iage.Jamessethimselftotalk,askingherinsignificantquestionsaboutthepeopleshevisited.Maryansweredwithfeelingandatlength,butwasinterruptedbyarrivingatacottage.
"You'dbetternotcomeinhere,"shesaid,blushingslightly"althoughIwanttotakeyouintosomeofthepeople.Ithinkitwillbealessontothem."
"Alessoninwhat?"
"Oh,Ican'ttellyoutoyourface,Idon'twanttomakeyouconceitedbutyoucanguesswhileyou'rewaitingforme."
Mary'spatientwasabouttobeconfined,andthinkingherconditionratherindecent,quiterightly,MaryhadleftJamesoutside.Butthegoodlady,sinceitwasallinthewayofnature,wasnotsoashamedofherselfassheshouldhavebeen,andinsistedoncomingtothedoortoshowMissClibbornout.
"Takecarehedoesn'tseeyou!"criedMaryinalarm,pushingherback.
"Well,there'snoharminit.I'mamarriedwoman.You'llhavetogothroughityourselfoneday,miss."
Maryrejoinedherlover,suffusedinblushes,hopinghehadseennothing.
"It'sverydifficulttoteachthesepeoplepropriety.Somehowthelowerclassesseemtohavenosenseofdecency."
"What'sthematter?"
"Oh,nothingIcantellyou,"repliedMary,modestly.Then,toturntheconversation:"Sheaskedaftermyyoungman,andwasveryanxioustoseeyou."
"Wasshe?Howdidsheknowyouhadayoungman?"askedJames,grimly.
"Oh,everyoneknowsthat!Youcan'tkeepsecretsinPrimpton.Andbesides,I'mnotashamedofit.Areyou?"
"Ihaven'tgotayoungman."
Marylaughed.
Theywalkedon.Themorningwascrispandbright,sendingahealthycolourthroughMary'scheeks.Theblueskyandthebracingairmadeherfeelmoreself-reliant,betterassuredthaneverofheruprightpurposeandhercandidheart.Theroad,firmunderfootanddelightfultowalkupon,stretchedbeforetheminasinuousline.Apleasantodourcamefromtheadjoiningfields,fromthefarm-yards,astheypassedthemthelarkssoaredsingingwithhappyheart,whilethesparrowschirrupedinthehedges.Thehawthornwasburstingintoleaf,allbrightandgreen,an