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Matters being in this advancing state, Stockdale was rather surprised onecloudy evening, while sitting in his room, at hearing her speak in lowtones of expostulation to some one at the door. It was nearly dark, butthe shutters were not yet closed, nor the candles lighted; and Stockdalewas tempted to stretch his head towards the window. He saw outside thedoor a young man in clothes of a whitish colour, and upon reflectionjudged their wearer to be the well-built and rather handsome miller wholived below. The miller's voice was alternately low and firm, andsometimes it reached the level of positive entreaty; but what the wordswere Stockdale could in no way hear.

Before the colloquy had ended, the minister's attention was attracted bya second incident. Opposite Lizzy's home grew a clump of laurels,forming a thick and permanent shade. One of the laurel boughs nowquivered against the light background of sky, and in a moment the head ofa man peered out, and remained still. He seemed to be also muchinterested in the conversation at the door, and was plainly lingeringthere to watch and listen. Had Stockdale stood in any other relation toLizzy than that of a lover, he might have gone out and investigated themeaning of this: but being as yet but an unprivileged ally, he didnothing more than stand up and show himself against the firelight,whereupon the listener disappeared, and Lizzy and the miller spoke inlower tones.

Stockdale was made so uneasy by the circumstance, that as soon as themiller was gone, he said, 'Mrs. Newberry, are you aware that you werewatched just now, and your conversation heard?'

'When?' she said.

'When you were talking to that miller. A man was looking from the laurel-tree as jealously as if he could have eaten you.'

She showed more concern than the trifling event seemed to demand, and headded, 'Perhaps you were talking of things you did not wish to beoverheard?'

'I was talking only on business,' she said.

'Lizzy, be frank!' said the young man. 'If it was only on business, whyshould anybody wish to listen to you?'

She looked curiously at him. 'What else do you think it could be, then?'

'Well--the only talk between a young woman and man that is likely toamuse an eavesdropper.'

'Ah yes,' she said, smiling in spite of her preoccupation. 'Well, mycousin Owlett has spoken to me about matrimony, every now and then,that's true; but he was not speaking of it then. I wish he had beenspeaking of it, with all my heart. It would have been much less seriousfor me.'

'O Mrs. Newberry!'

'It would. Not that I should ha' chimed in with him, of course. I wishit for other reasons. I am glad, Mr. Stockdale, that you have told me ofthat listener. It is a timely warning, and I must see my cousin again.'

'But don't go away till I have spoken,' said the minister. 'I'll outwith it at once, and make no more ado. Let it be Yes or No between us,Lizzy; please do!' And he held out his hand, in which she freely allowedher own to rest, but without speaking.

'You mean Yes by that?' he asked, after waiting a while.

'You may be my sweetheart, if you will.'

'Why not say at once you will wait for me until I have a house and cancome back to marry you.'

'Because I am thinking--thinking of something else,' she said withembarrassment. 'It all comes upon me at once, and I must settle onething at a time.'

'At any rate, dear Lizzy, you can assure me that the miller shall not beallowed to speak to you except on business? You have never directlyencouraged him?'

She parried the question by saying, 'You see, he and his party have beenin the habit of leaving things on my premises sometimes, and as I havenot denied him, it makes him rather forward.'

'Things--what things?'

'Tubs--they are called Things here.'

'But why don't you deny him, my dear Lizzy?'

'I cannot well.'

'You are too timid. It is unfair of him to impose so upon you, and getyour good name into danger by his smuggling tricks. Promise me that thenext time he wants to leave his tubs here you will let me roll them intothe street?'

She shook her head. 'I would not venture to offend the neighbours somuch as that,' said she, 'or do anything that would be so likely to putpoor Owlett into the hands of the excisemen.'

Stockdale sighed, and said that he thought hers a mistaken generositywhen it extended to assisting those who cheated the king of his dues. 'Atany rate, you will let me make him keep his distance as your lover, andtell him flatly that you are not for him?'

'Please not, at present,' she said. 'I don't wish to offend my oldneighbours. It is not only Owlett who is concerned.'

'This is too bad,' said Stockdale impatiently.

'On my honour, I won't encourage him as my lover,' Lizzy answeredearnestly. 'A reasonable man will be satisfied with that.'

'Well, so I am,' said Stockdale, his countenance clearing.