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88 be prudent on her part. The traces of her tears were still there; and she well knew that a very little, the slightest show of tenderness on his part, the slightest effort on her own to appear indifferent, would bring down more than one other such intruder. It would, moreover, be better for her to drop all outward sign that she remembered what had taken place. So long, then, as he and she were at Greshamsbury together, he should call her Mary if he pleased. He would soon be gone; and while he remained, she would keep out of his way.

'Your uncle has been obliged to go away to see an old woman at Silverbridge.'

'At Silverbridge! why, he won't be back all night. Why could not the old woman send for Dr. Century?'

'I suppose she thought two old women could not get on well together.'

Mary could not help smiling. She did not like her uncle going off so late on such a journey; but it was always felt as a triumph when he was invited into the strongholds of his enemies.

'And Janet is to come over for you. However, I told him it was quite unnecessary to disturb another old woman, for that I should of course see you home.'

'Oh, no, Mr. Gresham; indeed you'll not do that.'

'Indeed, and indeed, I shall.'

'What! on this great day, when every lady is looking for you, and talking of you. I suppose you want to set the countess against me for ever. Think, too, how angry Lady Arabella will be if you are absent on such an errand as this.'

'To hear you talk, Mary, one would think that you were going to Silverbridge yourself.'

'Perhaps I am.'

'If I did not go with you, some of the other fellows would. John, or George—'

'Good gracious, Frank! Fancy either of the Mr. De Courcys walking home with me!'

She had forgotten herself, and the strict propriety on which she had resolved, in the impossibility of foregoing her little joke against the De Courcy grandeur; she had forgotten herself, and had called him Frank in her old, former, eager, free tone of voice; and then, remembering she had done so, she drew herself up, bit her lips, and determined to be doubly on her guard for the future.

'Well, it shall be either one of them or I,' said Frank: 'perhaps you would prefer my cousin George to me?'

'I should prefer Janet to either, seeing that with her I should not suffer the extreme nuisance of knowing that I was a bore.'