one　feeble　little　question。　〃Suppose　I　allow　you　to　go；　Allan？〃
  she　whispered；　toying　nervously　with　the　stud　in　the　bosom　of　his
  shirt。　〃Shall　you　be　very　long　away？〃
  〃I'll　be　off　to…day；〃　said　Allan；　〃by　the　eleven　o'clock　train。
  And　I'll　be　back　to…morrow；　if　I　and　my　friend　the　clerk　can
  settle　it　all　in　time。　If　not；　by　Wednesday　at　latest。〃
  〃You'll　write　to　me　even　day？〃　pleaded　Neelie；　clinging　a　little
  closer　to　him。　〃I　shall　sink　under　the　suspense；　if　you　don't
  promise　to　write　to　me　every　day。〃
  Allan　promised　to　write　twice　a　day；　if　she
  likedletter…writing；　which　was　such　an　effort　to　other　men；　was
  no　effort　to　_him！_
  〃And　mind；　whatever　those　people　may　say　to　you　in　London；〃
  proceeded　Neelie；　〃I　insist　on　your　coming　back　for　me。　I
  positively　decline　to　run　away；　unless　you　promise　to　fetch　me。〃
  Allan　promised　for　the　second　time；　on　his　sacred　word　of　honor；
  and　at　the　full　compass　of　his　voice。　But　Neelie　was　not
  satisfied　even　yet。　She　reverted　to　first　principles；　and
  insisted　on　knowing　whether　Allan　was　quite　sure　he　loved　her。
  Allan　called　Heaven　to　witness　how　sure　he　was；　and　got　another
  question　directly　for　his　pains。　Could　he　solemnly　declare　that
  he　would　never　regret　taking　Neelie　away　from　home？　Allan　called
  Heaven　to　witness　again；　louder　than　ever。　All　to　no　purpose！　The
  ravenous　female　appetite　for　tender　protestations　still　hungered
  for　more。　〃I　know　what　will　happen　one　of　these　days；〃　persisted
  Neelie。　〃You　will　see　some　other　girl　who　is　prettier　than　I　am；
  and　you　will　wish　you　had　married　her　instead　of　Me！〃
  As　Allan　opened　his　lips　for　a　final　outburst　of　asseveration；
  the　stable　clock　at　the　great　house　was　faintly　audible　in　the
  distance　striking　the　hour。　Neelie　started　guiltily。　It　was
  breakfast…time　at　the　cottagein　other　words；　time　to　take
  leave。　At　the　last　moment　her　heart　went　back　to　her　father；　and
  her　head　sank　on　Allan's　bosom　as　she　tried　to　say；　Good…by。
  〃Papa　has　always　been　so　kind　to　me；　Allan；〃　she　whispered；
  holding　him　back　tremulously　when　he　turned　to　leave　her。　〃It
  seems　so　guilty　and　so　heartless　to　go　away　from　him　and　be
  married　in　secret。　Oh；　do；　do　think　before　you　really　go　to
  London；　is　there　no　way　of　making　him　a　little　kinder　and　juster
  to　_you？_〃　The　question　was　useless；　the　major's　resolutely
  unfavorable　reception　of　Allan's　letter　rose　in　Neelie's　memory；
  and　answered　her　as　the　words　passed　her　lips。　With　a　girl's
  impulsiveness　she　pushed　Allan　away　before　he　could　speak；　and
  signed　to　him　impatiently　to　go。　The　conflict　of　contending
  emotions；　which　she　had　mastered　thus　far；　burst　its　way　outward
  in　spite　of　her　after　he　had　waved　his　hand　for　the　last　time；
  and　had　disappeared　in　the　depths　of　the　dell。　When　she　turned
  from　the　place；　on　her　side；　her　long…restrained　tears　fell
  freely　at　last；　and　made　the　lonely　way　back　to　the　cottage　the
  dimmest　prospect　that　Neelie　had　seen　for　many　a　long　day　past。
  As　she　hurried　homeward；　the　leaves　parted　behind　her；　and　Miss
  Gwilt　stepped　softly　into　the　open　space。　She　stood　there　in
  triumph；　tall；　beautiful；　and　resolute。　Her　lovely　color
  brightened　while　she　watched　Neelie's　retreating　figure　hastening
  lightly　away　from　her　over　the　grass。
  〃Cry；　you　little　fool！〃　she　said；　with　her　quiet；　clear　tones；
  and　her　steady　smile　of　contempt。　〃Cry　as　you　have　never　cried
  yet！　You　have　seen　the　last　of　your　sweetheart。〃
  CHAPTER　XII。
  A　SCANDAL　AT　THE　STATION。
  AN　hour　later；　the　landlady　at　Miss　Gwilt's　lodgings　was　lost　in
  astonishment；　and　the　clamorous　tongues　of　the　children　were　in　a
  state　of　ungovernable　revolt。　〃Unforeseen　circumstances〃　had
  suddenly　obliged　the　tenant　of　the　first　floor　to　terminate　the
  occupation　of　her　apartments；　and　to　go　to　London　that　day　by　the
  eleven　o'clock　train。
  〃Please　to　have　a　fly　at　the　door　at　half…past　ten；〃　said　Miss
  Gwilt；　as　the　amazed　landlady　followed　her　upstairs。　〃And　excuse
  me；　you　good　creature；　if　I　beg　and　pray　not　to　be　disturbed　till
  the　fly　comes。　〃Once　inside　the　room；　she　locked　the　door；　and
  then　opened　her　writing…desk。　〃Now　for　my　letter　to　the　major！〃
  she　said。　〃How　shall　I　word　it？〃
  A　moment's　consideration　apparently　decided　her。　Searching
  through　her　collection　of　pens；　she　carefully　selected　the　worst
  that　could　be　found；　and　began　the　letter　by　writing　the　date　of
  the　day　on　a　soiled　sheet　of　note…paper；　in　crooked；　clumsy
  characters；　which　ended　in　a　blot　made　purposely　with　the　feather
  of　the　pen。　Pausing；　sometimes　to　think　a　little；　sometimes　to
  make　another　blot；　she　completed　the　letter　in　these　words：
  〃HON'D　SIRIt　is　on　my　conscience　to　tell　you　something；　which　I
  think　you　ought　to　know。　You　ought　to　know　of　the　goings…on　of
  Miss；　your　daughter；　with　young　Mister　Armadale。　I　wish　you　to
  make　sure；　and；　what　is　more；　I　advise　you　to　be　quick　about　it；
  if　she　is　going　the　way　you　want　her　to　go；　when　she　takes　her
  morning　walk　before　breakfast。　I　scorn　to　make　mischief；　where
  there　is　true　love　on　both　sides。　But　I　don't　think　the　young　man
  means　truly　by　Miss。　What　I　mean　is；　I　think　Miss　only　has　his
  fancy。　Another　person；　who　shall　be　nameless　betwixt　us；　has　his
  true　heart。　Please　to　pardon　my　not　putting　my　name；　I　am　only　a
  humble　person；　and　it　might　get　me　into　trouble。　This　is　all　at
  present；　dear　sir；　from　yours；
  〃A　WELL…WISHER。〃
  〃There！〃　said　Miss　Gwilt；　as　she　folded　the　letter　up。　〃If　I　had
  been　a　professed　novelist；　I　could　hardly　have　written　more
  naturally　in　the　character　of　a　servant　than　that！〃　She　wrote　the
  necessary　address　to　Major　Milroy；　looked　admiringly　for　the　last
  time　at　the　coarse　and　clumsy　writing　which　her　own　delicate　hand
  had　produced；　and　rose　to　post　the　letter　herself；　before　she
  entered　next　on　the　serious　business　of　packing　up。　〃Curious！〃
  she　thought；　when　the　letter　had　been　posted；　and　she　was　back
  again　making　her　traveling　preparations　in　her　own　room；　〃here　I
  am；　running　headlong　into　a　frightful　riskand　I　never　was　in
  better　spirits　in　my　life！〃
  The　boxes　were　ready　when　the　fly　was　at　the　door；　and　Miss　Gwilt
  was　equipped　（as　becomingly　as　usual）　in　her　neat　traveling
  costume。　The　thick　veil；　which　she　was　accustomed　to　wear　in
  London；　appeared　on　her　country　straw　bonnet　for　the　first　time。〃
  One　meets　such　rude　men　occasionally　in　the　railway；〃　she　said　to
  the　landlady。　〃And　though　I　dress　quietly；　my　hair　is　so　very
  remarkable。〃　She　was　a　little　paler　than　usual；　but　she　had　never
  been　so　sweet…tempered　and　engaging；　so　gracefully　cordial　and
  friendly；　as　now；　when　the　moment　of　departure　had　come。　The
  simple　people　of　the　house　were　quite　moved　at　taking　leave　of
  her。　She　insisted　on　shaking　hands　with　the　landlordon　speaking
  to　him　in　her　prettiest　way；　and　sunning　him　in　her　brightest
  smiles。　〃Come！〃　she　said　to　the　landlady；　〃you　have　been　so　kind；
  you　have　been　so　like　a　mother　to　me；　you　must　give　me　a　kiss　at
  parting。〃　She　embraced　the　children　all　together　in　a　lump；　with
  a　mixture　of　humor　and　tenderness　delightful　to　see；　and　left　a
  shilling　among　them　to　buy　a　cake。　〃If　I　was　only　rich　enough　to
  make　it　a　sovereign；〃　she　whispered　to　the　mother；　〃how　glad　I
  should　be！〃　The　awkward　lad　who　ran　on　errands　stood　waiting　at
  the　fly　door。　He　was　clumsy；　he　was　frowsy；　he　had　a　gaping　mouth
  and　a　turn…up　nose；　but　the　ineradicable　female　delight　in　being
  charming　accepted　him；　for　all　that；　in　the　character　of　a　last
  chance。　〃You　dear；　dingy　John！〃　she　said；　kindly；　at　the　carriage
  door。　〃I　am　so　poor　I　have　only　sixpence　to　give　youwith　my
  very　best　wishes。　Take　my　advice；　Johngrow　to　be　a　fine　man；
  and　find　yourself　a　nice　sweetheart！　Thank　you　a　thousand　times！〃
  She　gave　him　a　friendly　little　pat　on　the　cheek　with　two　of　her
  gloved　fingers；　and　smiled；　and　nodded；　and　got　into　the　fly。
  〃Armadale　next！〃　she　said　to　herself　as　the　carriage　drove　off。
  Allan's　anxiety　not　to　miss　the　train　had　brought　him　to　the
  station　in　better　time　than　usual。　After　taking　his　ticket　and
  putting　his　portmanteau　under　the　porter's　charge；　he　was　pacing
  the　platform　and　thinking　of　Neelie；　when　he　heard　the　rustling
  of　a　lady's　dress　behind　him；　and；　turning　round　to　look；　found
  himself　face　to　face　with　Miss　Gwilt。
  There　was　no　escaping　her　this　time。　The　station　wall　was　on　his
  right　hand；　and　the　line　was　on　his　left；　a　tunnel　was　behind
  him；　and　Miss　Gwilt　was　in　front；　inquiring　in　her　sweetest　　tones
  whether　Mr。　Armadale　was　going　to　London。
  Allan　colored　scarlet　with　vexation　and　surprise。　There　he　was
  obviously　waiting　for　the　train；　and　there　was　his　portmanteau
  close　by；　with　his　name　on　it；　already　labeled　for　London！　What
  answer　but　the　true　one　could　he　make　after　that？　Could　he　let
  the　train　go　without　him；　and　lose　the　precious　hours　so　vitally
  important　to　Neelie　and　himself？　Impossible！　Allan　helplessly
  confirmed　the　printed　statement　on　his　portmanteau；　and　heartily
  wished　himself　at　the　other　end　of　the　world　as　he　said　the
  words。
  〃How　very　fortunate！〃　rejoined　Miss　Gwilt。　〃I　am　going　to　London
  too。　Might　I　ask　you　Mr。　Armadale　（as　you　seem　to　be　quite
  alone）；　to　be　my　escort　on　the　journey？〃
  All