lady Mary of her own mere motion taken all this trouble?  Was there no more energetic influence at the bottom of that welcome chest of books, which arrived only half an hour later?  The circulating library of those days was not the epidemic and ubiquitous influence to which it has grown; and there were many places where it could not find you out.

Altogether that evening Bartram had acquired a peculiar beauty—­a bright and mellow glow, in which even its gate-posts and wheelbarrow were interesting, and next day came a little cloud—­Dudley appeared.

‘You may be sure he wants money,’ said Milly.  ’He and father had words this morning.’

He took a chair at our luncheon, found fault with everything in his own laconic dialect, ate a good deal notwithstanding, and was sulky, and with Milly snappish.  To me, on the contrary, when Milly went into the hall, he was mild and whimpering, and disposed to be confidential.

’There’s the Governor says he hasn’t a bob!  Danged if I know how an old fellah in his bed-room muddles away money at that rate.  I don’t suppose he thinks I can git along without tin, and he knows them trustees won’t gi’e me a tizzy till they get what they calls an opinion—­dang ’em!  Bryerly says he doubts it must all go under settlement.  They’ll settle me nicely if they do; and Governor knows all about it, and won’t gi’e me a danged brass farthin’, an’ me wi’ bills to pay, an’ lawyers—­dang ’em—­writing letters.  He knows summat o’ that hisself, does Governor; and he might ha’ consideration a bit for his own flesh and blood, I say.  But he never does nout for none but hisself.  I’ll sell his books and his jewels next fit he takes—­that’s how I’ll fit him.’

This amiable young man, glowering, with his elbows on the table and his fingers in his great whiskers, followed his homily, where clergymen append the blessing, with a muttered variety of very different matter.

‘Now, Maud,’ said he, pathetically, leaning back suddenly in his chair, with all his conscious beauty and misfortunes in his face, ’is not it hard lines?’

I thought the appeal was going to shape itself into an application for money; but it did not.

’I never know’d a reel beauty—­first-chop, of course, I mean—­that wasn’t kind along of it, and I’m a fellah as can’t git along without sympathy—­that’s why I say it—­an’ isn’t it hard lines?  Now, say it’s hard lines—­haint it, Maud?’