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personal duties。
The house was very silent that day； Gwendoline and Joey being the
only ones left below stairs。 Ethelberta was wishing that she had
thrown off her state and gone to Kew to have an hour of childhood
over again in a romp with the others； when she was startled by the
announcement of a male visitornone other than Mr。 Neigh。
Ethelberta's attitude on receipt of this information sufficiently
expressed a revived sense that the incidence of Mr。 Neigh on her
path might have a meaning after all。 Neigh had certainly said he
was going to marry her； and now here he was come to her housejust
as if he meant to do it forthwith。 She had mentally discarded him；
yet she felt a shock which was scarcely painful； and a dread which
was almost exhilarating。 Her flying visit to Farnfield she thought
little of at this moment。 From the fact that the mind prefers
imaginings to recapitulation； conjecture to history； Ethelberta had
dwelt more upon Neigh's possible plans and anticipations than upon
the incidents of her evening journey； and the former assumed a more
distinct shape in her mind's eye than anything on the visible side
of the curtain。
Neigh was perhaps not quite so placidly nonchalant as in ordinary；
still； he was by far the most trying visitor that Ethelberta had
lately faced； and she could not get above the stagenot a very high
one for the mistress of a houseof feeling her personality to be
inconveniently in the way of his eyes。 He had somewhat the bearing
of a man who was going to do without any fuss what gushing people
would call a philanthropic action。
'I have been intending to write a line to you；' said Neigh； 'but I
felt that I could not be sure of writing my meaning in a way which
might please you。 I am not bright at a letternever was。 The
question I mean is one that I hope you will be disposed to answer
favourably； even though I may show the awkwardness of a fellow…
person who has never put such a question before。 Will you give me a
word of encouragementjust a hope that I may not be unacceptable as
a husband to you？ Your talents are very great； and of course I know
that I have nothing at all in that way。 Still people are happy
together sometimes in spite of such things。 Will you say 〃Yes；〃 and
settle it now？'
'I was not expecting you had come upon such an errand as this；' said
she； looking up a little； but mostly looking down。 'I cannot say
what you wish； Mr。 Neigh。
'Perhaps I have been too sudden and presumptuous。 Yes； I know I
have been that。 However； directly I saw you I felt that nobody ever
came so near my idea of what is desirable in a lady； and it occurred
to me that only one obstacle should stand in the way of the natural
results； which obstacle would be your refusal。 In common kindness
consider。 I daresay I am judged to be a man of inattentive habits
I know that's what you think of me； but under your influence I
should be very different； so pray do not let your dislike to little
matters influence you。'
'I would not indeed。 But believe me there can be no discussion of
marriage between us；' said Ethelberta decisively。
'If that's the case I may as well say no more。 To burden you with
my regrets would be out of place； I suppose；' said Neigh； looking
calmly out of the window。
'Apart from personal feeling； there are considerations which would
prevent what you contemplated；' she murmured。 'My affairs are too
lengthy； intricate； and unpleasant for me to explain to anybody at
present。 And that would be a necessary first step。'
'Not at all。 I cannot think that preliminary to be necessary at
all。 I would put my lawyer in communication with yours； and we
would leave the rest to them： I believe that is the proper way。
You could say anything in confidence to your family…man； and you
could inquire through him anything you might wish to know about my
about me。 All you would need to say to myself are just the two
little words〃I will；〃 in the church here at the end of the
Crescent。'
'I am sorry to pain you； Mr。 Neighso sorry；' said Ethelberta。
'But I cannot say them。' She was rather distressed that； despite
her discouraging words； he still went on with his purpose； as if he
imagined what she so distinctly said to be no bar； but rather a
stimulant； usual under the circumstances。
'It does not matter about paining me；' said Neigh。 'Don't take that
into consideration at all。 But I did not expect you to leave me so
entirely without helpto refuse me absolutely as far as words go
after what you did。 If it had not been for that I should never have
ventured to call。 I might otherwise have supposed your interest to
be fixed in another quarter； but your acting in that manner
encouraged me to think you could listen to a word。'
'What do you allude to？' said Ethelberta。 'How have I acted？'
Neigh appeared reluctant to go any further； but the allusion soon
became sufficiently clear。 'I wish my little place at Farnfield had
been worthier of you；' he said brusquely。 'However； that's a matter
of time only。 It is useless to build a house there yet。 I wish I
had known that you would be looking over it at that time of the
evening。 A single word； when we were talking about it the other
day； that you were going to be in the neighbourhood； would have been
sufficient。 Nothing could have given me so much delight as to have
driven you round。'
He knew that she had been to Farnfield： that knowledge was what had
inspired him to call upon her to…day！ Ethelberta breathed a sort of
exclamation； not right out； but stealthily； like a parson's damn。
Her face did not change； since a face must be said not to change
while it preserves the same pleasant lines in the mobile parts as
before； but anybody who has preserved his pleasant lines under the
half…minute's peer of the invidious camera； and found what a
wizened； starched kind of thing they stiffen to towards the end of
the time； will understand the tendency of Ethelberta's lovely
features now。
'Yes； I walked round；' said Ethelberta faintly。
Neigh was decidedly master of the position at last； but he spoke as
if he did not value that。 His knowledge had furnished him with
grounds for calling upon her； and he hastened to undeceive her from
supposing that he could think ill of any motive of hers which gave
him those desirable grounds。
'I supposed you； by that； to give some little thought to me
occasionally；' he resumed； in the same slow and orderly tone。 'How
could I help thinking so？ It was your doing that which encouraged
me。 Now； was it not naturalI put it to you？'
Ethelberta was almost exasperated at perceiving the awful extent to
which she had compromised herself with this man by her impulsive
visit。 Lightly and philosophically as he seemed to take itas a
thing； in short； which every woman would do by nature unless
hindered by difficultiesit was no trifle to her as long as he was
ignorant of her justification； and this she determined that he
should know at once； at all hazards。
'It was through you in the first place that I did look into your
grounds！' she said excitedly。 'It was your presumption that caused
me to go there。