But the Cliffords could not come, and then she had declined to make any further attempt.  Indeed, a new idea had struck her.  Brooke Burgess, her guest, should sit at one end of the table, and Mr Gibson, the clergyman, at the other.  In this way the proper alternation would be effected.  When Martha heard this, Martha quite understood the extent of the good fortune that was in store for Dorothy.  If Mr Gibson was to be welcomed in that way, it could only be in preparation of his becoming one of the family.

And Dorothy herself became aware that she must make up her mind.  It was not so declared to her, but she came to understand that it was very probable that something would occur on the coming Monday which would require her to be ready with her answer on that day.  And she was greatly tormented by feeling that if she could not bring herself to accept Mr Gibson should Mr Gibson propose to her, as to which she continued to tell herself that the chance of such a thing must be very remote indeed, but that if he should propose to her, and if she could not accept him, her aunt ought to know that it would be so before the moment came.  But yet she could not bring herself to speak to her aunt as though any such proposition were possible.

It happened that during the week, on the Saturday, Priscilla came into Exeter.  Dorothy met her sister at the railway station, and then the two walked together two miles and back along the Crediton Road.  Aunt Stanbury had consented to Priscilla coming to the Close, even though it was not the day appointed for such visits; but the walk had been preferred, and Dorothy felt that she would be able to ask for counsel from the only human being to whom she could have brought herself to confide the fact that a gentleman was expected to ask her to marry him.  But it was not till they had turned upon their walk, that she was able to open her mouth on the subject even to her sister.  Priscilla had been very full of their own cares at Nuncombe, and had said much of her determination to leave the Clock House and to return to the retirement of some small cottage.  She had already written to Hugh to this effect, and during their walk had said much of her own folly in having consented to so great a change in their mode of life.  At last Dorothy struck in with her story.

‘Aunt Stanbury wants me to make a change too.’

‘What change?’ asked Priscilla anxiously.

’It is not my idea, Priscilla, and I don’t think that there can be anything in it.  Indeed, I’m sure there isn’t.  I don’t see how it’s possible that there should be.’

‘But what is it, Dolly?’

‘I suppose there can’t be any harm in my telling you.’

’If it’s anything concerning yourself, I should say not.  If it concerns Aunt Stanbury, I dare say she’d rather you held your tongue.’

‘It concerns me most,’ said Dorothy.

‘She doesn’t want you to leave her, does she?’