On all these subjects they were comfortable
and confidential,--Miss Boncassen's name never having been as yet
so much as mentioned.
But still the real work was before her. She had not hoped to bring
him round to kneel once more at her feet by such gentle measures
as these. She had not dared to dream that he could in this way be
taught to forget the past autumn and all its charms. She knew well
that there was something very difficult before her. But, if that
difficult thing might be done at all, these were the preparations
which must be made for the doing of it.
It was arranged that she should leave Matching on Saturday, the
first day of the new year. Things had gone on in the manner
described till the Thursday had come. The Duke had been impatient
but had restrained himself. He had seen that they were much
together and that they were apparently friends. He had told
himself that there were two more days, and that before the end of
those days everything might be pleasantly settled!
It had become a matter of course that Silverbridge and Mabel
should walk together in the afternoon.
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