to my thoughts and wishes like an anxious or a suspected wife.

But this was not for long. As I beheld her so regardless of her own
interests, which I had jeopardised and was now endeavoring to recover, I
redoubled my own boldness in the manner of a lesson to the girl. The
more she came forward, the further I drew back; the more she betrayed
the closeness of our intimacy, the more pointedly civil I became, until
even her father (if he had not been so engrossed with eating) might have
observed the opposition. In the midst of which, of a sudden, she became
wholly changed, and I told myself, with a good deal of relief, that she
had took the hint at last.

All day I was at my classes or in quest of my new lodging; and though
the hour of our customary walk hung miserably on my hands, I cannot say
but I was happy on the whole to find my way cleared, the girl again in
proper keeping, the father satisfied or at least acquiescent, and myself
free to prosecute my love with honour. At supper, as at all our meals,
it was James More that did the talking. No doubt but he talked well, if
anyone could have believed him. But I will speak of him presently more
at large. The meal at an end, he rose, got his great coat, and looking
(as I thought) at me, observed he had affairs abroad. I took this for a
hint that I was to be going also, and got up; whereupon the girl, who
had scarce given me greeting at my entrance, turned her eyes on me wide
open, with a look that bade me stay. I stood between them like a fish
out of water, turning from one to the other; neither seemed to observe
me, she gazing on the floor, he buttoning his coat: which vastly swelled
my embarrassment. This appearance of indifferency argued, upon her side,
a good deal of anger very near to burst out. Upon his, I thought it
horribly alarming; I made sure there was a tempest brewing there; and
considering that to be the chief peril, turned towards him and put