. Cold blasts and brittle earth had
given place to an oozing dampness more unpleasant in itself than frost;
but it suggested coming spring, and its unpleasantness was of a bearable
kind.

Stockdale had been going to bring about a practical understanding with
Lizzy at least half-a-dozen times; but, what with the mystery of her
apparent absence on the night of the neighbour's call, and her curious
way of lying in bed at unaccountable times, he felt a check within him
whenever he wanted to speak out. Thus they still lived on as
indefinitely affianced lovers, each of whom hardly acknowledged the
other's claim to the name of chosen one. Stockdale persuaded himself
that his hesitation was owing to the postponement of the ordained
minister's arrival, and the consequent delay in his own departure, which
did away with all necessity for haste in his courtship; but perhaps it
was only that his discretion was reasserting itself, and telling him that
he had better get clearer ideas of Lizzy before arranging for the grand
contract of his life with her. She, on her part, always seemed ready to
be urged further on that question than he had hitherto attempted to go;
but she was none the less independent, and to a degree which would have
kept from flagging the passion of a far more mutable man.

On the evening of the first of March he went casually into his bedroom
about dusk, and noticed lying on a chair a greatcoat, hat, and breeches.
Having no recollection of leaving any clothes of his own in that spot, he
went and examined them as well as he could in the twilight, and found
that they did not belong to him. He paused for a moment to consider how
they might have got there. He was the only man living in the house; and
yet these were not his garments, unless he had made a mistake. No, they
were not his. He called up Martha Sarah.

'How did these things come in my room?' he said, flinging the
objectionable articles to the floor.

Martha said that Mrs. Newberry had given them to her to brush, and that
she had brought them up there thinking they must be Mr. Stockdale's, as
there was no other gentleman a-lodging there.

'Of course you did,' said Stockdale. 'Now take them down to your
mis'ess, and say they are some clothes I have found here and know nothing
about.'

As the door was left open he heard the conversation downstairs. 'How
stupid!' said Mrs. Newberry, in a tone of confusion. 'Why, Marther
Sarer, I did not tell you