ral disapproval, which
is so very different from the dreadful hints and warnings that might
mean any criminality. Elinor was talking to him as freely as she had
done before this spectre rose. It must, Mrs. Dennistoun concluded, be
all right.

It was not till he was going away that she had an opportunity of talking
with him alone. Her satisfaction, it must be allowed, had been a little
subdued by John's demeanour during the afternoon and evening. But Mrs.
Dennistoun had said to herself that there might be other ways of
accounting for this. She had long had a fancy that John was more
interested in Elinor than he had confessed himself to be. It had been
her conviction that as soon as he felt it warrantable, as soon as he
was sufficiently well-established, and his practice secured, he would
probably declare himself, with, she feared, no particular issue so far
as Elinor was concerned. And perhaps he was disappointed, poor fellow,
which was a very natural explanation of his glum looks. But at breakfast
on Monday Elinor announced her intention of driving her cousin to the
station, and went out to see that the pony was harnessed, an operation
which took some time, for the pony was out in the field and had to be
caught, and the man of all work, who had a hundred affairs to look
after, had to be caught too to perform this duty; which sometimes,
however, Elinor performed herself, but always with some expenditure of
time. Mrs. Dennistoun seized the opportunity, plunging at once into the
all-important subject.

"You seemed to get on all right together yesterday, John, so I suppose
you found that after all there was not very much to say."

"I was not allowed to say----anything. You mean----"

"Oh, John, John, do you mean to tell me after all----"

"Aunt Ellen," he said, "stop it if you can; if there is any means in the
world by which you can stop it, do so. I can't bring accusations against
the man, for I couldn't prove them. I only know what everybody knows. He
is not a man fit for Elinor to marry. He is not fit to touch the tie of
her shoe."

"Oh, don't trouble me with your superlatives, John. Elinor is a good
girl and a clever girl, but not a lady of romance. Is there anything
really against him? Tell me, for goodness' sake! Even with these few
words you have made me very unhappy," Mrs. Dennistoun said, in a half
resentful tone.

"I can't help it," said the unfortunate man, "I can't bring accusations,
as I tell you. He i