, and sat herself
down to weep alone in her bedroom.

"So, you've come back?" said the landlady.

"Ugh!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilkinson.

We will not dwell long on her painful journey back to Hurst Staple;
nor on the wretched reflections with which her mind was laden. She
sent on a line by post to her eldest daughter, so that she was
expected; and Dumpling and the phaeton and the stable-boy were there
to meet her. She had feared that Arthur would come: but Arthur had
dreaded the meeting also; and, having talked the matter over with his
sisters, had remained at home. He was in the book-room, and hearing
the wheels, as the carriage drew up to the door, he went out to greet
his mother on the steps.

At the first moment of meeting there was nothing said, but she warmly
pressed the hand which he held out to her.

"What sort of a journey have you had?" said Sophia.

"Oh, it is a dreadful place!" said Mrs. Wilkinson.

"It is not a nice country," said Arthur.

By this time they were in the drawing-room, and the mother was seated
on a sofa, with one of her girls on each side of her.

"Sophy," she said, "get up for a moment; I want Arthur to come here."
So Sophy did get up, and her son immediately taking her place, put
his arm round his mother's waist.

"Arthur," she whispered to him, "I fear I have been foolish about
this."

That was all that was ever said to him about the journey to Bowes.
He was not the man to triumph over his mother's failure. He merely
kissed her when her little confession was made, and pressed her
slightly with his arm. From that time it was understood that Adela
was to be brought thither, as soon as might be, to reign the mistress
of the vicarage; and that then, what further arrangements might be
necessary, were to be made by them all at their perfect leisure. That
question of the nursery might, at any rate, remain in abeyance for
twelve months.

Soon after that, it was decided in full conclave, that if Adela
would consent, the marriage should take place in the summer. Very
frequent letters passed between Hurst Staple and Littlebath, and
Mrs. Wilkinson no longer alluded to them with severity, or even with
dislike. Lord Stapledean had, at any rate, thoroughly convinced her
that the vicarage-house belonged to the vicar--to the vicar male, and
not to the vicar female; and now that her eyes had been opened on
this point, she found herself obliged to confess that Adela Gauntlet
would not make a bad w