her since the winter remained undisturbed. I cannot
account for the capricious state of mind in which this feeling
originated, but the idea nevertheless possessed me that some previous
change of place and circumstances, some sudden break in the quiet
monotony of our lives, so managed as to vary the home aspect under
which we had been accustomed to see each other, might prepare the way
for me to speak, and might make it easier and less embarrassing for
Laura and Marian to hear.

With this purpose in view, I said, one morning, that I thought we had
all earned a little holiday and a change of scene. After some
consideration, it was decided that we should go for a fortnight to the
sea-side.

On the next day we left Fulham for a quiet town on the south coast. At
that early season of the year we were the only visitors in the place.
The cliffs, the beach, and the walks inland were all in the solitary
condition which was most welcome to us. The air was mild--the
prospects over hill and wood and down were beautifully varied by the
shifting April light and shade, and the restless sea leapt under our
windows, as if it felt, like the land, the glow and freshness of spring.

I owed it to Marian to consult her before I spoke to Laura, and to be
guided afterwards by her advice.

On the third day from our arrival I found a fit opportunity of speaking
to her alone. The moment we looked at one another, her quick instinct
detected the thought in my mind before I could give it expression.
With her customary energy and directness she spoke at once, and spoke
first.

"You are thinking of that subject which was mentioned between us on the
evening of your return from Hampshire," she said. "I have been
expecting you to allude to it for some time past. There must be a
change in our little household, Walter, we cannot go on much longer as
we are now. I see it as plainly as you do--as plainly as Laura sees
it, though she says nothing. How strangely the old times in Cumberland
seem to have come back! You and I are together again, and the one
subject of interest between us is Laura once more. I could almost
fancy that this room is the summer-house at Limmeridge, and that those
waves beyond us are beating on our sea-shore."

"I was guided by your advice in those past days," I said, "and now,
Marian, with reliance tenfold greater I will be guided by it again."

She answered by pressing my hand. I saw that she was deeply touched by