’Well, according to him you know it.  But I will tell ’ee.  Perhaps you noticed young Jim Bellston walking me off down the lawn with him?—­whether or no, we walked together a good while; and he informed me that he wanted to pay his addresses to ’ee.  I naturally said that it depended upon yourself; and he replied that you were willing enough; you had given him particular encouragement—­showing your preference for him by specially choosing him for your partner—­hey?  “In that case,” says I, “go on and conquer—­settle it with her—­I have no objection.”  The poor fellow was very grateful, and in short, there we left the matter.  He’ll propose to-morrow.’

She saw now to her dismay what James Bellston had read as encouragement.  ‘He has mistaken me altogether,’ she said.  ’I had no idea of such a thing.’

‘What, you won’t have him?’

‘Indeed, I cannot!’

‘Chrissy,’ said Mr. Everard with emphasis, ’there’s noobody whom I should so like you to marry as that young man.  He’s a thoroughly clever fellow, and fairly well provided for.  He’s travelled all over the temperate zone; but he says that directly he marries he’s going to give up all that, and be a regular stay-at-home.  You would be nowhere safer than in his hands.’

‘It is true,’ she answered.  ’He is a highly desirable match, and I should be well provided for, and probably very safe in his hands.’

‘Then don’t be skittish, and stand-to.’

She had spoken from her conscience and understanding, and not to please her father.  As a reflecting woman she believed that such a marriage would be a wise one.  In great things Nicholas was closest to her nature; in little things Bellston seemed immeasurably nearer than Nic; and life was made up of little things.

Altogether the firmament looked black for Nicholas Long, notwithstanding her half-hour’s ardour for him when she saw him dancing with the dairyman’s daughter.  Most great passions, movements, and beliefs—­individual and national—­burst during their decline into a temporary irradiation, which rivals their original splendour; and then they speedily become extinct.  Perhaps the dance had given the last flare-up to Christine’s love.  It seemed to have improvidently consumed for its immediate purpose all her ardour forwards, so that for the future there was nothing left but frigidity.

Nicholas had certainly been very foolish about that licence!

CHAPTER IV

This laxity of emotional tone was further increased by an incident, when, two days later, she kept an appointment with Nicholas in the Sallows.  The Sallows was an extension of shrubberies and plantations along the banks of the Froom, accessible from the lawn of Froom-Everard House only, except by wading through the river at the waterfall or elsewhere.  Near the brink was a thicket of box in which a trunk lay prostrate; this had been once or twice their trysting-place, though it was by no means a safe one; and it was here she sat awaiting him now.