you
close with me? Ladywell knows all: I had already told him that the rose-
leaves were given me by my intended wife. We seem to him to be
practising deceptions all of a piece, and what folly it is to play off
so! As to what I did, that I ask your forgiveness for.'

Ethelberta looked upon the ground and maintained a compressed lip. Neigh
resumed: 'If I showed more feeling than you care for, I insist that it
was not more than was natural under the circumstances, if not quite
proper. Opinions may differ, but my experience goes to prove that
conventional squeamishness at such times as these is more talked and
written about than practised. Plain behaviour must be expected when
marriage is the question. Nevertheless, I do say--and I cannot say
more--that I am sincerely sorry to have offended you by exceeding my
privileges. I will never do so again.'

'Don't say privileges. You have none.'

'I am sorry that I thought otherwise, and that others will think so too.
Ladywell is, at any rate, bent on thinking so. . . . It might have been
made known to him in a gentle way--but God disposes.'

'There is nothing to make known--I don't understand,' said Ethelberta,
going from him.

By this time Ladywell had walked round the gravel walks with the two
other ladies and Mr. Belmaine, and they were all turning to come back
again. The young painter had deputed his voice to reply to their
remarks, but his understanding continued poring upon other things. When
he came up to Ethelberta, his agitation had left him: she too was free
from constraint; while Neigh was some distance off, carefully examining
nothing in particular in an old fragment of wall.

The little party was now united again as to its persons; though in spirit
far otherwise. They went through the church in general talk, Ladywell
sad but serene, and Ethelberta keeping far-removed both from him and from
Neigh. She had at this juncture entered upon that Sphinx-like stage of
existence in which, contrary to her earlier manner, she signified to no
one of her ways, plans, or sensations, and spoke little on any subject at
all. There were occasional smiles now which came only from the face, and
speeches from the lips merely.

The journey home was performed as they had come, Ladywell not accepting
the seat in Neigh's cab which was phlegmatically offered him. Mrs.
Doncastle's acquaintance with Ethelberta had been slight until this day;
but the afternoon's proceeding