"There's no knowing when I may be in Norwich, Mrs Greenow, or when I
mayn't. I'm one of those men of whom nobody knows anything certain,
except that I pay as I go." Then he remembered that he was not to
make any more boasts about his money, and he endeavoured to cover the
error. "There's one other thing they may all know if they please, but
we won't say what that is just at present."

"Won't you sit down, Mr Cheesacre?"

"Well,--thank you,--I will sit down for a few minutes if you'll let
me, Mrs Greenow. Mrs Greenow, I'm in such a state of mind that I must
put an end to it, or else I shall be going mad, and doing somebody a
damage."

"Dear me! what has happened to you? You're going out shooting,
presently; are you not?" and Mrs Greenow looked down at his garments.

"No, Mrs Greenow, I'm not going out shooting. I put on these things
because I thought I might take a shot as I came along. But I couldn't
bring myself to do it, and then I wouldn't take them off again. What
does it matter what a man wears?"

"Not in the least, so long as he is decent."

"I'm sure I'm always that, Mrs Greenow."

"Oh, dear, yes. More than that, I should say. I consider you to be
rather gay in your attire."

"I don't pretend to anything of that kind, Mrs Greenow. I like to be
nice, and all that kind of thing. There are people who think that
because a man farms his own land, he must be always in the muck. It
is the case, of course, with those who have to make their rent and
living out of it." Then he remembered that he was again treading on
forbidden ground, and stopped himself. "But it don't matter what a
man wears if his heart isn't easy within him."

"I don't know why you should speak in that way, Mr Cheesacre; but
it's what I have felt every hour since--since Greenow left me."

Mr Cheesacre was rather at a loss to know how he should begin. This
allusion to the departed one did not at all assist him. He had so
often told the widow that care killed a cat, and that a live dog was
better than a dead lion; and had found so little efficacy in the
proverbs, that he did not care to revert to them. He was aware that
some more decided method of proceeding was now required. Little hints
at love-making had been all very well in the earlier days of their
acquaintance; but there must be something more than little hints
before he could hope to bring the matter to a favourable conclusion.
The widow herself had told him that he ought to talk about