would be so happy. She spoke with scorn of a woman clinging to a
tree like ivy; and yet, were she once married, no woman would cling
to her husband with sweeter feminine tenacity than Bessy Garrow. He
spoke no further word to her as he walked home, but in handing her
down to the ferry-boat he pressed her hand. For a second it seemed
as though she had returned this pressure. If so, the action was
involuntary, and her hand instantly resumed its stiffness to his
touch.

It was late that night when Major Garrow went to his bedroom, but
his wife was still up, waiting for him. "Well," said she, "what has
he said to you? He has been with you above an hour."

"Such stories are not very quickly told; and in this case it was
necessary to understand him very accurately. At length I think I do
understand him."

It is not necessary to repeat at length all that was said on that
night between Major and Mrs. Garrow, as to the offer which had now
for a third time been made to their daughter. On that evening,
after the ladies had gone, and when the two boys had taken
themselves off, Godfrey Holmes told his tale to his host, and had
honestly explained to him what he believed to be the state of his
daughter's feelings. "Now you know all," said he. "I do believe
that she loves me, and if she does, perhaps she may still listen to
you." Major Garrow did not feel sure that he "knew it all." But
when he had fully discussed the matter that night with his wife,
then he thought that perhaps he had arrived at that knowledge.

On the following morning Bessy learned from the maid, at an early