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should read a few lines from 'Paradise Lost。' The responsibility of
producing a successful afternoon was upon her shoulders； she was；
moreover； the only one present who could properly manage blank
verse； and this was sufficient to justify the proposal。
She stood with her head against the marble slab just below the bust；
and began a selected piece； Neigh standing a few yards off on her
right looking into his hat in order to listen accurately； Mr。 and
Mrs。 Belmaine and Mrs。 Doncastle seating themselves in a pew
directly facing the monument。 The ripe warm colours of afternoon
came in upon them from the west； upon the sallow piers and arches；
and the infinitely deep brown pews beneath； the aisle over
Ethelberta's head being in misty shade through which glowed a lurid
light from a dark…stained window behind。 The sentences fell from
her lips in a rhythmical cadence one by one； and she could be
fancied a priestess of him before whose image she stood； when with a
vivid suggestiveness she delivered here； not many yards from the
central money…mill of the world； yet out from the very tomb of their
author； the passage containing the words：
'Mammon led them on；
Mammon； the least erected spirit that fell
From heaven。'
When she finished reading Ethelberta left the monument； and then
each one present strayed independently about the building；
Ethelberta turning to the left along the passage to the south door。
Neighfrom whose usually apathetic face and eyes there had
proceeded a secret smouldering light as he listened and regarded
herfollowed in the same direction and vanished at her heels into
the churchyard； whither she had now gone。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Belmaine
exchanged glances； and instead of following the pair they went with
Mrs。 Doncastle into the vestry to inquire of the person in charge
for the register of the marriage of Oliver Cromwell； which was
solemnized here。 The church was now quite empty； and its stillness
was as a vacuum into which an occasional noise from the street
overflowed and became rarefied away to nothing。
Something like five minutes had passed when a hansom stopped outside
the door； and Ladywell entered the porch。 He stood still； and；
looking inquiringly round for a minute or two； sat down in one of
the high pews； as if under the impression that the others had not
yet arrived。
While he sat here Neigh reappeared at the south door opposite； and
came slowly in。 Ladywell； in rising to go to him； saw that Neigh's
attention was engrossed by something he held in his hand。 It was
his pocket…book； and Neigh was looking at a few loose flower…petals
which had been placed between the pages。 When Ladywell came forward
Neigh looked up； started； and closed the book quickly； so that some
of the petals fluttered to the ground between the two men。 They
were striped； red and white； and appeared to be leaves of the
Harlequin rose。
'Ah！ here you are； Ladywell；' he said； recovering himself。 'We had
given you up： my aunt said that you would not care to come。 They
are all in the vestry。' How it came to pass that Neigh designated
those in the vestry as 'all；' when there was one in the churchyard；
was a thing that he himself could hardly have explained； so much
more had it to do with instinct than with calculation。
'Never mind themdon't interrupt them；' said Ladywell。 'The plain
truth is that I have been very greatly disturbed in mind； and I
could not appear earlier by reason of it。 I had some doubt about
coming at all。'
'I am sorry to hear that。'
'NeighI may as well tell you and have done with it。 I have found
that a lady of my acquaintance has two strings to her bow； or I am
very much in error。'
'WhatMrs。 Petherwin？' said Neigh uneasily。 'But I thought that
that fancy was over with you long ago。 Even your acquaintance with
her was at an end； I thought。'
'In a measure it is at an end。 But let me tell you that what you
call a fancy has been anything but a fancy with me； to be over like
a spring shower。 To speak plainly； Neigh； I consider myself badly
used by that woman； damn badly used。'
'Badly used？' said Neigh mechanically； and wondering all the time if
Ladywell had been informed that Ethelberta was to be one of the
party to…day。
'Well； I ought not to talk like that；' said Ladywell； adopting a
lighter tone。 'All is fair in courtship； I suppose； now as ever。
Indeed； I mean to put a good face upon it： if I am beaten； I am。
But it is very provoking； after supposing matters to be going on
smoothly； to find out that you are quite mistaken。'
'I told you you were quite mistaken in supposing she cared for you。'
'That is just the point I was not mistaken in；' said Ladywell
warmly。 'She did care for me； and I stood as well with her as any
man could stand until this fellow came； whoever he is。 I sometimes
feel so disturbed about it that I have a good mind to call upon her
and ask his name。 Wouldn't you； Neigh？ Will you accompany me？'
'I would in a moment； but； but I strongly advise you not to go；'
said Neigh earnestly。 'It would be rash； you know； and rather
unmannerly； and would only hurt your feelings。'
'Well； I am always ready to yield to a friend's arguments。 。 。 。 A
sneaking scamp； that's what he is。 Why does he not show himself？'
'Don't you really know who he is？' said Neigh； in a pronounced and
exceptional tone； on purpose to give Ladywell a chance of
suspecting； for the position was getting awkward。 But Ladywell was
blind as Bartimeus in that direction； so well had indifference to
Ethelberta's charms been feigned by Neigh until he thought seriously
of marrying her。 Yet； unfortunately for the interests of calmness；
Ladywell was less blind with his outward eye。 In his reflections
his glance had lingered again upon the pocket…book which Neigh still
held in his hand； and upon the two or three rose…leaves on the
floor； until he said idly； superimposing humorousness upon misery；
as men in love can：
'Rose…leaves； Neigh？ I thought you did not care for flowers。 What
makes you amuse yourself with such sentimental objects as those；
only fit for women； or painters like me？ If I had not observed you
with my own eyes I should have said that you were about the last man
in the world to care for things of that sort。 Whatever makes you
keep rose…leaves in your pocket…book？'
'The best reason on earth；' said Neigh。 'A woman gave them to me。'
'That proves nothing unless she is a great deal to you；' said
Ladywell； with the experienced air of a man who； whatever his
inferiority in years to Neigh； was far beyond him in knowledge of
that sort； by virtue of his recent trials。
'She is a great deal to me。'
'If I did not know you to be such a confirmed misogynist I should
say that this is a serious matter。'
'It is serious；' said Neigh quietly。 'The probability is that I
shall marry the woman who gave me these。 Anyhow I have asked her
the question； and she has not altogether said no。'
'I am glad to hear it； Neigh；' said Ladywell heartily。 'I am glad
to hear that your star is higher than mine。'
Before Neigh could make further reply Ladywell was attract