at his heels； roused the flagging spirits of the party at the
cottage。 The plan for enabling the governess to join the picnic；
if she arrived that day； satisfied even Major Milroy's anxiety to
show all proper attention to the lady who was coming into his
house。 After writing the necessary note of apology and
invitation； and addressing it in her very best handwriting to the
new governess； Miss Milroy ran upstairs to say good…by to her
mother； and returned with a smiling face and a side look of
relief directed at her father； to announce that there was nothing
now to keep any of them a moment longer indoors。 The company at
once directed their steps to the garden gate； and were there met
face to face by the second great difficulty of the day。 How were
the six persons of the picnic to be divided between the two open
carriages that were in waiting for them？
Here； again； Pedgift Junior exhibited his invaluable faculty of
contrivance。 This highly cultivated young man possessed in an
eminent degree an accomplishment more or less peculiar to all the
young men of the age we live in： he was perfectly capable of
taking his pleasure without forgetting his business。 Such a
client as the Master of Thorpe Ambrose fell but seldom in his
father's way； and to pay special but unobtrusive attention to
Allan all through the day was the business of which young
Pedgift； while proving himself to be the life and soul of the
picnic； never once lost sight from the beginning of the
merry…making to the end。 He had detected the state of affairs
between Miss Milroy and Allan at glance； and he at once provided
for his client's inclinations in that quarter by offering； in
virtue of his local knowledge； to lead the way in the first
carriage； and by asking Major Milroy and the curate if they would
do him the honor of accompanying him。
〃We shall pass a very interesting place to a military man； sir；〃
said young Pedgift； addressing the major； with his happy and
unblushing confidence〃the remains of a Roman encampment。 And my
father； sir； who is a subscriber；〃 proceeded this rising lawyer；
turning to the curate； 〃wished me to ask your opinion of the new
Infant School buildings at Little Gill Beck。 Would you kindly
give it me as we go along？〃 He opened the carriage door； and
helped in the major and the curate before they could either of
them start any difficulties。 The necessary result followed。 Allan
and Miss Milroy rode together in the same carriage； with the
extra convenience of a deaf old lady in attendance to keep the
squire's compliments within the necessary limits。
Never yet had Allan enjoyed such an interview with Miss Milroy as
the interview he now obtained on the road to the Broads。
The dear old lady； after a little anecdote or two on the subject
of her son； did the one thing wanting to secure the perfect
felicity of her two youthful companions： she became considerately
blind for the occasion； as well as deaf。 A quarter of an hour
after the carriage left the major's cottage； the poor old soul；
reposing on snug cushions； and fanned by a fine summer air； fell
peaceably asleep。 Allan made love； and Miss Milroy sanctioned the
manufacture of that occasionally precious article of human
commerce； sublimely indifferent on both sides to a solemn bass
accompaniment on two notes； played by the curate's mother's
unsuspecting nose。 The only interruption to the love…making （the
snoring； being a thing more grave and permanent in its nature；
was not interrupted at all） came at intervals from the carriage
ahead。 Not satisfied with having the major's Roman encampment and
the curate's Infant Schools on his mind； Pedgift Junior rose
erect from time to time in his place； and； respectfully hailing
the hindmost vehicle； directed Allan's attention； in a shrill
tenor voice； and with an excellent choice of language； to objects
of interest on the road。 The only way to quiet him was to answer；
which Allan invariably did by shouting back； 〃Yes； beautiful；〃
upon which young Pedgift disappeared again in the recesses of the
leading carriage； and took up the Romans and the Infants where he
had left them last。
The scene through which the picnic party was now passing merited
far more attention than it received either from Allan or Allan's
friends。
An hour's steady driving from the major's cottage had taken young
Armadale and his guests beyond the limits of Midwinter's solitary
walk； and was now bringing them nearer and nearer to one of the
strangest and loveliest aspects of nature which the inland
landscape； not of Norfolk only； but of all England； can show。
Little by little the face of the country began to change as the
carriages approached the remote and lonely district of the
Broads。 The wheat fields and turnip fields became perceptibly
fewer； and the fat green grazing grounds on either side grew
wider and wider in their smooth and sweeping range。 Heaps of dry
rushes and reeds； laid up for the basket…maker and the thatcher；
began to appear at the road…side。 The old gabled cottages of the
early part of the drive dwindled and disappeared； and huts with
mud walls rose in their place。 With the ancient church towers and
the wind and water mills； which had hitherto been the only lofty
objects seen over the low marshy flat； there now rose all round
the horizon； gliding slow and distant behind fringes of pollard
willows； the sails of invisible boats moving on invisible waters。
All the strange and startling anomalies presented by an inland
agricultural district； isolated from other districts by its
intricate surrounding network of pools and streamsholding its
communications and carrying its produce by water instead of by
landbegan to present themselves in closer and closer
succession。 Nets appeared on cottage pailings； little
flat…bottomed boats lay strangely at rest among the flowers in
cottage gardens； farmers' men passed to and fro clad in composite
costume of the coast and the field； in sailors' hats； and
fishermen's boots； and plowmen's smocks； and even yet the
low…lying labyrinth of waters； embosomed in its mystery of
solitude； was a hidden labyrinth still。 A m inute more； and the
carriages took a sudden turn from the hard high…road into a
little weedy lane。 The wheels ran noiseless on the damp and
spongy ground。 A lonely outlying cottage appeared with its litter
of nets and boats。 A few yards further on； and the last morsel of
firm earth suddenly ended in a tiny creek and quay。 One turn more
to the end of the quayand there； spreading its great sheet of
water； far and bright and smooth； on the right hand and the
leftthere； as pure in its spotless blue； as still in its
heavenly peacefulness； as the summer sky above it； was the first
of the Norfolk Broads。
The carriages stopped； the love…making broke off； and the
venerable Mrs。 Pentecost； recovering the use of her senses at a
moment's notice； fixed her eyes sternly on Allan the instant she
woke。
〃I see in your face； Mr。 Armadale；〃 said the old lady； sharply；
〃that you think I have been asleep。〃
The consciousness of guilt acts differently on the two sexes。 In
nine cases out of ten； it is a much more manageable consciousness
with a woman than with a man。 All the confusion； on this
occasion； was on the man's side。 While Allan reddened and looked
embarrassed； the quick…witted Miss Milroy instantly embraced the
old lady with a burst of innocent laughter。 〃He is quite
incapable； dear Mrs。 Pentecost；〃 said the little hypocrite； 〃of
anything so ridiculous as thinking you have been asleep！〃
〃All I wish Mr。 Armadale to know；〃 pursued the old lady； still
suspicious of Allan； 〃is； that my head being giddy； I am obliged
to close my eyes in a carriage。 Closing the eyes； Mr。 Armadale；
is one thing； and going to sleep is another。 Where is my son？〃
The Reverend Samuel appeared silently at the carriage door； and
assisted his mother to get out （〃Did you enjoy the drive； Sammy？〃
asked the old lady。 〃Beautiful scenery； my dear； wasn't it？〃）
Young Pedgift； on whom the arrangements for exploring the Broads
devolved； hustled about； giving his orders to the boatman。 Major
Milroy； placid and patient； sat apart on an overturned punt； and
privately looked at his watch。 Was it past noon already？ More
than an hour past。 For the first time； for many a long year； the
famous clock at home had struck in an empty workshop。 Time had
lifted his wonderful scythe； and the corporal and his men had
relieved guard； with no master's eye to watch their performances；
with no master's hand to encourage them to do their best。 The
major sighed as he put his watch back in his pocket。 〃I'm afraid
I'm too old for this sort of thing；〃 thought the good man；
looking about him dreamily。 〃I don't find I enjoy it as much as I
thought I should。 When are we going on the water； I wonder？
Where's Neelie？〃
Neeliemore properly Miss Milroywas behind one of the
carriages with the promoter of the picnic。 They were immersed in
the interesting subject of their own Christian names； and Allan
was as near a pointblank proposal of marriage as it is well
possible for a thoughtless young gentleman of two…and…twenty to
be。
〃Tell me the truth；〃 said Miss Milroy； with her eyes modestly
riveted on the ground。 〃When you first knew what my name was； you
didn't like it； did you？〃
〃I like everything that belongs to you；〃 rejoined Allan；
vigorously。 〃I think Eleanor is a beautiful name； and yet； I
don't know why； I think the major made an improvement when he
changed it to Neelie。〃
〃I can tell you why； Mr。 Armadale；〃 said the major's daughter；
with great gravity。 'There are some unfortunate people in this
world whose names arehow can I express it？whose names are
misfits。 Mine is a misfit。 I don't blame my parents； for of
course it was impossible to know when I was a baby how I should
grow up。 But as things are； I and my name don't fit each other。
When you hear a young lady called Eleanor； you think of a tall；
beautiful； interesting creature directlythe very opposite of
_me！_ With my personal appearance； Eleanor sounds ridiculous； and
Neelie； as you yourself remarked； is just the thing。 No！ no！
don't say any more； I'm tired of the subject。 I've got