went along the passage leading to her room her skirts rustled
against the partition。 A door on her left opened； and Mrs。 Morris
looked out。
'I waited out of bed till you came up；' she said； 'it being your
first night； in case you should be at a loss for anything。 How have
you got on with Miss Aldclyffe？'
'Pretty wellthough not so well as I could have wished。'
'Has she been scolding？'
'A little。'
'She's a very odd lady'tis all one way or the other with her。
She's not bad at heart； but unbearable in close quarters。 Those of
us who don't have much to do with her personally； stay on for years
and years。'
'Has Miss Aldclyffe's family always been rich？' said Cytherea。
'O no。 The property； with the name； came from her mother's uncle。
Her family is a branch of the old Aldclyffe family on the maternal
side。 Her mother married a Bradleigha mere nobody at that time
and was on that account cut by her relations。 But very singularly
the other branch of the family died out one by onethree of them；
and Miss Aldclyffe's great…uncle then left all his property；
including this estate； to Captain Bradleigh and his wifeMiss
Aldclyffe's father and motheron condition that they took the old
family name as well。 There's all about it in the 〃Landed Gentry。〃
'Tis a thing very often done。'
'O； I see。 Thank you。 Well； now I am going。 Good…night。'
VI。 THE EVENTS OF TWELVE HOURS
1。 AUGUST THE NINTH。 ONE TO TWO O'CLOCK A。M。
Cytherea entered her bedroom； and flung herself on the； bed；
bewildered by a whirl of thought。 Only one subject was clear in her
mind； and it was that； in spite of family discoveries； that day was
to be the first and last of her experience as a lady's…maid。
Starvation itself should not compel her to hold such a humiliating
post for another instant。 'Ah；' she thought； with a sigh； at the
martyrdom of her last little fragment of self…conceit； 'Owen knows
everything better than I。'
She jumped up and began making ready for her departure in the
morning； the tears streaming down when she grieved and wondered what
practical matter on earth she could turn her hand to next。 All
these preparations completed； she began to undress； her mind
unconsciously drifting away to the contemplation of her late
surprises。 To look in the glass for an instant at the reflection of
her own magnificent resources in face and bosom； and to mark their
attractiveness unadorned； was perhaps but the natural action of a
young woman who had so lately been chidden whilst passing through
the harassing experience of decorating an older beauty of Miss
Aldclyffe's temper。
But she directly checked her weakness by sympathizing reflections on
the hidden troubles which must have thronged the past years of the
solitary lady； to keep her； though so rich and courted； in a mood so
repellent and gloomy as that in which Cytherea found her； and then
the young girl marvelled again and again； as she had marvelled
before； at the strange confluence of circumstances which had brought
herself into contact with the one woman in the world whose history
was so romantically intertwined with her own。 She almost began to
wish she were not obliged to go away and leave the lonely being to
loneliness still。
In bed and in the dark； Miss Aldclyffe haunted her mind more
persistently than ever。 Instead of sleeping； she called up staring
visions of the possible past of this queenly lady； her mother's
rival。 Up the long vista of bygone years she saw； behind all； the
young girl's flirtation； little or much； with the cousin； that
seemed to have been nipped in the bud； or to have terminated hastily
in some way。 Then the secret meetings between Miss Aldclyffe and
the other woman at the little inn at Hammersmith and other places：
the commonplace name she adopted： her swoon at some painful news；
and the very slight knowledge the elder female had of her partner in
mystery。 Then； more than a year afterwards； the acquaintanceship of
her own father with this his first love； the awakening of the
passion； his acts of devotion； the unreasoning heat of his rapture；
her tacit acceptance of it； and yet her uneasiness under the
delight。 Then his declaration amid the evergreens： the utter
change produced in her manner thereby； seemingly the result of a
rigid determination： and the total concealment of her reason by
herself and her parents； whatever it was。 Then the lady's course
dropped into darkness； and nothing more was visible till she was
discovered here at Knapwater； nearly fifty years old； still
unmarried and still beautiful； but lonely； embittered； and haughty。
Cytherea imagined that her father's image was still warmly cherished
in Miss Aldclyffe's heart； and was thankful that she herself had not
been betrayed into announcing that she knew many particulars of this
page of her father's history； and the chief one； the lady's
unaccountable renunciation of him。 It would have made her bearing
towards the mistress of the mansion more awkward； and would have
been no benefit to either。
Thus conjuring up the past； and theorizing on the present； she lay
restless； changing her posture from one side to the other and back
again。 Finally； when courting sleep with all her art； she heard a
clock strike two。 A minute later； and she fancied she could
distinguish a soft rustle in the passage outside her room。
To bury her head in the sheets was her first impulse； then to
uncover it； raise herself on her elbow； and stretch her eyes wide
open in the darkness； her lips being parted with the intentness of
her listening。 Whatever the noise was； it had ceased for the time。
It began again and came close to her door； lightly touching the
panels。 Then there was another stillness； Cytherea made a movement
which caused a faint rustling of the bed…clothes。
Before she had time to think another thought a light tap was given。
Cytherea breathed： the person outside was evidently bent upon
finding her awake； and the rustle she had made had encouraged the
hope。 The maiden's physical condition shifted from one pole to its
opposite。 The cold sweat of terror forsook her； and modesty took
the alarm。 She became hot and red； her door was not locked。
A distinct woman's whisper came to her through the keyhole：
'Cytherea！'
Only one being in the house knew her Christian name； and that was
Miss Aldclyffe。 Cytherea stepped out of bed； went to the door； and
whispered back； 'Yes？'
'Let me come in； darling。'
The young woman paused in a conflict between judgment and emotion。
It was now mistress and maid no longer； woman and woman only。 Yes；
she must let her come in； poor thing。
She got a light in an instant； opened the door； and raising her eyes
and the candle； saw Miss Aldclyffe standing outside in her dressing…
gown。
'Now you see that it is really myself； put out the light；' said the
visitor。 'I want to stay here with you； Cythie。 I came to ask you
to come down into my bed； but it is snugger here。 But remember that
you are mistress in this room； and that I have no business here； and
that you may send me away if you choose。 Shall I go？'
'O no； you shan't indeed if you don't want to；' said Cythie
generously。
The instant they were in bed Miss Aldclyffe freed herself from the
last remnant of restraint。 She flung her arms round the young girl；
and pressed her gently to her heart。
'Now kiss me；' she said。
Cytherea； upon the whole； was rather discomposed at this change of
treatment； and； discomposed or no； her passions were not so
impetuous as Miss Aldclyffe's。 She could not bring her soul to her
lips for a moment； try how she would。
'Come； kiss me；' repeated Miss Aldclyffe。
Cytherea gave her a very small one； as soft in touch and in sound as
the bursting of a bubble。
'More earnestly than thatcome。'
She gave another； a little but not much more expressively。
'I don't deserve a more feeling one； I suppose；' said Miss
Aldclyffe； with an emphasis of sad bitterness in her tone。 'I am an
ill…tempered woman； you think； half out of my mind。 Well； perhaps I
am； but I have had grief more than you can think or dream of。 But I
can't help loving youyour name is the same as mineisn't it
strange？'
Cytherea was inclined to say no； but remained silent。
'Now； don't you think I must love you？' continued the other。
'Yes；' said Cytherea absently。 She was still thinking whether duty
to Owen and her father； which asked for silence on her knowledge of
her father's unfortunate love； or duty to the woman embracing her；
which seemed to ask for confidence； ought to predominate。 Here was
a solution。 She would wait till Miss Aldclyffe referred to her
acquaintanceship and attachment to Cytherea's father in past times：
then she would tell her all she knew： that would be honour。
'Why can't you kiss me as I can kiss you？ Why can't you！' She
impressed upon Cytherea's lips a warm motherly salute； given as if
in the outburst of strong feeling； long checked； and yearning for
something to love and be loved by in return。
'Do you think badly of me for my behaviour this evening； child？ I
don't know why I am so foolish as to speak to you in this way。 I am
a very fool； I believe。 Yes。 How old are you？'
'Eighteen。'
'Eighteen！ 。 。 。 Well； why don't you ask me how old I am？'
'Because I don't want to know。'
'Never mind if you don't。 I am forty…six； and it gives me greater
pleasure to tell you this than it does to you to listen。 I have not
told my age truly for the last twenty years till now。'
'Why haven't you？'
'I have met deceit by deceit； till I am weary of itweary； weary
and I long to be what I shall never be againartless and innocent；
like you。 But I suppose that you； too； will； prove to be not worth
a thought； as every new friend does on more intimate knowledge。
Come； why don't you talk to me； child？ Have you said your prayers？'
'Yesno！ I forgot them to…night。'
'I suppose you say them every night as a rule？'
'Yes。'
'Why do you do that？'
'Because I have always done so； and it would seem strange if I were
not to。 Do you？'
'I？ A wicked old sinner like me！ No； I never do。 I have thought
all such matters