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SECREtS are rarely betrayed or discovered according to any programme our fear c. Fear is almost alerrible dramatic scenes, argued probabilities against t Maggie on y of discovery inually presented itself under ting om one of t likely events; but it most completely symbolised indirect suggestions ly trivial coincidences and incalculable states of mind are te mac, but are not tuff in to ainly one of t roubling t Pullet, on Oggs, and empered, it Glegg. And yet tality - tning - Pullet. S live at St Oggs, but t te t by wered.
ter Maggies last meeting o appear in funereal -band and scarf at St Oggs c made ter Glegg, and taking tea er tulliver. Sunday om ernoon; and today ter spirits e ation, `Come, Magsie, you come too! o see tter pleased ic; ting rat er oday tness in y to an under-current of excitement, ; but it might pass for a sign of happiness.
`You look very Pullet, s round tea-table. `I niver t your girl ud be so good-looking Bessy. But you must blue t Glegg gave you turns you into a croasty. you gown o mine?
`Its so pretty and so smart, aunt. I ts too s least for my ot I must .
`to be sure it ud be unbecoming if it to you, as can afford to give you suc stands to reason I must give my o. And as for Lucy, to everyt: sister Deane may ull carry s oday.
`A - isnt ulliver.
` a collar on tinued Mrs Pullet, ing manner, `as I dont say I got as good, but I must look out my best to matc.
`Miss Lucys called t Oggs, ts a curous , on ymology sometimes fell .
`Pooulliver, jealous for Maggie, `S muc fine feato admire so mucive oproportion. size - neitoo little nor too big.
ty, smiled complacently.
`But t all big, said uncle Pullet, not some self-reference. `A young fello not be a six-foot, like Mr tom here.
`As poor talking about littleness and bigness, - anybody may ts a mercy traig Pullet. `t mis-made son o Lao ty o like muc rees and brambles at the Red Deeps.
tatement, by ed t t s indicated, produced an effect on Maggie om sate opposite ensely anxious to look indifferent. At Pant from consciousness, until tion of t rayed, and s even ea-spoon lest srembled. S able, not daring to look round. ed on t, and could not see stooping for relief, turning tion - for Mrs tulliver oms, but urned ao bed t nig - per ion of akem before erpretation on it. to o endure t ed to ence recognised by ot of sensitiveness in .
But tom oo keen-sigo rest satisfied erpretation: tinct from anxiety about rying to recall all tails t could give so ely , and bringing ill tom, retaining all y, stributing to er ty of feeling more terest in sucunate exception to toms ure itious repugnance to everytional. A love for a deformed man er intolerable. But if sercourse op must be put to it at once; srongest feelings and meetings. morning in t cate of mind ordinary course of to pregnant coincidences.
t afternoon, about tom anding on talking ty of ts ant to bothem.
`Eically, as crooked young akem - I knohe river.
A sudden t seemed to ed toms mind. `I must go, Bob, o attend to, o t notice for some one to take ory business.
test pace and test road took o te, and o pen it deliberately t o t composure, t door in bonnet and sure e. Sarted violently when she saw him.
`tom, you are come ter? Maggie spoke in a loremulous voice.
`Im come to o t Pom, tral fold in ual h him, deepening as he spoke.
Maggie stood om kne last, s going, and turned round.
`Yes, you are; but I to speak to you first. her?
`Out on horseback.
`And my mother?
`In try.
`I can go in, t her seeing me?
togetom entering to Maggie, `Come in here.
She door behind her.
`Noell me tant everyt ween you and Philip akem.
`Does my fatill trembling.
`No, said tom, indignantly. `But tempt to use deceit toher.
`I dont , said Maggie, fluso resentment at o .
`tell me truthen.
`Per.
`Never mind . tell me exactly w hing.
`I tell it for my fathen.
`Yes, it becomes you to profess affection for your fatrongest feelings.
`You never do om, said Maggie, tauntingly.
`Not if I kno, ansom, y. `But I o say to you, beyound tell me he Red Deeps?
`A year ago, said Maggie, quietly. toms severity gave ain fund of defiance, and kept ions. e and ogeten. me books.
`Is t all? said tom, looking straig h his frown.
Maggie paused a moment: termined to make an end of toms rigo accuse , sily,
`No, not quite all. On Saturday old me t t before t of him as an old friend.
`And you encouraged om, .
`I told I loved oo.
tom a fes, looking on ts. At last, he looked up, and said, coldly,
`No to take: eito me you e ell my fations be made you are a disobedient, deceitful daugability by clandestine meetings o ruin om ended o t for at ting was.
It ive to Maggie.
`tom, s of pride into pleading, `dont ask me t. I o give up all intercourse me see e to o give it up as long as it o my fatoo. happy.
`I dont her should come in.
`If I give you my rong a bond to me, as if I require t to bind me.
`Do om. `I cant trust you, Maggie. tency in you. Put your ;I renounce all private speecercourse ime fort; Else you ing myself and giving up everyts - if you are to bring madness and vexation on w be easy and hold up his head once more?
`O tom - s be paid soon? said Maggie, clasping chedness.
`If turn out as I expect, said tom. `But, rembling ion, ` my fatability of our family - you o destroy both.
Maggie felt a deep movement of compunction: for t, o contend against o be cruel and unreasonable, and in ified her.
`tom, s I was so lonely - and I was sorry for Py and red are wicked.
`Nonsense! said tom. `Your duty old you.
`I must speak to Philip once more.
`You o him.
`I give you my to meet e to your kno is t my he Bible if you like.
`Say it then.
Maggie laid and repeated tom closed t us go.
Not a icipation of o suffer, and dreading t s it o attempt anyt submission. tom errible clutc dread: srable truter o , and yet it as unfair from its incompleteness. tus of ion diverted toter severity of t to do ty of a son and a brotom given to inquire subtly into ives, any more to otters of an intangible kind; e sure t ives as ions hem.
Maggies only somet for t time ed P get toms permission to e to beat under tc moment of suspense, s, P er s beyond t tered turning, and t botom and Popped suddenly s silence in Maggies face. ed lips, and terrified tension of tion ally beyond an immediate impression, sarong brotrampling on him.
`Do you call ting t of a man and a gentleman, sir? tom said in a voice of urned on him again.
` do you mean? answered Pily.
`Mean? Stand fart I sell you aking advantage of a young girls fooliso get o meetings o trifle ability of a family t name to support.
`I deny t! interrupted Puously. `I could never trifle affected your sisters o me to you - I o her.
`Dont talk o me, sir! Do you mean to pretend t you didnt kno o o meet you er end you to make professions of love to to a marriage beto try and o tions of a eig out from tunes! ts your crooked notion of ? I call it base treac taking advantage of circumstances to oo good for you - by fair means.
`It is manly of you to talk in to me, said Pterly, emotions. `Giants to stupidity and insolent abuse. You are incapable even of understanding er. I feel so muc I could even desire to be at friendsh you.
`I so understand your feelings, said tom, empt. ` I I sake care of my sister, and t if you dare to make t attempt to come near o e to o keep test ougo some modesty into your mind, s protect you. Ill to public scorn. laug turning lover to a fine girl?
`tom, I bear it - I en no longer, Maggie burst out in a convulsed voice.
`Stay, Maggie! said Prong effort to speak. t tom, `You er sand by me. turally seemed to you t means to influence me. But you are mistaken. Let your sister speak. If so give me up, I so test word.
`It om tens to tell my fat bear it - I ercourse my brothers knowledge.
`It is enoug c I trust me - remember t I can never seek for anyt good to o you.
`Yes, said tom, exasperated by ttitude of Palk of seeking good for belongs to her now: did you seek her good before?
`I did - at some risk, per I sions on.
`Yes, my ell you ed by a man like your fat good enoug sort of justice and c to be imposed upon by fine ions mean. Come away, Maggie.
as out an instant, hen hurried away.
tom and Maggie ig form tion. At last Maggie, snatc-up, long-gatation burst into utterance.
`Dont suppose t I t, tom, or t I boo your o Pest your insulting unmanly allusions to y. You : it is because you a mind large enougo see t tter t and your oty aims.
`Certainly, said tom, coolly. `I dont see t your conduct is better, or your aims eit, and P, , . I kno and Ive succeeded: pray, w good brougo you or any one else?
`I dont to defend myself-- said Maggie, still en, continually. But yet, sometimes ter for if you ever - if you broug punis to be you o me - even ter t me go crying to bed forgiving me. You y - you ion and you o is a sin to be is not fitting for a mortal - for a Cian. You are not a P your oues - you t enougo even a vision of feelings by tues are mere darkness!
`ell, said tom, ter t me see you s ts likely to disgrace us all - ts first into one extreme and to anot you talk of eito me or my fat way of sion.
`Because you are a man, tom, and he world.
`t to t can.
`So I to o be rig even to I submit to it from you. You boast of your virtues as if t to be cruel and unmanly as youve been today. Dont suppose I y you insult o he more.
`Very is your vieom, more coldly to s a ance t us remember t in future and be silent.
tom back to St Oggs, to fulfil an appointment ions about a journey on out t morning.
Maggie up to o pour out all t indignant remonstrance, against ter tears. t burst of unsatisfied anger ion of t quiet time before todays misery urbed ty of o t time t s conquests, and ing stand on serene s above emptations and conflict. And strife so s, t rest so near, as sruggle for t sirely tom irely rig noantly obstructed by resentment t itself to . bled for P on recalling ts t ion of it like a so t, and tighten her fingers on her palm.
And yet - t sain dim background of relief in tion from P any cost?