“Less lonely!” replied she, with a haughty laugh; “what companionship or society have I with people like these? It is not that,--it is my poverty compels me to live here. Of them and of their habits I know nothing; from me and from mine they take good care to keep aloof. No, with your leave I will visit Lady Eleanor at your cottage,--that is, if she has no objection to receive me.” “She will be but too happy,” said Darcy, “to know and value one of her husband's oldest and warmest friends.” “You must not expect me soon, however,” said she, hastily; “I have grown capricious in everything, and never can answer for performing a pledge at any stated time, and therefore never make one.” Abrupt and sudden as had been the changes of her voice and manner through this interview, there was a tone of unusual harshness in the way this speech was uttered; and as Darcy rose to take his leave, a feeling of sadness came over him to think that this frame of mind must have been the slow result of years of heart-consuming sorrow. “Whenever you come, Maria,” said he, as he took her hand in his, “you will be most welcome to us.” “Have you heard any tidings of Forester?” said Miss Daly, as if suddenly recalling a subject she wished to speak on. “Forester of the Guards? Lionel's friend, do you mean?” “Yes; you know that he has left the army, thrown up his commission, and gone no one knows where?” “I did not know of that before. I am sincerely sorry for it. Is the cause surmised?” Miss Daly made no answer, but stood with her eyes bent on the ground, and apparently in deep thought; then looking up suddenly, she said, with more composure than ordinary, “Make my compliments to Lady Eleanor, and say that at the first favorable moment I will pay my personal respects to her--kiss Helen for me--good-bye.” And, without waiting for Darcy to take his leave, she walked hastily by, and closed the door after her. “This wayward manner,” said Darcy, sorrowfully, to himself, “has a deeper root than mere capriciousness; the heart has suffered so long that the mind begins to partake of the decay.” And with this sad reflection he left the village, and turned his solitary steps towards home.