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everybody in it （which is one recommendation）； and in five
minutes' time he'd put me up to what to do （which is another）。 If
you only knew him！ He's one of those extraordinary men who appear
once or twice in a centurythe sort of man who won't allow you
to make a mistake if you try。 All I have got to say to him
（putting it short） is； 'My dear fellow； I want to be privately
married without perjury。' All he has got to say to me （putting it
short） is； 'You must do so…and…so and so…and…so； and you must be
careful to avoid this； that； and the other。' I have nothing in
the world to do but to follow his directions； and you have
nothing in the world to do but what the bride always does when
the bridegroom is ready and willing！〃 His arm stole round
Neelie's waist； and his lips pointed the moral of the last
sentence with that inarticulate eloquence which is so uniformly
successful in persuading a woman against her will。
All Neelie's meditated objections dwindled； in spite of her； to
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
cost