Grove, where she had lived
so long, she had a desire to know the depth of the well-hole. Adam was
really happy to meet her wishes, not from any sentiment, but because he
wished to give some valid and ostensible reason for examining the passage
of the Worm, which would obviate any suspicion resulting from his being
on the premises. He brought from London a Kelvin sounding apparatus,
with a sufficient length of piano-wire for testing any probable depth.
The wire passed easily over the running wheel, and when this was once
fixed over the hole, he was satisfied to wait till the most advantageous
time for his final experiment.

* * * * *

In the meantime, affairs had been going quietly at Mercy Farm. Lilla, of
course, felt lonely in the absence of her cousin, but the even tenor of
life went on for her as for others. After the first shock of parting was
over, things went back to their accustomed routine. In one respect,
however, there was a marked difference. So long as home conditions had
remained unchanged, Lilla was content to put ambition far from her, and
to settle down to the life which had been hers as long as she could
remember. But Mimi's marriage set her thinking; naturally, she came to
the conclusion that she too might have a mate. There was not for her
much choice--there was little movement in the matrimonial direction at
the farmhouse. She did not approve of the personality of Edgar Caswall,
and his struggle with Mimi had frightened her; but he was unmistakably an
excellent _parti_, much better than she could have any right to expect.
This weighs much with a woman, and more particularly one of her class.
So, on the whole, she was content to let things take their course, and to
abide by the issue.

As time went on, she had reason to believe that things did not point to
happiness. She could not shut her eyes to certain disturbing facts,
amongst which were the existence of Lady Arabella and her growing
intimacy with Edgar Caswall; as well as his own cold and haughty nature,
so little in accord with the ardour which is the foundation of a young
maid's dreams of happiness. How things would, of necessity, alter if she
were to marry, she was afraid to think. All told, the prospect was not
happy for her, and she had a secret longing that something might occur to
upset the order of things as at present arranged.

When Lilla received a note from Edgar Caswall asking if he might come to
tea on the following