Henriettapleadedasmovinglyasshecouldforanimmediatereturntotheirdomesticstate,butheputheroffwithendearingspeeches,promisednothingbuteternalaffection,andsentherbacktoLondonbythetwelveo\'clockexpress。Thenhiscountenancechanged;hewalkedbacktoLyvern,andthencetothechalet,likeamanpursuedbydisgustandremorse。Laterintheafternoon,toraisehisspirits,hetookhisskatesandwenttoWickens\'spond,where,itbeingSaturday,hefoundtheicecrowdedwiththeAltonstudentsandtheirhalf—holidayvisitors。
Fairholme,describingcircleswithhishabitualairofcompressedhardihood,stoppedandstaredwithindignantsurpriseasSmilashlurchedpasthim。
\"Isthatmanherebyyourpermission？\"hesaidtoFarmerWickens,whowaswalkingaboutasifsuperintendingaharvest。
\"Heisherebecausehelikes,Itakeit,\"saidWickensstubbornly。\"Heisaneighborofmineandafriendofmine。Isthereanyobjectionstomyhavingafriendonmyownpond,seein\'
thatthereisnighontwoorthreetonofotherpeople\'sfriendsonit108withoutasmuchasawith—your—leaveoraby—your—