t the young lady in. Neither of
the two dared face that sudden gleam. The doctor laid down his parcels
on the step, muttered something, which she could not distinguish, into
Nettie's agitated ear, and vanished back again into the darkness. Only
now was Nettie awaking to the sense of what had happened, and its real
importance. Perhaps another minute, another word, might have made a
difference--that other word and minute that are always wanting. She
gazed out after him blankly, scarcely able to persuade herself that
it was all over, and then went in with a kind of stupefied, stunned
sensation, not to be described. Edward Rider heard the door shut in the
calm silence, and swore fierce oaths in his heart over her composure and
cold-heartedness. As usual, it was the woman who had to face the light
and observation, and to veil her trouble. The man rushed back into the
darkness, smarting with wounds which fell as severely upon his pride as
upon his heart. Nettie went in, suddenly conscious that the world was
changed, and that she had entered upon another life.

CHAPTER IX.

Another life and a changed world! What small matters sometimes bring
about that sudden disenchantment! Two or three words exchanged without
much thought--one figure disappearing out of the landscape--and, lo! all
the prismatic colours have faded from the horizon, and blank daylight
glares upon startled eyes! Nettie had not, up to this time, entertained
a suspicion of how distinct a place the doctor held in her limited
firmament--she was totally unaware how much exhilaration and support
there was in his troubled, exasperated, impatient admiration. Now, all
at once, she found it out. It was the same life, yet it was different.
Her occupations were unchanged, her surroundings just what they used to
be. She had still to tolerate Fred, to manage Susan, to superintend with
steady economy all the expenditure of the strange little household.
The very rooms and aspect of everything was the same; yet had she been
suddenly transported back again to the Antipodes, life could not have
been more completely changed to Nettie. She recognised it at once with
some surprise, but without any struggle. The fact was too clearly apparent
to leave her in any doubt. Nobody but herself had the slightest insight
into the great event which had happened--nobody could know of it, or
offer Nettie any sympathy in that unforeseen personal trial. In her
youth and buoyant freshness,