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orm you of this； but I shall be spared the troubleas you /have/ come out to me。〃
The perspiration； cold as ice； began to pour off Mr。 Jiffin in his agony and horror。 You might have wrung every thread he had on。 〃You don't meantoimplythatyougivemeupMissAfy？〃 he jerked out； unevenly。
〃Well； yes； I do；〃 replied Afy。 〃It's as good to be plain； and then there can be no misapprehension。 I'll shake hands now with you； Jiffin； for the last time； and I am very sorry that we both made such a mistake。〃
Poor Jiffin looked at her。 His gaze would have melted a heart of stone。 〃Miss Afy； you /can't/ mean it！ You'd never； sure； crush a fellow in this manner； whose whole soul is yours； who trusted you entirely？ There's not an earthly thing I would not do to please you。 You have been the light of my existence。〃
〃Of course；〃 returned Afy； with a lofty and indifferent air； as if to be 〃the light of his existence〃 was only her due。 〃But it's all done and over。 It is not at all a settlement that will suit me； you see； Jiffin。 A butter and bacon factor is so veryso verywhat I have not been accustomed to！ And then； those aprons！ I never could get reconciled to them。〃
〃I'll discard the aprons altogether；〃 cried he； in a fever。 〃I'll get a second shopman； and buy a little gig； and do nothing but drive you out。 I'll do anything if you will but have me still； Miss Afy。 I have bought the ring； you know。〃
〃Your intentions are very kind；〃 was the distant answer； 〃but it's a thing impossible； my mind is fully made up。 So farewell for good； Jiffin； and I wish you better luck in your next venture。〃
Afy； lifting her capacious dress； for the streets had just been watered； minced off。 And Mr。 Joe Jiffin； wiping his wet face as he gazed after her； instantly wished that he could be nailed up in one of his pickled pork barrels； and so be out of his misery。
〃That's done with； thank goodness；〃 soliloquized Afy。 〃Have /him/； indeed。 After what Richard let out on the trial。 As if I should look after anybody less than Dick Hare！ I shall get him； too。 I always knew Dick Hare loved me above everything on earth； and he does still； or he'd never had said what he did in open court。 'It's better to be born lucky than rich。' Won't West Lynne envy me！ Mrs。 Richard Hare of the Grove。 Old Hare is on his last legs； and then Dick comes into his own。 Mrs。 Hare must have her jointure house elsewhere； for we shall want the Grove for ourselves。 I wonder if Madame Barbara will condescend to recognize me。 And that blessed Corny？ I shall be a sort of cousin of Corny's then。 I wonder how much Dick comes intothree or four thousand a year？ And to think that I had nearly escaped this by tying myself to that ape of a Jiffin！ What sharks do get in our unsuspecting paths in this world！〃
On went Afy； through West Lynne； till she arrived close to Mr。 Justice Hare's。 Then she paced slowly。 It had been a frequent walk of hers since the trial。 Luck favored her to…day。 As she was passing the gate； young Richard Hare came up from the direction of East Lynne。 It was the first time Afy had obtained speech of him。
〃Good day； Richard。 Why！ you were never going to pass an old friend？〃
〃I have so many friends；〃 said Richard； 〃I can scarcely spare time for them individually。〃
〃But you might for me。 Have you forgotten old days？〃 continued she； bridling and flirting； and altogether showing herself off to advantage。
〃No； I have not；〃 replied Richard。 〃And I am not likely to do so；〃 he pointedly added。
〃Ah； I felt sure of that。 My heart told me so。 When you went off； that dreadful night； leaving me to anguish and suspense； I thought I should have died。 I never have had； so to say； a happy moment until this； when I meet you again。〃
〃Don't be a fool； Afy！〃 was Richard's gallant rejoinder； borrowing the favorite reproach of Miss Carlyle。 〃I was young and green once； you don't suppose I have remained so。 We will drop the past； if you please。 How is Mr。 Jiffin？〃
〃Oh； the wretch！〃 shrieked Afy。 〃Is it possible that you can have fallen into the popular scandal that I have anything to say to /him/？ You know I'd never demean myself to it。 That's West Lynne all over！ Nothing but inventions in it from week's end to week's end。 A man who sells cheese！ Who cuts up bacon！ Well； I am surprised at you； Mr。 Richard！〃
〃I have been thinking what luck you were in to get him；〃 said Richard； with composure。 〃But it is your business not mine。〃
〃Could /you/ bear to see me stooping to him？〃 returned Afy； dropping her voice to the most insinuating whisper。
〃Look you； Afy。 What ridiculous folly you are nursing in your head I don't trouble myself to guess； but； the sooner you get it out again the better。 I was an idiot once； I don't deny it； but you cured me of that； and cured me with a vengeance。 You must pardon me for intimating that from henceforth we are strangers； in the street as elsewhere。 I have resumed my own standing again； which I periled when I ran after you。〃
Afy turned faint。 〃How can you speak those cruel words？〃 gasped she。
〃You have called them forth。 I was told yesterday that Afy Hallijohn； dressed up to a caricature； was looking after me again。 It won't do； Afy。〃
〃Oh…o…o…oh！〃 sobbed Afy； growing hysterical； 〃and is this to be all my recompense for the years I have spent pining after you； keeping single for your sake！〃
〃Recompense！ Oh； if you want that； I'll get my mother to give Jiffin her custom。〃 And with a ringing laugh； which； though it had nothing of malice in it； showed Afy that he took her reproach for what it was worth； Richard turned in at his own gate。
It was a deathblow to Afy's vanity。 The worst it had ever received； and she took a few minutes to compose herself； and smooth her ruffled feathers。 Then she turned and sailed back toward Mr。 Jiffin's； her turban up in the skies and the plume de coq tossing to the admiration of all beholders； especially of Miss Carlyle； who had the gratification of surveying her from her window。 Arrived at Mr。 Jiffin's； she was taken ill exactly opposite his door； and staggered into the shop in a most exhausted state。
Round the counter flew Mr。 Jiffin； leaving the shopman staring behind it。 What /was/ the matter？ What /could/ he do for her？
〃Faintheat of the sunwalked too fastallowed to sit down for five minutes！〃 gasped Afy； in disjointed sentences。
Mr。 Jiffin tenderly conducted her through the shop to his parlor。 Afy cast half an eye round； saw how comfortable were its arrangements； and her symptoms of faintness increased。 Gasps and hysterical sobs came forth together。 Mr。 Jiffin was as one upon spikes。
〃She'd recover better there than in the public shopif she'd only excuse his bringing her in； and consent to stop for a few minutes。 No harm could come to her； and West Lynne could never say it。 He'd stand at the far end of the room； right away from her； he'd prop open the two doors and the windows； he'd call in the maidanything she thought right。 Should he get her a glass of wine？〃
Afy declined the wine by a gesture； and sat fanning herself。 Mr。 Jiffin looking on from a respectful distance。 Gradually she grew composedgrew herself again。 As she gained courage； Mr。 Jiffin lost it； and he ventured upon