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the latter in holy orders and in delicate health。 If Tuesday next
would suit Mr。 Armadale； Tuesday next would suit 〃papa〃being
the first day he could spare from repairs which were required by
his clock。 The rest； by 〃papa's〃 advice； she would beg to leave
entirely in Mr。 Armadale's hands； and； in the meantime； she would
remain； with 〃papa's〃 compliments； Mr。 Armadale's trulyELEANOR
MILROY。〃
Who would ever have supposed that the writer of that letter had
jumped for joy when Allan's invitation arrived？ Who would ever
have suspected that there was an entry already in Miss Milroy's
diary； under that day's date； to this effect： 〃The sweetest；
dearest letter from _I…know…who；_ I'll never behave unkindly to
him again as long as I live？〃 As for Allan； he was charmed with
the sweet success of his maneuver。 Miss Milroy had accepted his
invitation； consequently； Miss Milroy was not offended with him。
It was on the tip of his tongue to mention the correspondence to
his friend when they met at dinner。 But there was something in
Midwinter's face and manner （even plain enough for Allan to see）
which warned him to wait a little before he said anything to
revive the painful subject of their visit to the cottage。 By
common consent they both avoided all topics connected with Thorpe
Ambrose； not even the visit from Mr。 Bashwood； which was to come
with the evening； being referred to by either of them。 All
through the dinner they drifted further and further back into the
old endless talk of past times about ships and sailing。 When the
butler withdrew from his attendance at table； he came downstairs
with a nautical problem on his mind； and asked his
fellow…servants if they any of them knew the relative merits 〃on
a wind〃 and 〃off a wind〃 of a schooner and a brig。
The two young men had sat longer at table than usual that day。
When they went out into the garden with their cigars； the summer
twilight fell gray and dim on lawn and flower bed； and narrowed
round them by slow degrees the softly fading circle of the
distant view。 The dew was heavy； and； after a few minutes in the
garden； they agreed to go back to the drier ground on the drive
in front of the house。
They were close to the turning which led into the shrubbery； when
there suddenly glided out on them； from behind the foliage； a
softly stepping black figurea shadow； moving darkly through the
dim evening light。 Midwinter started back at the sight of it； and
even the less finely strung nerves of his friend were shaken for
the moment。
〃Who the devil are you？〃 cried Allan。
The figure bared its head in the gray light； and came slowly a
step nearer。 Midwinter advanced a step on his side； and looked
closer。 It was the man of the timid manners and the mourning
garments； of whom he had asked the way to Thorpe Ambrose where
the three roads met。
〃Who are you？〃 repeated Allan。
〃I humbly beg your pardon； sir；〃 faltered the stranger； stepping
back again； confusedly。 〃The servants told me I should find Mr。
Armadale〃
〃What； are you Mr。 Bashwood？〃
〃Yes； if you please； sir。〃
〃I beg your pardon for speaking to you so roughly；〃 said Allan；
〃but the fact is； you rather startled me。 My name is Armadale
（put on your hat； pray）； and this is my friend； Mr。 Midwinter；
who wants your help in the steward's office。〃
〃We hardly stand in need of an introduction；〃 said Midwinter。 〃I
met Mr。 Bashwood out walking a few days since； and he was kind
enough to direct me when I had lost my way。〃
〃Put on your hat；〃 reiterated Allan； as Mr。 Bashwood； still
bareheaded； stood bowing speechlessly； now to one of the young
men； and now to the other。 〃My good sir； put on your hat； and let
me show you the way back to the house。 Excuse me for noticing
it；〃 added Allan； as the man； in sheer nervous helplessness； let
his hat fall； instead of putting it back on his head； 〃but you
seem a little out of sorts； a glass of good wine will do you no
harm before you and my friend come to business。 Whereabouts did
you meet with Mr。 Bashwood； Midwinter； when you lost your way？〃
〃I am too ignorant of the neighborhood to know。 I must refer you
to Mr。 Bashwood。〃
〃Come； tell us where it was；〃 said Allan； trying； a little too
abruptly； to set the man at his ease； as they all three walked
back to the house。
The measure of Mr。 Bashwood's constitutional timidity seemed to
be filled to the brim by the loudness of Allan's voice and the
bluntness of Allan's request。 He ran over in the same feeble flow
of words with which he had deluged Midwinter on the occasion when
they first met。
〃It was on the road； sir；〃 he began； addressing himself
alternately to Allan； whom he called； 〃sir；〃 and to Midwinter；
whom he called by his name； 〃I mean； if you please； on the road
to Little Gill Beck。 A singular name； Mr。 Midwinter； and a
singular place； I don't mean the village； I mean the
neighborhoodI mean the 'Broads' beyond the neighborhood。
Perhaps you may have heard of the Norfolk Broads； sir？ What they
call lakes in other parts of England； they call Broads here。 The
Broads are quite numerous； I think they would repay a visit。 You
would have seen the first of them； Mr。 Midwinter； if you had
walked on a few miles from where I had the honor of meeting you。
Remarkably numerous； the Broads； sirsituated between this and
the sea。 About three miles from the sea； Mr。 Midwinterabout
three miles。 Mostly shallow； sir； with rivers running between
them。 Beautiful； solitary。 Quite a watery country； Mr。 Midwinter；
quite separate； as it were； in itself。 Parties sometimes visit
them； sirpleasure parties in boats。 It's quite a little network
of lakes； or； perhapsyes； perhaps； more correctly； pools。 There
is good sport in the cold weather。 The wild fowl are quite
numerous。 Yes； the Broads would repay a visit； Mr。 Midwinter。 the
next time you are walking that way。 The distance from here to
Little Gill Beck； and then from Little Gill Beck to Girdler
Broad； which is the first you come to； is altogether not more〃
In sheer nervous inability to leave off； he would apparently have
gone on talking of the Norfolk Broads for the rest of the
evening； if one of his two listeners had not unceremoniously cut
him short before he could find his way into a new sentence。
〃Are the Broads within an easy day's drive there and back from
this house？〃 asked Allan； feeling； if they were； that the place
for the picnic was discovered already。
〃Oh； yes； sir； a nice drivequite a nice easy drive from this
beautiful place！〃
They were by this time ascending the portico steps； Allan leading
the way up； and calling to Midwinter and Mr。 Bashwood to follow
him into the library； where there was a lighted lamp。
In the interval which elapsed before the wine made its
appearance； Midwinter looked at his chance acquaintance of the
high…road with strangely mingled feelings of compassion and
distrustof compassion that strengthened in spite of him； of
distrust that persisted in diminishing； try as he might to
encourage it to grow。 There； perched comfortless on the edge of
his chair； sat the poor broken…down； nervous wretch； in his worn
black garments； with his watery eyes； his honest ol