下载辰思小说免费APP
Mattersbeinginthisadvancingstate，Stockdalewasrathersurprisedonecloudyevening，whilesittinginhisroom，athearingherspeakinlowtonesofexpostulationtosomeoneatthedoor。Itwasnearlydark，buttheshutterswerenotyetclosed，northecandleslighted；andStockdalewastemptedtostretchhisheadtowardsthewindow。Hesawoutsidethedoorayoungmaninclothesofawhitishcolour，anduponreflectionjudgedtheirwearertobethewell-builtandratherhandsomemillerwholivedbelow。Themiller’svoicewasalternatelylowandfirm，andsometimesitreachedthelevelofpositiveentreaty；butwhatthewordswereStockdalecouldinnowayhear。
Beforethecolloquyhadended，theminister’sattentionwasattractedbyasecondincident。OppositeLizzy’shomegrewaclumpoflaurels，formingathickandpermanentshade。Oneofthelaurelboughsnowquiveredagainstthelightbackgroundofsky，andinamomenttheheadofamanpeeredout，andremainedstill。Heseemedtobealsomuchinterestedintheconversationatthedoor，andwasplainlylingeringtheretowatchandlisten。HadStockdalestoodinanyotherrelationtoLizzythanthatofalover，hemighthavegoneoutandinvestigatedthemeaningofthis:butbeingasyetbutanunprivilegedally，hedidnothingmorethanstandupandshowhimselfagainstthefirelight，whereuponthelistenerdisappeared，andLizzyandthemillerspokeinlowertones。
Stockdalewasmadesouneasybythecircumstance，thatassoonasthemillerwasgone，hesaid，’Mrs。Newberry，areyouawarethatyouwerewatchedjustnow，andyourconversationheard？’
’When？’shesaid。
’Whenyouweretalkingtothatmiller。Amanwaslookingfromthelaurel-treeasjealouslyasifhecouldhaveeatenyou。’
Sheshowedmoreconcernthanthetriflingeventseemedtodemand，andheadded，’Perhapsyouweretalkingofthingsyoudidnotwishtobeoverheard？’
’Iwastalkingonlyonbusiness，’shesaid。
’Lizzy，befrank！’saidtheyoungman。’Ifitwasonlyonbusiness，whyshouldanybodywishtolistentoyou？’
Shelookedcuriouslyathim。’Whatelsedoyouthinkitcouldbe，then？’
’Well——theonlytalkbetweenayoungwomanandmanthatislikelytoamuseaneavesdropper。’
’Ahyes，’shesaid，smilinginspiteofherpreoccupation。’Well，mycousinOwletthasspokentomeaboutmatrimony，everynowandthen，that’strue；buthewasnotspeakingofitthen。Iwishhehadbeenspeakingofit，withallmyheart。Itwouldhavebeenmuchlessseriousforme。’
’OMrs。Newberry！’
’Itwould。NotthatIshouldha’chimedinwithhim，ofcourse。I
wishitforotherreasons。Iamglad，Mr。Stockdale，thatyouhavetoldmeofthatlistener。Itisatimelywarning，andImustseemycousinagain。’
’Butdon’tgoawaytillIhavespoken，’saidtheminister。’I’lloutwithitatonce，andmakenomoreado。LetitbeYesorNobetweenus，
