What was he to do?  He said that he would go up and have tea; and as he led her to the door he put down his face and kissed her.  Oh, Johnny Eames!  But then a woman in such a contest has so many points in her favour.

CHAPTER XXX

“Is It from Him?”

I have already declared that Crosbie wrote and posted the fatal letter to Allington, and we must now follow it down to that place.  On the morning following the squire’s return to his own house, Mrs Crump, the post-mistress at Allington, received a parcel by post directed to herself.  She opened it, and found an enclosure addressed to Mrs Dale, with a written request that she would herself deliver it into that lady’s own hand at once.  This was Crosbie’s letter.

“It’s from Miss Lily’s gentleman,” said Mrs Crump, looking at the handwriting.  “There’s ’something up, or he wouldn’t be writing to her mamma in this way.”  But Mrs Crump lost no time in putting on her bonnet, and trudging up with the letter to the Small House.  “I must see the missus herself,” said Mrs Crump.  Whereupon Mrs Dale was called downstairs into the hall, and there received the packet.  Lily was in the breakfast-parlour, and had seen the post-mistress arrive;—­had seen also that she carried a letter in her hand.  For a moment she had thought that it was for her, and imagined that the old woman had brought it herself from simple good-nature.  But Lily, when she heard her mother mentioned, instantly withdrew and shut the parlour door.  Her heart misgave her that something was wrong, but she hardly tried to think what it might be.  After all, the regular postman might bring the letter she herself expected.  Bell was not yet downstairs, and she stood alone over the tea-cups on the breakfast-table, feeling that there was something for her to fear.  Her mother did not come at once into the room, but, after a pause of a moment or two, went again upstairs.  So she remained, either standing against the table, or at the window, or seated in one of the two arm-chairs, for a space of ten minutes, when Bell entered the room.

“Isn’t mamma down yet?” said Bell.

“Bell,” said Lily, “something has happened.  Mamma has got a letter.”

“Happened!  What has happened?  Is anybody ill?  Who is the letter from?” And Bell was going to return through the door in search of her mother.

“Stop, Bell,” said Lily.  “Do not go to her yet.  I think it’s from—­Adolphus.”

“Oh, Lily, what do you mean?”

“I don’t know, dear.  We’ll wait a little longer.  Don’t look like that, Bell.”  And Lily strove to appear calm, and strove almost successfully.

“You have frightened me so,” said Bell.

“I am frightened myself.  He only sent me one line yesterday, and now he has sent nothing.  If some misfortune should have happened to him!  Mrs Crump brought down the letter herself to mamma, and that is so odd, you know.”