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entering the room he closed the door behind him； pausing till he
heard the retreating footsteps of the child。
He found himself in an apartment which was simply and neatly； though
not poorly furnished； everything； from the miniature chiffonnier to
the shining little daguerreotype which formed the central ornament
of the mantelpiece； being in scrupulous order。 The picture was
enclosed by a frame of embroidered card…boardevidently the work of
feminine handsand it was the portrait of a thin faced； elderly
lieutenant in the navy。 From behind the lamp on the table a female
form now rose into view； that of a young girl； and a resemblance
between her and the portrait was early discoverable。 She had been
so absorbed in some occupation on the other side of the lamp as to
have barely found time to realize her visitor's presence。
They both remained standing for a few seconds without speaking。 The
face that confronted Barnet had a beautiful outline； the
Raffaelesque oval of its contour was remarkable for an English
countenance； and that countenance housed in a remote country…road to
an unheard…of harbour。 But her features did not do justice to this
splendid beginning： Nature had recollected that she was not in
Italy； and the young lady's lineaments； though not so inconsistent
as to make her plain； would have been accepted rather as pleasing
than as correct。 The preoccupied expression which； like images on
the retina； remained with her for a moment after the state that
caused it had ceased； now changed into a reserved； half…proud； and
slightly indignant look； in which the blood diffused itself quickly
across her cheek； and additional brightness broke the shade of her
rather heavy eyes。
'I know I have no business here；' he said； answering the look。 'But
I had a great wish to see you； and inquire how you were。 You can
give your hand to me； seeing how often I have held it in past days？'
'I would rather forget than remember all that； Mr。 Barnet；' she
answered； as she coldly complied with the request。 'When I think of
the circumstances of our last meeting； I can hardly consider it kind
of you to allude to such a thing as our pastor； indeed； to come
here at all。'
'There was no harm in it surely？ I don't trouble you often； Lucy。'
'I have not had the honour of a visit from you for a very long time；
certainly； and I did not expect it now；' she said； with the same
stiffness in her air。 'I hope Mrs。 Barnet is very well？'
'Yes； yes！' he impatiently returned。 'At least I suppose sothough
I only speak from inference！'
'But she is your wife； sir；' said the young girl tremulously。
The unwonted tones of a man's voice in that feminine chamber had
startled a canary that was roosting in its cage by the window； the
bird awoke hastily； and fluttered against the bars。 She went and
stilled it by laying her face against the cage and murmuring a
coaxing sound。 It might partly have been done to still herself。
'I didn't come to talk of Mrs。 Barnet；' he pursued； 'I came to talk
of you； of yourself alone； to inquire how you are getting on since
your great loss。' And he turned towards the portrait of her father。
'I am getting on fairly well； thank you。'
The force of her utterance was scarcely borne out by her look； but
Barnet courteously reproached himself for not having guessed a thing
so natural； and to dissipate all embarrassment； added； as he bent
over the table； 'What were you doing when I came？painting flowers；
and by candlelight？'
'O no；' she said； 'not painting themonly sketching the outlines。
I do that at night to save timeI have to get three dozen done by
the end of the month。'
Barnet looked as if he regretted it deeply。 'You will wear your
poor eyes out；' he said； with more sentiment than he had hitherto
shown。 'You ought not to do it。 There was a time when I should
have said you must not。 WellI almost wish I had never seen light
with my own eyes when I think of that！'
'Is this a time or place for recalling such matters？' she asked；
with dignity。 'You used to have a gentlemanly respect for me； and
for yourself。 Don't speak any more as you have spoken； and don't
come again。 I cannot think that this visit is serious； or was
closely considered by you。'
'Considered： well； I came to see you as an old and good friendnot
to mince matters； to visit a woman I loved。 Don't be angry！ I
could not help doing it； so many things brought you into my mind 。 。
。 This evening I fell in with an acquaintance； and when I saw how
happy he was with his wife and family welcoming him home； though
with only one…tenth of my income and chances； and thought what might
have been in my case； it fairly broke down my discretion； and off I
came here。 Now I am here I feel that I am wrong to some extent。
But the feeling that I should like to see you； and talk of those we
used to know in common； was very strong。'
'Before that can be the case a little more time must pass；' said
Miss Savile quietly； 'a time long enough for me to regard with some
calmness what at present I remember far too impatientlythough it
may be you almost forget it。 Indeed you must have forgotten it long
before you acted as you did。' Her voice grew stronger and more
vivacious as she added： 'But I am doing my best to forget it too；
and I know I shall succeed from the progress I have made already！'
She had remained standing till now； when she turned and sat down；
facing half away from him。
Barnet watched her moodily。 'Yes； it is only what I deserve；' he
said。 'Ambition pricked me onno； it was not ambition； it was
wrongheadedness！ Had I but reflected 。 。 。 ' He broke out
vehemently： 'But always remember this； Lucy： if you had written to
me only one little line after that misunderstanding； I declare I
should have come back to you。 That ruined me！' he slowly walked as
far as the little room would allow him to go； and remained with his
eyes on the skirting。
'But； Mr。 Barnet； how could I write to you？ There was no opening
for my doing so。'
'Then there ought to have been；' said Barnet； turning。 'That was my
fault！'
'Well； I don't know anything about that； but as there had been
nothing said by me which required any explanation by letter； I did
not send one。 Everything was so indefinite； and feeling your
position to be so much wealthier than mine； I fancied I might have
mistaken your meaning。 And when I heard of the other ladya woman
of whose family even you might be proudI thought how foolish I had
been； and said nothing。'
'Then I suppose it was destinyaccidentI don't know what； that
separated us； dear Lucy。 Anyhow you were the woman I ought to have
made my wifeand I let you slip； like the foolish man that I was！'
'O； Mr。 Barnet；' she said； almost in tears； 'don't revive the
subject to me； I am the wrong one to console youthink； sir；you
should not be hereit would be so bad for me if it were known！'
'It wouldit would； indeed；' he said hastily。 'I am not right in
doing this； and I won't do it again。'
'It is a very common folly of human nature； you know； to think the
course you did NOT adopt must have been the best；' she continued；
with gentle solicitude； as she followed him to the door of the room。
'And you don't know that I should have accepted you； even if you had
asked me to be your wife。' At this his eye met hers； and she
dropped her gaze。 She knew that her voice belied her。 There was a
silence till she looked up to add； in a voice of soothing
playfulness； 'My family was so much poorer than yours； even before I
lost my dear father； thatperhaps your companions would have made
it unpleasant for us on account of my deficiencies。'
'Your disposition would soon have won them round；' said Barnet。
She archly expostulated： 'Now； never mind my disposition； try to
make it up with your wife！ Those are my commands to you。 And now
you are to leave me at once。'
'I will。 I must make the best of it all； I suppose；' he replied；
more cheerfully than he had as yet spoken。 'But I shall never again
meet with such a dear girl as you！' And he suddenly opened the
door； and left her alone。 When his glance again fell on the lamps