‘But you will be famished,’ said Lady Julia.

‘We shall live through it,’ said Lily.

’It is out of the question that I should let you walk all the way here from Allington and all the way back without taking something.’

‘We shall just be home in time for lunch if we go now,’ said Lily.  ’Will not that be the best, Grace?’

Grace hardly knew what would be best.  She only knew that Major Grantly was at Allington, and that he had come thither to see her.  The idea of hurrying back after him was unpleasant to her, and yet she was so flurried that she felt thankful to Lily for taking her away from the cottage.  The matter was compromised at last.  They remained for half-an-hour, and ate some biscuits and pretended to drink a glass of wine, and then they started.  John Eames, who in truth believed that Lily Dale was running away from him, was by no means well pleased, and when the girls were gone, did not make himself so agreeable to his old friend as he should have done.  ‘What a fool I am to come here at all,’ he said, throwing himself into an arm-chair as soon as the front door was closed.

‘That’s very civil to me, John!’

’You know what I mean, Lady Julia.  I am a fool to come near her, until I can do so without thinking more of her than I do of any other girl in the country.’

‘I don’t think you have anything to complain of as yet,’ said Lady Julia, who had in some sort perceived that Lily’s retreat had been on Grace’s account, and not on her own.  ’It seems to me that Lily was very glad to see you, and when I told her that you were coming to stay here, and would be near them for some days, she seemed to be quite pleased;—­she did indeed.’

‘Then why did she run away the moment I came in?’ said Johnny.

’I think it was something you said about the man who has gone to Allington.’

’What difference can the man make to her?  The truth is, I despise myself;—­I do indeed, Lady Julia.  Only think of my meeting Crosbie at dinner the other day, and his having the impertinence to come up and shake hands with me.’

’I suppose he didn’t say anything about what happened at the Paddington Station?’

’No; he didn’t speak about that.  I wish I knew whether she cares for him still.  If I thought she did, I would never speak another word to her—­I mean about myself.  Of course I am not going to quarrel with them.  I am not such a fool as that.’  Then Lady Julia tried to comfort him, and succeeded so far that he was induced to eat the mince veal that had been intended for the comfort and support of the two young ladies who had run away.

‘Do you think it is he?’ were the first words which Grace said when they were fairly on their way back together.

’I should think it must be.  What other man can there be, of that sort, who would be likely to come to Allington to see you?’

’His coming is not likely.  I cannot understand that he should come.  He let me leave Silverbridge without seeing me—­and I thought that he was quite right.’