’There must be preliminaries, Hugh even for lodgings, though they may be very slender.  Papa goes in less than three weeks now, and mamma has got something else to think of than my marriage garments.  And then there are all manner of difficulties, money difficulties and others, out of which I don’t see my way yet’.  Hugh began to asseverate that it was his business to help her through all money difficulties as well as others; but she soon stopped his eloquence.  ’It will be by-and-by, Hugh, and I hope you’ll support the burden like a man; but just at present there is a hitch.  I shouldn’t have come over at all; I should have stayed with Emily in Italy, had I not thought that I was bound to see you’

‘My own darling!’

‘When papa goes, I think that I had better go back to her.’

‘I’ll take you!’ said Hugh, picturing to himself all the pleasures of such a tour together, over the Alps.

’No you won’t, because that would be improper.  When we travel together we must go Darby and Joan fashion, as man and wife.  I think I had better go back to Emily, because her position there is so terrible.  There must come some end to it, I suppose soon.  He will be better, or he will become so bad that that medical interference will be unavoidable.  But I do not like that she should be alone.  She gave me a home when she had one, and I must always remember that I met you there.’  After this there was of course another attempt with Hugh’s right arm, which on this occasion was not altogether unsuccessful.  And then she told him of her friendship for Mr Glascock’s wife, and of her intention at some future time to visit them at Monkhams.

‘And see all the glories that might have been your own,’ he said.

’And think of the young man who has robbed me of them all!  And you are to go there too, so that you may see what you have done.  There was a time, Hugh, when I was very nearly pleasing all my friends and shewing myself to be a young lady of high taste and noble fortune and an obedient, good girl.’

‘And why didn’t you?’

’I thought I would wait just a little longer.  Because, because, because—­ Oh, Hugh, how cross you were to me afterwards when you came down to Nuncombe and would hardly speak to me!’

‘And why didn’t I speak to you?’

’I don’t know.  Because you were cross, and surly, and thinking of nothing but your tobacco, I believe.  Do you remember how we walked to Liddon, and you hadn’t a word for anybody?’

’I remember I wanted you to go down to the river with me, and you wouldn’t go.’

’You asked me only once, and I did so long to go with you.  Do you remember the rocks in the river?  I remember the place as though I saw it now; and how I longed to jump from one stone to another.  Hugh, if we are ever married, you must take me there, and let me jump on those stones.’

‘You pretended that you could not think of wetting your feet.’