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However； he consoled himself with what was in truth a rare
consolation for a budding lover； that he was under the same roof
with Lizzy； her guest； in fact； to take a poetical view of the term
lodger； and that he would certainly see her on the morrow。
The morrow came； and Stockdale rose early； his cold quite gone。 He
had never in his life so longed for the breakfast hour as he did
that day； and punctually at eight o'clock； after a short walk； to
reconnoitre the premises； he re…entered the door of his dwelling。
Breakfast passed； and Martha Sarah attended； but nobody came
voluntarily as on the night before to inquire if there were other
wants which he had not mentioned； and which she would attempt to
gratify。 He was disappointed； and went out； hoping to see her at
dinner。 Dinner time came； he sat down to the meal； finished it；
lingered on for a whole hour； although two new teachers were at that
moment waiting at the chapel…door to speak to him by appointment。
It was useless to wait longer； and he slowly went his way down the
lane； cheered by the thought that； after all； he would see her in
the evening； and perhaps engage again in the delightful tub…
broaching in the neighbouring church tower； which proceeding he
resolved to render more moral by steadfastly insisting that no water
should be introduced to fill up； though the tub should cluck like
all the hens in Christendom。 But nothing could disguise the fact
that it was a queer business； and his countenance fell when he
thought how much more his mind was interested in that matter than in
his serious duties。
However； compunction vanished with the decline of day。 Night came；
and his tea and supper； but no Lizzy Newberry； and no sweet
temptations。 At last the minister could bear it no longer； and said
to his quaint little attendant； 'Where is Mrs。 Newberry to…day？'
judiciously handing a penny as he spoke。
'She's busy；' said Martha。
'Anything serious happened？' he asked； handing another penny； and
revealing yet additional pennies in the background。
'O nonothing at all！' said she； with breathless confidence。
'Nothing ever happens to her。 She's only biding upstairs in bed
because 'tis her way sometimes。'
Being a young man of some honour； he would not question further； and
assuming that Lizzy must have a bad headache； or other slight
ailment； in spite of what the girl had said； he went to bed
dissatisfied； not even setting eyes on old Mrs。 Simpkins。 'I said
last night that I should see her to…morrow；' he reflected； 'but that
was not to be！'
Next day he had better fortune； or worse； meeting her at the foot of
the stairs in the morning； and being favoured by a visit or two from
her during the dayonce for the purpose of making kindly inquiries
about his comfort； as on the first evening； and at another time to
place a bunch of winter…violets on his table； with a promise to
renew them when they drooped。 On these occasions there was
something in her smile which showed how conscious she was of the
effect she produced； though it must be said that it was rather a
humorous than a designing consciousness； and savoured more of pride
than of vanity。
As for Stockdale； he clearly perceived that he possessed unlimited
capacity for backsliding； and wished that tutelary saints were not
denied to Dissenters。 He set a watch upon his tongue and eyes for
the space of one hour and a half； after which he found it was
useless to struggle further； and gave himself up to the situation。
'The other minister will be here in a month；' he said to himself
when sitting over the fire。 'Then I shall be off； and she will
distract my mind no more！ 。 。 。 And then； shall I go on living by
myself for ever？ No； when my two years of probation are finished； I
shall have a furnished house to live in； with a varnished door and a
brass knocker； and I'll march straight back to her； and ask her
flat； as soon as the last plate is on the dresser！
Thus a titillating fortnight was passed by young Stockdale； during
which time things proceeded much as such matters have done ever
since the beginning of history。 He saw the object of attachment
several times one day； did not see her at all the next； met her when
he least expected to do so； missed her when hints and signs as to
where she should be at a given hour almost amounted to an
appointment。 This mild coquetry was perhaps fair enough under the
circumstances of their being so closely lodged； and Stockdale put up
with it as philosophically as he was able。 Being in her own house；
she could； after vexing him or disappointing him of her presence；
easily win him back by suddenly surrounding him with those little
attentions which her position as his landlady put it in her power to
bestow。 When he had waited indoors half the day to see her； and on
finding that she would not be seen； had gone off in a huff to the
dreariest and dampest walk he could discover； she would restore
equilibrium in the evening with 'Mr。 Stockdale； I have fancied you
must feel draught o' nights from your bedroom window； and so I have
been putting up thicker curtains this afternoon while you were out；'
or； 'I noticed that you sneezed twice again this morning； Mr。
Stockdale。 Depend upon it that cold is hanging about you yet； I am
sure it isI have thought of it continually； and you must let me
make a posset for you。'
Sometimes in coming home he found his sitting…room rearranged；
chairs placed where the table had stood； and the table ornamented
with the few fresh flowers and leaves that could be obtained at this
season； so as to add a novelty to the room。 At times she would be
standing on a chair outside the house； trying to nail up a branch of
the monthly rose which the winter wind had blown down； and of course
he stepped forward to assist her； when their hands got mixed in
passing the shreds and nails。 Thus they became friends again after
a disagreement。 She would utter on these occasions some pretty and
deprecatory remark on the necessity of her troubling him anew； and
he would straightway say that he would do a hundred times as much
for her if she should so require。
CHAPTER IIHOW HE SAW TWO OTHER MEN
Matters being in this advancing state； Stockdale was rather
surprised one cloudy evening； while sitting in his room； at hearing
her speak in low tones of expostulation to some one at the door。 It
was nearly dark； but the shutters were not yet closed； nor the
candles lighted； and Stockdale was tempted to stretch his head
towards the window。 He saw outside the door a young man in clothes
of a whitish colour； and upon reflection judged their wearer to be
the well…built and rather handsome miller who lived below。 The
miller's voice was alternately low and firm； and sometimes it
reached the level of positive entreaty； but what the words were
Stockdale could in no way hear。
Before the colloquy had ended； the minister's attention was
attracted by a second incident。 Opposite Lizzy's home grew a clump
of laurels； forming a thick and permanent shade。 One of the laurel
boughs now quivered against the light background of sky； and in a
moment the head of a man peered out； and remained still。 He seemed
to be also much interested in the conversation at the door； and was
plainly lingering there to watch and listen。 Had Stockdale stood in
any other relation to Lizzy than that of a lover； he might have gone
out and investigated the meaning of this： but being as yet but an
unprivileged ally； he did nothing more than stand up and show
himself against the firelight； whereupon the listener disappeared；
and Lizzy and the miller spoke in lower tones。
Stockdale was made so uneasy by the circumstance； that as soon as
the miller was gone； he said； 'Mrs。 Newberry； are you aware that you
were watched just now； and your conversation heard？'
'When？' she said。
'When you were talking to that miller。 A man was looking from the
laurel…tree as jealously as if he could have eaten you。'
She showed more concern than the trifling event seemed to demand；
and he added； 'Perhaps you were talking of things you did not wish
to be overheard？'
'I was talking only on business；' she