But this time I was not long alone. It struck me, first, as very odd, that just as I was thinking about Mr. Weston he should come up and accost me; but afterwards, on due reflection, I thought there was nothing odd about it, unless it were the fact of his speaking to me; for on such a morning and so near his own abode, it was natural enough that he should be about; and as for my thinking of him, I had been doing that, with little intermission, ever since we set out on our journey; so there was nothing remarkable in that. “You are alone again, Miss Grey,” said he. “Yes.” “What kind of people are those ladies—the Misses Green?” “I really don’t know.” “That’s strange—when you live so near and see them so often!” “Well, I suppose they are lively, good-tempered girls; but I imagine you must know them better than I do, yourself, for I never exchanged a word with either of them.” “Indeed? They don’t strike me as being particularly reserved.” “Very likely they are not so to people of their own class; but they consider themselves as moving in quite a different sphere from me!” He made no reply to this: but after a short pause, he said,—“I suppose it’s these things, Miss Grey, that make you think you could not live without a home?” “Not exactly. The fact is I am too socially disposed to be able to live contentedly without a friend; and as the only friends I have, or am likely to have, are at home, if it—or rather, if they were gone—I will not say I could not live—but I would rather not live in such a desolate world.” “But why do you say the only friends you are likely to have? Are you so unsociable that you cannot make friends?” “No, but I never made one yet; and in my present position there is no possibility of doing so, or even of forming a common acquaintance. The fault may be partly in myself, but I hope not altogether.” “The fault is partly in society, and partly, I should think, in your immediate neighbours: and partly, too, in yourself; for many ladies, in your position, would make themselves be noticed and accounted of. But your pupils should be companions for you in some degree; they cannot be many years younger than yourself.” “Oh, yes, they are good company sometimes; but I cannot call them friends, nor would they think of bestowing such a name on me—they have other companions better suited to their tastes.” “Perhaps you are too wise for them. How do you amuse yourself when alone—do you read much?” “Reading is my favourite occupation, when I have leisure for it and books to read.”