AFewdayslaterMarywassurprisedtoreceivealittlenotefromMr.Dryland:
"MyDearMissClibborn,—WithsometrepidationItakeupmypentoaddressyouonamatterwhich,tomeatleast,isoftheverygreatestimportance.Wehavesomanysympathiesincommonthatmymeaningwillhardlyescapeyou.Idaresayyouwillfindmydiffidenceridiculous,but,underthecircumstances,Ithinkitisnotunpardonable.ItwillbenonewstoyouwhenIconfessthatIamanexceptionallyshyman,andthatmustbemyexcuseinsendingyouthisletter.Inshort,IwishtoaskyoutograntmeabriefinterviewwehavesofewopportunitiesofseeingoneanotherinprivatethatIcanfindnooccasionofsayingtoyouwhatIwish.Indeed,foralongperiodmydutyhasmadeitnecessaryformetocrushmyinclination.Now,however,thatthingshavetakenadifferentturn,Iventure,asIsaid,toaskyoutogivemeafewminutes'conversation.—Iam,mydearMissClibborn,yourverysincere,
ThomasDryland.
"P.S.—IopenthislettertosaythatIhavejustmetyourfatherontheGreen,whotellsmethatheandMrs.ClibbornaregoingintoTunbridgeWellsthisafternoon.Unless,therefore,Ihearfromyoutothecontrary,Ishall(D.V.)presentmyselfatyourhouseat3p.m."
"Whatcanhewanttoseemeabout?"exclaimedMary,thetruthoccurringtoheronlytobechasedawayasapieceofegregiousvanity.ItwasmorereasonabletosupposethatMr.Drylandhadonhandsomecharitableschemeinwhichhedesiredhertotakepart.
"Anyhow,"shethoughtphilosophically,"IsupposeIshallknowwhenhecomes."
Atoneandthesamemomentthechurchclockstruckthree,andMr.DrylandrangtheClibborns'bell.
Hecameintothedining-roominhisbestcoat,hishonestredfaceshiningwithsoap,andwithaconsciousnessthathewasabouttoperformanheroicdeed.
"Thisiskindofyou,MissClibborn!Doyouknow,Ifearedtheservantwasgoingtosayyouwere'notathome.'"
"Oh,IneverlethersaythatwhenI'min.Mammadoesn'tthinkitwrong,butonecan'tdenythatit'sanuntruth."
"Whatabeautifulcharacteryouhave!"criedthecurate,withenthusiasm.
"I'mafraidIhaven'treallybutIliketobetruthful."
"Wereyousurprisedtor