Ididnotraisemyeyes，butIsupposemammalooked，foraclear，melodiousvoice，whosetonesthrilledthroughmynerves，exclaimed——
　　`Oh，aunt！here’sMr。Markham——Arthur’sfriend！——Stop，Richard！’
　　Therewassuchevidenceofjoyousthoughsuppressedexcitementintheutteranceofthosefewwords——especiallythattremulous，`Oh，aunt——’
　　thatitthrewmealmostoffmyguard。Thecarriagestoppedimmediately，andIlookedupandmettheeyeofapale，grave，elderlyladysurveyingmefromtheopenwindow。ShebowedandsodidI，andthenshewithdrewherhead，whileArthurscreamedtothefootmantolethimout；butbeforethatfunctionarycoulddescendfromhisbox，ahandwassilentlyputforthfromthecarriagewindow。Iknewthathand，thoughablackgloveconcealeditsdelicatewhitenessandhalfitsfairproportions，andquicklyseizingit，Ipresseditinmyown——ardentlyforamoment，butinstantlyrecollectingmyself，Idroppedit，anditwasimmediatelywithdrawn。
　　`Wereyoucomingtoseeus，oronlypassingby？’askedthelowvoiceofitsowner，who，Ifelt，wasattentivelysurveyingmycountenancefrombehindthethick，blackveilwhichwiththeshadowingpanels，entirelyconcealedherownfromme。
　　`I——Icametoseetheplace，’falteredI。
　　`Theplace，’repeatedshe，inatonewhichbetokenedmoredispleasureordisappointmentthansurprise。`Willyounotenteritthen？’
　　`Ifyouwishit。’
　　`Canyoudoubt？’
　　`Yes，yes！hemustenter，’criedArthurrunningroundfromtheotherdoor；andseizingmyhandinbothhis，heshookitheartily。
　　`Doyourememberme，sir？’saidhe。
　　`Yes，fullwell，mylittleman，alteredthoughyouare，’repliedI，surveyingthecomparativelytall，slimyounggentlemanwithhismother’simagevisiblystampeduponhisfair，intelligentfeatures，inspiteoftheblueeyesbeamingwithgladness，andthebrightlocksclusteringbeneathhiscap。
　　`AmInotgrown？’saidhe，stretchinghimselfuptohisfullheight。
　　`Grown！threeinchesuponmyword！’
　　`Iwassevenlastbirthday，’wastheproudrejoinder。`Insevenyearsmore，Ishallbeastallasyou，nearly。’
　　`Arthur，’saidhismother，`tellhimtocomein。GoonRichard。’
　　Therewasatouchofsadnessaswellascoldnessinhervoice，butIknewnottowhattoascribeit。Thecarriagedroveonandenteredthegatesbeforeus。Mylittlecompanionledmeupthepark，discoursingmerrilyalltheway。ArrivedattheHalldoor，Ipausedonthestepsandlookedroundme，waitingtorecovermycomposure，ifpossible——oratanyrate，toremembermynew-formedresolutionsandtheprinciplesonwhichtheywerefounded；anditwasnottillArthurhadbeenforsometimegentlypullingmycoat，andrepeatinghisinvitationstoenter，thatIatlengthconsentedtoaccompanyhimintotheapartmentwheretheladiesawaitedus。
　　HeleneyedmeasIenteredwithakindofgentle，seriousscrutinyandpolitelyaskedafterMrs。MarkhamandRose。Irespectfullyansweredherenquiries。Mrs。Maxwellbeggedmetobeseated，observingitwasrathercold，butshesupposedIhadnottravelledfarthatmorning。
　　`Notquitetwentymiles，’Ianswered。
　　`Notonfoot！’
　　`No，Madam，bycoach。’
　　`Here’sRachel，sir，’saidArthur，theonlytrulyhappyoneamongstus，directingmyattentiontothatworthyindividual，whohadjustenteredtotakehermistress’sthings。Shevouchsafedmeanalmostfriendlysmileofrecognitionsfavourthatdemanded，atleast，acivilsalutationonmypart，whichwasaccordinglygivenandrespectivelyreturned——shehadseentheerrorofherformerestimationofmycharacter。
　　WhenHelenwasdivestedofherlugubriousbonnetandveil，herheavywintercloak&；c。shelookedsolikeherselfthatIknewnothowtobearit。Iwasparticularlygladtoseeherbeautifulblackhairunstintedstillandunconcealedinitsglossyluxuriance。
　　`Mammahasleftoffherwidow’scapinhonourofuncle’smarriage，’
　　observedArthur，readingmylookswithachild’smingledsimplicityandquicknessofobservation。MammalookedgraveandMrs。Maxwellshookherhead。`AndauntMaxwellisnevergoingtoleaveoffhers，’persistedthenaughtyboy；butwhenhesawthathispertnesswasseriouslydispleasingandpainfultohisaunt，hewentandsilentlyputhisarmroundherneck，kissedhercheek，andwithdrewtotherecessofoneofthegreatbaywindows，wherehequietlyamusedhimselfwithhisdogwhileMrs。Maxwellgravelydiscussedwithmetheinterestingtopicsoftheweather，theseason，andtheroads。Iconsideredherpresenceveryusefulasacheckuponmynaturalimpulses——anantidotetothoseemotionsoftumultuousexcitementwhichwouldotherwisehavecarriedmeawayagainstmyreasonandmywill，butjustthenIfelttherestraintalmostintolerable，andIhadthegreatestdifficultyinforcingmyselftoattendtoherremarksandanswerthemwithordinarypoliteness；forIwassensiblethatHelenwasstandingwithinafewfeetofmebesidethefire。Idarednotlookather，butIfelthereyewasuponme，andfromonehasty，furtiveglance，Ithoughthercheekwasslightlyflushed，andthatherfingers，assheplayedwithherwatchchain，wereagitatedwiththatrestless，tremblingmotionwhichbetokenshighexcitement。
　　`Tellme，’saidshe，availingherselfofthefirstpauseintheattemptedconversationbetweenherauntandme，andspeakingfastandlowwithhereyesbentonthegoldchain——forInowventuredanotherglance——`TellmehowyouallareatLindenhope？——hasnothinghappenedsinceIleftyou？’
　　`Ibelievenot。’
　　`Nobodydead？nobodymarried？’
　　`No。’
　　`Or——orexpectingtomarry？——Nooldtiesdissolvedornewonesformed？nooldfriendsforgottenorsupplanted？’
　　Shedroppedhervoicesolowinthelastsentencethatnoonecouldhavecaughttheconcludingwordsbutmyself，andatthesametimeturnedhereyesuponmewithadawningsmile，mostsweetlymelancholy，andalookoftimidthoughkeenenquirythatmademycheekstinglewithinexpressibleemotions。
　　`Ibelievenot，’Ianswered——`Certainlynot，ifothersareaslittlechangedasI。’Herfaceglowedinsympathywithmine。
　　`Andyoureallydidnotmeantocall？’sheexclaimed。
　　`Ifearedtointrude。’
　　`Tointrude！’criedshewithanimpatientgesture——`What’——butasifsuddenlyrecollectingheraunt’spresence，shecheckedherselfandturningtothatladycontinued——`Whyaunt，thismanismybrother’sclosefriendandwasmyownintimateacquaintanceforafewshortmonthsatleast，andprofessedagreatattachmenttomyboy——andwhenhepassesthehouse，somanyscoresofmilesfromhishome，hedeclinestolookinforfearofintruding！’
　　`Mr。Markhamisovermodest，’observedMrs。Maxwell。
　　`Overceremoniousrather，’saidherniece——`over——well，it’snomatter。’Andturningfromme，sheseatedherselfinachairbesidethetable，andpullingabooktoherbythecover，begantoturnovertheleavesinanenergetickindofabstraction。
　　`IfIhadknown，’saidI，`thatyouwouldhavehonouredmebyrememberingmeasanintimateacquaintance，Imostlikelyshouldnothavedeniedmyselfthepleasureofcallinguponyou，butIthoughtyouhadforgottenmelongago。’
　　`Youjudgedofothersbyyourself，’mutteredshewithoutraisinghereyesfromthebook，butreddeningasshespokeandhastilyturningoveradozenleavesatonce。
　　TherewasapauseofwhichArthurthoughthemightventuretoavailhimselftointroducehishandsomeyoungsetterandshowmehowwonderfullyitwasgrownandimproved，andtoaskafterthewelfareofitsfatherSancho。
　　Mrs。Maxwellthenwithdrewtotakeoffherthings。Helenimmediatelypushedthebookfromherandaftersilentlysurveyingherson，hisfriend，andhisdogforafewmoments，shedismissedtheformerfromtheroomunderpretenceofwishinghimtofetchhislastnewbooktoshewme。Thechildobeyedwithalacrity；butIcontinuedcaressingthedog。Thesilencemighthavelastedtillitsmaster’sreturnhaditdependedonmetobreakit，but，inhalfaminuteorless，myhostessimpatientlyrose，andtakingherformerstationontherugbetweenmeandthechimneycorner，earnestlyexclaimed——
　　`Gilbert，whatisthematterwithyou？——whyareyousochanged？——ItisaveryindiscreetquestionIknow，’shehastenedtoadd：`perhaps，averyrudeone——don’tansweritifyouthinkso——outIhatemysteriesandconcealments。’
　　`Iamnotchanged——Helen——unfortunatelyIamaskeenandpassionateasever——itisnotI，itiscircumstancesthatarechanged。’
　　`Whatcircumstances？Dotellme！’Hercheekwasblanchedwiththeveryanguishofanxiety——coulditbewiththefearthatIhadrashlypledgedmyfaithtoanother？
　　`I’lltellyouatonce，’saidI。`IwillconfessthatIcamehereforthepurposeofseeingyounotwithoutsomemonitorymisgivingsatmyownpresumption，andfearsthatIshouldbeaslittlewelcomeasexpectedwhenIcame，butIdidnotknowthatthisestatewasyours，untilenlightenedonthesubjectofyourinheritancebytheconversationoftwofellowpassengersinthelaststageofmyjourney；andthen，IsawatoncethefollyofthehopesIhadcherishedandthemadnessofretainingthemamomentlonger；
　　andthoughIalightedatyourgates，Ideterminednottoenterwithinthem；
　　Ilingeredafewminutestoseetheplace，butwasfullyresolvedtoreturntoM——withoutseeingitsmistress。’
　　`AndifmyauntandIhadnotbeenjustreturningfromourmorningdrive，Ishouldhaveseenandheardnomoreofyou？’
　　`Ithoughtitwouldbebetterforboththatweshouldnotmeet，’
　　repliedIascalmlyasIcould，butnotdaringtospeakabovemybreathfromconsciousinabilitytosteadymyvoice，andnotdaringtolookinherfacelestmyfirmnessshouldforsakemealtogether：`Ithoughtaninterviewwouldonlydisturbyourpeaceandmaddenme。ButIamglad，now，ofthisopportunityofseeingyouoncemoreandknowingthatyouhavenotforgottenme，andofassuringyouthatIshallneverceasetorememberyou。’
　　Therewasamoment’spause。Mrs。Huntingdonmovedaway，andstoodintherecessofthewindow。Didsheregardthisasanintimationthatmodestyalonepreventedmefromaskingherhand？andwassheconsideringhowtorepulsemewiththesmallestinjurytomyfeelings？BeforeIcouldspeaktorelieveherfromsuchaperplexity，shebrokethesilenceherselfbysuddenlyturningtowardsmeandobserving`Youmighthavehadsuchanopportunitybefore——asfarImeanasregardsassuringmeofyourkindlyrecollections，andyourselfofmine，ifyouhadwrittentome。’
　　`Iwouldhavedoneso，butIdidnotknowyouraddress，anddidnotliketoaskyourbrother，becauseIthoughthewouldobjecttomywriting——butthiswouldnothavedeterredmeforamoment，ifIcouldhaveventuredtobelievethatyouexpectedtohearfromme，orevenwastedathoughtuponyourunhappyfriend；butyoursilencenaturallyledmetoconcludemyselfforgotten。
　　`Didyouexpectmetowritetoyouthen？’
　　`No，Helen——Mrs。Huntingdon，’saidI，blushingattheimpliedimputation，`certainlynot；butifyouhadsentmeamessagethroughyourbrother，orevenaskedhimaboutmenowandthen——’
　　`Ididaskaboutyou，frequently。Iwasnotgoingtodomore，’
　　continuedshe，smiling，`solongasyoucontinuedtorestrictyourselftoafewpoliteenquiriesaboutmyhealth。’
　　`Yourbrothernevertoldmethatyouhadmentionedmyname。
　　`Didyoueveraskhim？’
　　`No；forIsawhedidnotwishtobequestionedaboutyou，ortoaffordtheslightestencouragementorassistancetomytooobstinateattachment。’Helendidnotreply。`Andhewasperfectlyright，’addedI。
　　Butsheremainedinsilencelookingoutuponthesnowylawn。`Oh，Iwillrelieveherofmypresence！’thoughtI；andimmediatelyIroseandadvancedtotakeleave，withamostheroicresolution——butpridewasatthebottomofit，oritcouldnothavecarriedmethrough。
　　`Areyougoingalready？’saidshe，takingthehandIoffered，andnotimmediatelylettingitgo。
　　`WhyshouldIstayanylonger？’
　　`WaittillArthurcomes，atleast。’
　　Onlytoogladtoobey，Istoodandleantagainsttheoppositesideofthewindow。
　　`Youtoldmeyouwerenotchanged，’saidmycompanion：youare——verymuchso。’
　　`No，Mrs。Huntingdon，Ionlyoughttobe。’
　　`Doyoumeantomaintainthatyouhavethesameregardformethatyouhadwhenlastwemet？’