ted to poor
Gilmore, and laid down the law as to eating onions with beefsteaks
in a manner that was quite offensive. Nevertheless, the unfortunate
man bore with his tormentor, and felt desolate when he was left
alone in the commercial room, Cockey having gone out to complete
his last round of visits to his customers. "Orders first and money
afterwards," Cockey had said, and Cockey had now gone out to look
after his money.

Gilmore sat for some half-hour helpless over the fire; and then
starting up, snatched his hat, and hurried out of the house. He
walked as quickly as he could up the hill, and rang the bell at Miss
Marrable's house. Had he been there ten minutes sooner, he would have
seen Mary Lowther tripping down the side path to meet her lover. He
rang the bell, and in a few minutes found himself in Miss Marrable's
drawing-room. He had asked for Miss Marrable, had given his name, and
had been shown upstairs. There he remained alone for a few minutes
which seemed to him to be interminable. During these minutes Miss
Marrable was standing in her little parlour downstairs, trying to
think what she would say to Mr. Gilmore,--trying also to think why
Mr. Gilmore should have come to Loring.

After a few words of greeting Miss Marrable said that Miss Lowther
was out walking. "She will be very glad, I'm sure, to hear good news
from her friends at Bullhampton."

"They're all very well," said Mr. Gilmore.

"I've heard a great deal of Mr. Fenwick," said Miss Marrable; "so
much that I seem almost to be acquainted with him."

"No doubt," said Mr. Gilmore.

"Your parish has become painfully known to the public by that
horrible murder," said Miss Marrable.

"Yes, indeed," said Mr. Gilmore.

"I fear that they will hardly catch the perpetrator of it," said Miss
Marrable.

"I fear not," said Mr. Gilmore.

At this period of the conversation Miss Marrable found herself in
great difficulty. If anything was to be said about Mary Lowther, she
could not begin to say it. She had heard a great deal in favour of
Mr. Gilmore. Mrs. Fenwick had written to her about the man; and Mary,
though she would not love him, had always spoken very highly of his
qualities. She knew well that he had gone through Oxford with credit,
that he was a reading man,--so reputed, that he was a magistrate, and
in all respects a gentleman. Indeed, she had formed an idea of him as
quite a pearl among men. Now that she saw him, she could not repress
a feeli