Geoffrey, in his desire for unrestrained converse with his friend, had led him away from the town, by a winding road that ascended a gentle hill; a wooded hill covered with richest green sward, whence they looked downward on the gentlemanlike town of Stillmington, with its white villas and spotless streets and close-cut lawns and weedless flower-beds, over which the sister spirits of order and prosperity spread their protecting wings. The respectable family hotel proudly dominated the smaller tenements of the High-street, its well-kept garden gaudy with geraniums, its fountain spirting mildly in the sunset. ‘Come along, old fellow,’ said Geoffrey; ‘it was rather too bad of me to forget how far you’d travelled. I’ve ordered dinner for eight sharp; and hark, the clock of Stillmington parish church proclaims half-past seven, just time enough to get rid of the dust of the journey before we sit down. And after—’ ‘After dinner,’ said Lucius, ‘I’ll write to Mrs. Bertram.’ ‘Then by Apollo, as old Lear says, I’ll deliver the letter to-night. I couldn’t afford to sleep upon it. My courage would evaporate, like Bob Acres’s, before morning.’ Thus, with simulated lightness, spoke the lover, while strange doubts and gnawing fears consumed his heart. END OF VOL. I. LONDON: ROBSON AND SONS, PRINTERS, PANCRAS ROAD, N.W. Transcriber’s Notes pg 2 Changed: It is December, the bleakest, deariest month to: It is December, the bleakest, dreariest month pg 14 Changed: torn moosekin shoes upon his feet to: torn mooseskin shoes upon his feet pg 113 Changed: a cabinet in Forentine mosaic to: a cabinet in Florentine mosaic pg 236 Changed: hope and fear during the ast few days to: hope and fear during the last few days pg 294 Changed: Like the chamelion, he changes colour to: Like the chameleon, he changes colour pg 300 Changed: So be it, my weestest. to: So be it, my sweetest. pg 302 Changed: she praised with fondest enthusiam to: she praised with fondest enthusiasm