I felt that I ought to have kissed his hand—­that he had indicated precisely the future that I most desired; and yet there was within me a vague feeling, akin to suspicion—­akin to dismay which chilled and overcast my soul.

‘But, Maud,’ he said, ’I am disquieted to think of that stupid jackanapes presuming to make you such an offer!  A creditable situation truly—­arriving in the dark at Elverston, under the solitary escort of that wild young man, with whom you would have fled from my guardianship; and, Maud, I tremble as I ask myself the question, would he have conducted you to Elverston at all?  When you have lived as long in the world as I, you will appreciate its wickedness more justly.’  Here there was a little pause.

’I know, my dear, that were he convinced of his legal marriage with that young woman,’ he resumed, perceiving how startled I looked, ’such an idea, of course, would not have entered his head; but he does not believe any such thing.  Contrary to fact and logic, he does honestly think that his hand is still at his disposal; and I certainly do suspect that he would have employed that excursion in endeavouring to persuade you to think as he does.  Be that how it may, however, it is satisfactory to me to know that you shall never more be troubled by one word from that ill-regulated young man.  I made him my adieux, such as they were, this evening; and never more shall he enter the walls of Bartram-Haugh while we two live.’

Uncle Silas replaced the papers which had ostensibly interested him so much, and returned.  There was a vein which was visible near the angle of his lofty temple, and in moments of agitation stood out against the surrounding pallor in a knotted blue cord; and as he came back smiling askance, I saw this sign of inward tumult.

’We can, however, afford to despise the follies and knaveries of the world, Maud, as long as we act, as we have hitherto done, with perfect confidence in each other.  Heaven bless you, dear Maud!  Your report troubled me, I believe, more than it need—­troubled me a good deal; but reflection assures me it is nothing.  He is gone.  In a few days’ time he will be on the sea.  I will issue my orders to-morrow morning, and he will never more, during his brief stay in England, gain admission to Bartram-Haugh.  Good-night, my good niece; I thank you.’

And so I returned to Mary Quince, on the whole happier than I had left her, but still with the confused and jarring vision I could not interpret perpetually rising before me; and as, from time to time, shapeless anxieties agitated me, relieving them by appeals to Him who alone is wise and strong.

Next day brought me a goodnatured gossiping letter from dear Milly, written in compulsory French, which was, in some places, very difficult to interpret.  She gave me a very pleasant account of the place, and her opinion of the girls who were inmates, and mentioned some of the nuns with high commendation.  The language plainly cramped poor Milly’s genius; but although there was by no means so much fun as an honest English letter would have brought me, there could be no mistake about her liking the place, and she expressed her honest longing to see me in the most affectionate terms.