In the meantime Gertrude grew happier and more like herself, and Aunt Rebecca had her own theories about the real state of that young lady’s affections, and her generally unsuspected relations with others.

Aunt Rebecca called at the Elms to see Lilias Walsingham, and sat down beside her on the sofa.

’Lily, child, you’re not looking yourself.  I’ll send you some drops.  You must positively nurse yourself.  I’m almost sorry I did not bring Dr. Toole.’

’Indeed I’m glad you did not, Aunt Becky; I take excellent care of myself.  I have not been out for three whole days.’

’And you must not budge, darling, while this east wind continues.  D’ye mind?  And what do you think, my dear, I do believe I’ve discovered the secret reason of Gertrude’s repugnance to Mr. Dangerfield’s most advantageous offer.’

‘Oh, indeed!’ said Lily, becoming interested.

‘Well, I suppose you suspected she had a secret?’ said Aunt Rebecca.

‘I can only say, dear Aunt Becky, she has not told it to me.’

‘Now, listen to me, my dear,’ said Aunt Becky, laying her fan upon Lily’s arm.  ’So sure as you sit there, Gertrude likes somebody, and I think I shall soon know who he is.  Can you conjecture, my dear?’ And Aunt Rebecca paused, looking, Lilias thought, rather pale, and with a kind of smile too.

‘No,’ said Lilias; ‘no, I really can’t.’

’Well, maybe when I tell you I’ve reason to think he’s one of our officers here.  Eh?  Can you guess?’ said Aunt Becky, holding her fan to her mouth, and looking straight before her.

It was now Lily’s turn to look pale for a moment, and then to blush so much that her ears tingled, and her eyes dropped to the carpet.  She had time to recover, though, for Aunt Becky, as I’ve said, was looking straight before her, a little pale, awaiting the result of Lily’s presumed ruminations.  A moment satisfied her it could not be Devereux, and she was soon quite herself again.

’An officer! no, Aunt Becky—­there certainly is Captain Cluffe, who always joins your party when you and Gertrude go down to hear the band, and Lieutenant Puddock, too, who does the same—­but you know—­’

’Well, my dear, all in good time.  Gertrude’s very secret, and proud too; but I shall know very soon.  I’ve ascertained, my dear, that an officer came under the window the other evening, and sang a verse of a French chanson, from the meadow, in a cloak, if you please, with a guitar.  I could name his name, my dear—­’

‘Do pray tell me,’ said Lily, whose curiosity was all alive.

‘Why—­a—­not yet, my dear,’ answered Aunt Becky, looking down; ’there are—­there’s a reason—­but the affair, I may tell you, began, in earnest, on the very day on which she refused Mr. Mervyn.  But I forgot you did not know that either—­however, you’ll never mention it.’  And she kissed her cheek, calling her ‘my wise little Lily.’