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that I had had the start of her as the favored object of Mr。
Armadale's good opinionto assert herself by an explosion of
virtuous indignation。 She wondered how he could think of such a
thing after his conduct with Miss Gwilt； and after her father had
forbidden him the house！ Did he want to make her feel how
inexcusably she had forgotten what was due to herself？ Was it
worthy of a gentleman to propose what he knew as well as she did
was impossible？ and so on； and so on。 Any man with brains in his
head would have known what all this rodomontade really meant。
Armadale took it so seriously that he actually attempted to
justify himself。
〃He declared； in his headlong； blundering way； that he was quite
in earnest； he and her father might make it up and be friends
again； and； if the major persisted in treating him as a stranger；
young ladies and gentlemen in their situation had made runaway
marriages before now； and fathers and mothers who wouldn't
forgive them before had forgiven them afterward。 Such
outrageously straightforward love…making as this left Miss
Milroy； of course； but two alternativesto confess that she had
been saying No when she meant Yes； or to take refuge in another
explosion。 She was hypocrite enough to prefer another explosion。
'How dare you； Mr。 Armadale？ Go away directly！ It's
inconsiderate； it's heartless； it's perfectly disgraceful to say
such things to me！' and so on； and so on。 It seems incredible；
but it is not the less true； that he was positively fool enough
to take her at her word。 He begged her pardon； and went away like
a child that is put in the cornerthe most contemptible object
in the form of man that eyes ever looked on！
〃She waited； after he had gone； to compose herself； and I waited
behind the trees to see how she would succeed。 Her eyes wandered
round slyly to the path by which he had left her。 She smiled
（grinned would be the truer way of putting it； with such a mouth
as hers）； took a few steps on tiptoe to look after him； turned
back again； and suddenly burst into a violent fit of crying。 I am
not quite so easily taken in as Armadale； and I saw what it all
meant plainly enough。
〃 'To…morrow；' I thought to myself； 'you will be in the park
again； miss； by pure accident。 The next day； you will lead him on
into proposing to you for the second time。 The day after； he will
venture back to the subject of runaway marriages； and you will
only be becomingly confused。 And the day after that； if he has
got a plan to propose； and if your clothes are ready to be packed
for school； you will listen to him。' Yes； yes； Time is always on
the man's side； where a woman is concerned； if the man is only
patient enough to let Time help him。
〃I let her leave the place and go back to the cottage； quite
unconscious that I had been looking at her。 I waited among the
trees； thinking。 The truth is； I was impressed by what I had
heard and seen； in a manner that it is not very easy to describe。
It put the whole thing before me in a new light。 It showed
mewhat I had never even suspected till this morningthat she
is really fond of him。
〃Heavy as my debt of obligation is to her； there is no fear _now_
of my failing to pay it to the last farthing。 It would have been
no small triumph for me to stand between Miss Milroy and her
ambition to be one of the leading ladies of the county。 But it is
infinitely more； where her first love is concerned； to stand
between Miss Milroy and her heart's desire。 Shall I remember my
own youth and spare her？ No！ She has deprived me of the one
chance I had of breaking the chain that binds me to a past life
too horrible to be thought of。 I am thrown back into a position；
compared to which the position of an outcast who walks the
streets is endurable and enviable。 No； Miss Milroyno； Mr。
Armadale； I will spare neither of you。
〃I have been back some hours。 I have been thinking； and nothing
has come of it。 Ever since I got that strange letter of
Midwinter's last Sunday； my usual readiness in emergencies has
deserted me。 When I am not thinking of him or of his story； my
mind feels quite stupefied。 I； who have always known what to do
on other occasions； don't know what to do now。 It would be easy
enough； of course； to warn Major Milroy of his daughter's
proceedings。 But the major is fond of his daughter； Armadale is
anxious to be reconciled with him； Armadale is rich and
prosperous； and ready to submit to the elder man； and sooner or
later they will be friends again； and the marriage will follow。
Warning Major Milroy is only the way to embarrass them for the
present； it is not the way to part them for good and all。
〃What _is_ the way？ I can't see it。 I could tear my own hair off
my head！ I could burn the house down！ If there was a train of
gunpowder under the whole world； I could light it； and blow the
whole world to destructionI am in such a rage； such a frenzy
with myself for not seeing it！
〃Poor dear Midwinter！ Yes； '_dear。_' I don't care。 I'm lonely and
helpless。 I want somebody who is gentle and loving to make much
of me； I wish I had his head on my bosom again； I have a good
mind to go to London and marry him。 Am I mad？ Yes； all people who
are as miserable as I am are mad。 I must go to the window and get
some air。 Shall I jump out？ No； it disfigures one so； and the
coroner's inquest lets so many people see it。
〃The air has revived me。 I begin to remember that I have Time on
my side； at any rate。 Nobody knows but me of their secret
meetings in the park the first thing in the morning。 If jealous
old Bashwood； who is slinking and sly enough for anything； tries
to look privately after Armadale； in his own interests； he will
try at the usual time when he goes to the steward's office。 He
knows nothing of Miss Milroy's early habits； and he won't be on
the spot till Armadale has got back to the house。 For another
week to come； I may wait and watch them； and choose my own time
and way of interfering the moment I see a chance of his getting
the better of her hesitation； and making her say Yes。
〃So here I wait； without knowing how things will end with
Midwinter in London； with my purse getting emptier and emptier；
and no appearance so far of any new pupils to fill it； with
Mother Oldershaw certain to insist on having her money back the
moment she knows I have failed； without prospects； friends； or
hopes of any kinda lost woman； if ever there was a lost woman
yet。 Well！ I say it again and again and againI don't care！ Here
I stop； if I sell the clothes off my back； if I hire myself at
the public…house to play to the brutes in the tap…room； here I
stop till the time comes； and I see the way to parting Armadale
and Miss Milroy forever！
〃Seven o'clock。Any signs that the time is coming yet？ I hardly
know； there are signs of a change； at any rate； in my position in
the neighborhood。
〃Two of the oldest and ugliest of the many old and ugly ladies
who took up my case when I left Major Milroy's service have just
called； announcing themselves； with the insufferable impudence of
charitable Englishwomen； as a deputation from my patronesses。 It
seems that the news of my reconciliation with Armadale has spread
from the servants' offices at the great house； and has reached
the town； with this result。
〃It is the unanimous opinion of my 'patronesses' （and the opinion
of Major Milroy also； who has been consulted） that I have acted
with the most inexcusable imprudence in going to Armadale's
house； and in there speaking on friendly terms with a man whose
conduct toward myself has made his name a by…word in the
neighborhood。 My total want of self…respect in this matter has
given rise to a report that I am trading as cleverly as ever on
my good looks； and that I am as likely as not to end in making
Armadale marry me； after all。 My 'patronesses' are； of course；
too charitable to believe this。 They merely feel it necessary to
remonstrate with me in a Christian spirit； and to warn me that
any second and similar imprudence on my part would force all my
best friends in the plate to withdraw the countenance and
protection which I now enjoy。
〃Having addressed me； turn and turn about； in these terms
（evidently all rehearsed beforehand）； my two Gorgon visitors
straightened themselves in their chairs； and looked at me as much
as to say； 'You may often have heard of Virtue； Miss Gwilt； but
we don't believe you ever really saw it in full bloom till we
came and called on you。'
〃Seeing they were bent on provoking me； I kept my temper； and
answered them in my smoothest； sweetest； and most lady…like
manner。 I have noticed that the Christianity of a certain class
of respectable people begins when they open their prayer…books at
eleven o'clock on Sunday morning； and ends when they shut them up
again at one o'clock on Sunday afternoon。 Nothing so astonishes
and insults Christians of this sort as reminding them of their
Christianity on a week…day。 On this hint； as the man says in the
play； I spoke。
〃 'What have I done that is wrong？' I asked； innocently。 'Mr。
Armadale has injured me； and I have been to his house and
forgiven him the injury。 Surely there must be some mistake；
ladies？ Y