immediately responded to by the vigorous waving of a pair of pocket-handkerchiefs from the carriage-window!  The ladies smiled at this piece of simplicity which prompted him to use both his hands, as if one would not have been enough.  Complacently they continued waving.  Then Adela looked at her sisters; Cornelia’s hand dropped and Arabella, the last to wave, was the first to exclaim:  “That must be a woman’s arm!”

The carriage stopped at the gate, and it was one in the dress of a woman at least, and of the compass of a big woman, who descended by the aid of Mr. Pole.  Safely alighted, she waved her pocket-handkerchief afresh.  The ladies of Brookfield did not speak to one another; nor did they move their eyes from the object approaching.  A simultaneous furtive extinction of three pocket-handkerchiefs might have been noticed.  There was no further sign given.

CHAPTER XV

A letter from Brookfield apprised Wilfrid that Mr. Pole had brought Mrs. Chump to the place as a visitor, and that she was now in the house.  Formal as a circular, the idea of it appeared to be that the bare fact would tell him enough and inspire him with proper designs.  No reply being sent, a second letter arrived, formal too, but pointing out his duty to succour his afflicted family, and furnishing a few tragic particulars.  Thus he learnt, that while Mr. Pole was advancing toward the three grouped ladies, on the day of Mrs. Chump’s arrival, he called Arabella by name, and Arabella went forward alone, and was engaged in conversation by Mrs. Chump.  Mr. Pole left them to make his way to Adela and Cornelia.  “Now, mind, I expect you to keep to your agreement,” he said.  Gradually they were led on to perceive that this simple-minded man had understood their recent talk of Besworth to signify a consent to the stipulation he had previously mentioned to Adela.  “Perfect simplicity is as deceiving as the depth of cunning,” Adela despairingly wrote, much to Wilfrid’s amusement.

A third letter followed.  It was of another tenor, and ran thus, in Adela’s handwriting: 

“My Darling Wilfrid,

“We have always known that some peculiar assistance would never be wanting in our extremity—­aid, or comfort, or whatever you please to call it.  At all events, something to show we are not neglected.  That old notion of ours must be true.  I shall say nothing of our sufferings in the house.  They continue.  Yesterday, papa came from town, looking important.  He had up some of his best wine for dinner.  All through the service his eyes were sparkling on Cornelia.  I spare you a family picture, while there is this huge blot on it.  Naughty brother!  But, listen! your place is here, for many reasons, as you will be quick enough to see.  After dinner, papa took Cornelia into the library alone, and they were together for ten minutes.  She came out very pale.  She had been proposed for by Sir Twickenham Pryme, our Member for the borough.