Next afternoon, about two o'clock, Alan called with a tremulous

heart at the cottage. Herminia had heard not a little of him

meanwhile from her friend Mrs. Dewsbury. "He's a charming young

man, my dear," the woman of the world observed with confidence.

"I felt quite sure you'd attract one another. He's so clever and

advanced, and everything that's dreadful,--just like yourself,

Herminia. But then he's also very well connected. That's always

something, especially when one's an oddity. You wouldn't go down

one bit yourself, dear, if you weren't a dean's daughter. The

shadow of a cathedral steeple covers a multitude of sins. Mr.

Merrick's the son of the famous London gout doctor,--you MUST know

his name,--all the royal dukes flock to him. He's a barrister

himself, and in excellent practice. You might do worse, do you

know, than to go in for Alan Merrick."

Herminia's lip curled an almost imperceptible curl as she answered

gravely, "I don't think you quite understand my plans in life, Mrs.

Dewsbury. It isn't my present intention to GO IN for anybody."

But Mrs. Dewsbury shook her head. She knew the world she lived in.

"Ah, I've heard a great many girls talk like that beforehand," she

answered at once with her society glibness; "but when the right man

turned up, they soon forgot their protestations. It makes a lot of

difference, dear, when a man really asks you!"

Herminia bent her head. "You misunderstand me," she replied. "I

don't mean to say I will never fall in love. I expect to do that.

I look forward to it frankly,--it is a woman's place in life. I

only mean to say, I don't think anything will ever induce me to

marry,--that is to say, legally."

Mrs. Dewsbury gave a start of surprise and horror. She really

didn't know what girls were coming to nowadays,--which, considering

her first principles, was certainly natural. But if only she had

seen the conscious flush with which Herminia received her visitor

that afternoon, she would have been confirmed in her belief that

Herminia, after all, in spite of her learning, was much like other

girls. In which conclusion Mrs. Dewsbury would not in the end have

been fully justified.

When Alan arrived, Herminia sat at the window by the quaintly

clipped box-tree, a volume of verse held half closed in her hand,

though she was a great deal too honest and transparent to pretend

she was reading it. She expected Alan to call, in accordance with

his promise, for she had seen at Mrs. Dewsbury's how great an

impression she produced upon him; and, having taught herself that

it was every true woman's duty to avoid the affectations and

self-deceptions which the rule of man has begotten in women, she

didn't try to conceal from herself the fact that she on her side

was by no means without interest in the question how soon he would

pay her his promised visit. As he appeared at the rustic gate in

the privet hedge, Herminia looked out, and changed color with

pleasure when she saw him push it open.




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