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name of his first sweetheart in Bloomsbury； who so mysteriously
renounced him？ A sort of intuition tells me that this was the same
woman。'
'O nonot likely；' said her brother sceptically。
'How not likely； Owen？ There's not another woman of the name in
England。 In what year used papa to say the event took place？'
'Eighteen hundred and thirty…five。'
'And when were the Houses of Parliament burnt？stop； I can tell
you。' She searched their little stock of books for a list of dates；
and found one in an old school history。
'The Houses of Parliament were burnt down in the evening of the
sixteenth of October； eighteen hundred and thirty…four。'
'Nearly a year and a quarter before she met father；' remarked Owen。
They were silent。 'If papa had been alive； what a wonderful
absorbing interest this story would have had for him；' said Cytherea
by…and…by。 'And how strangely knowledge comes to us。 We might have
searched for a clue to her secret half the world over； and never
found one。 If we had really had any motive for trying to discover
more of the sad history than papa told us； we should have gone to
Bloomsbury； but not caring to do so； we go two hundred miles in the
opposite direction； and there find information waiting to be told
us。 What could have been the secret； Owen？'
'Heaven knows。 But our having heard a little more of her in this
way （if she is the same woman） is a mere coincidence after alla
family story to tell our friends if we ever have any。 But we shall
never know any more of the episode nowtrust our fates for that。'
Cytherea sat silently thinking。
'There was no answer this morning to your advertisement； Cytherea？'
he continued。
'None。'
'I could see that by your looks when I came in。'
'Fancy not getting a single one；' she said sadly。 'Surely there
must be people somewhere who want governesses？'
'Yes； but those who want them； and can afford to have them； get them
mostly by friends' recommendations； whilst those who want them； and
can't afford to have them； make use of their poor relations。'
'What shall I do？'
'Never mind it。 Go on living with me。 Don't let the difficulty
trouble your mind so； you think about it all day。 I can keep you；
Cythie； in a plain way of living。 Twenty…five shillings a week do
not amount to much truly； but then many mechanics have no more； and
we live quite as sparingly as journeymen mechanics。 。 。 It is a
meagre narrow life we are drifting into；' he added gloomily； 'but it
is a degree more tolerable than the worrying sensation of all the
world being ashamed of you； which we experienced at Hocbridge。'
'I couldn't go back there again；' she said。
'Nor I。 O； I don't regret our course for a moment。 We did quite
right in dropping out of the world。' The sneering tones of the
remark were almost too laboured to be real。 'Besides；' he
continued； 'something better for me is sure to turn up soon。 I wish
my engagement here was a permanent one instead of for only two
months。 It may； certainly； be for a longer time； but all is
uncertain。'
'I wish I could get something to do； and I must too；' she said
firmly。 'Suppose； as is very probable； you are not wanted after the
beginning of Octoberthe time Mr。 Gradfield mentionedwhat should
we do if I were dependent on you only throughout the winter？'
They pondered on numerous schemes by which a young lady might be
supposed to earn a decent livelihoodmore or less convenient and
feasible in imagination； but relinquished them all until advertising
had been once more tried； this time taking lower ground。 Cytherea
was vexed at her temerity in having represented to the world that so
inexperienced a being as herself was a qualified governess； and had
a fancy that this presumption of hers might be one reason why no
ladies applied。 The new and humbler attempt appeared in the
following form：
'NURSERY GOVERNESS OR USEFUL COMPANION。 A young person wishes to
hear of a situation in either of the above capacities。 Salary very
moderate。 She is a good needle…womanAddress G。； 3 Cross Street；
Budmouth。'
In the evening they went to post the letter； and then walked up and
down the Parade for a while。 Soon they met Springrove； said a few
words to him； and passed on。 Owen noticed that his sister's face
had become crimson。 Rather oddly they met Springrove again in a few
minutes。 This time the three walked a little way together； Edward
ostensibly talking to Owen； though with a single thought to the
reception of his words by the maiden at the farther side； upon whom
his gaze was mostly resting； and who was attentively listening
looking fixedly upon the pavement the while。 It has been said that
men love with their eyes； women with their ears。
As Owen and himself were little more than acquaintances as yet； and
as Springrove was wanting in the assurance of many men of his age；
it now became necessary to wish his friends good…evening； or to find
a reason for continuing near Cytherea by saying some nice new thing。
He thought of a new thing； he proposed a pull across the bay。 This
was assented to。 They went to the pier； stepped into one of the
gaily painted boats moored alongside and sheered off。 Cytherea sat
in the stern steering。
They rowed that evening； the next came； and with it the necessity of
rowing again。 Then the next； and the next； Cytherea always sitting
in the stern with the tiller ropes in her hand。 The curves of her
figure welded with those of the fragile boat in perfect
continuation； as she girlishly yielded herself to its heaving and
sinking； seeming to form with it an organic whole。
Then Owen was inclined to test his skill in paddling a canoe。
Edward did not like canoes； and the issue was； that； having seen
Owen on board； Springrove proposed to pull off after him with a pair
of sculls； but not considering himself sufficiently accomplished to
do finished rowing before a parade full of promenaders when there
was a little swell on； and with the rudder unshipped in addition； he
begged that Cytherea might come with him and steer as before。 She
stepped in； and they floated along in the wake of her brother。 Thus
passed the fifth evening on the water。
But the sympathetic pair were thrown into still closer
companionship； and much more exclusive connection。
2。 JULY THE TWENTY…NINTH
It was a sad time for Cythereathe last day of Springrove's
management at Gradfield's； and the last evening before his return
from Budmouth to his father's house； previous to his departure for
London。
Graye had been requested by the architect to survey a plot of land
nearly twenty miles off； which； with the journey to and fro； would
occupy him the whole day； and prevent his returning till late in the
evening。 Cytherea made a companion of her landlady to the extent of
sharing meals and sitting with her during the morning of her
brother's absence。 Mid…day found her restless and miserable under
this arrangement。 All the afternoon she sat alone； looking out of
the window for she scarcely knew whom； and hoping she scarcely knew
what。 Half…past five o'clock camethe end of Springrove's official
day。 Two minutes later S