Ascirclesinapondgrowwiderandwider，thenextfact，whichatfirsthadbeenpatentonlytoCythereaherself，induetimespreadtoherneighbours，andthey，too，wonderedthathemadenoovertadvances。BythemiddleofNovember，atheorymadeupofacombinationoftheothertwowasreceivedwithgeneralfavour：itssubstancebeingthataguiltyintriguehadbeencommencedbetweenManstonandMissAldclyffe，someyearsbefore，whenhewasaveryyoungman，andshestillintheenjoymentofsomewomanlybeauty，butnowthathersenioritybegantogrowemphaticshewasbecomingdistastefultohim。Hisfearoftheeffectofthelady\'sjealousywould，theysaid，thusleadhimtoconcealfromherhisnewattachmenttoCytherea。AlmosttheonlywomanwhodidnotbelievethiswasCythereaherself，onunmistakablegrounds，whichwerehiddenfromallbesides。Itwasnotonlyinpublic，butevenmoremarkedlyinsecludedplaces，onoccasionswhengallantrywouldhavebeensafefromalldiscovery，thatthisguardedcourseofactionwaspursued，allthestrengthofaconsumingpassionburninginhiseyesthewhile。
2。NOVEMBERTHEEIGHTEENTH
ItwasonaFridayinthismonthofNovemberthatOwenGrayepaidavisittohissister。
HiszealousintegritystillretainedforhimthesituationatBudmouth，andinorderthatthereshouldbeaslittleinterruptionaspossibletohisdutiesthere，hehaddecidednottocometoKnapwatertilllateintheafternoon，andtoreturntoBudmouthbythefirsttrainthenextmorning，MissAldclyffehavingmadeapointoffrequentlyofferinghimlodgingforanunlimitedperiod，tothegreatpleasureofCytherea。
Hereachedthehouseaboutfouro\'clock，andringingthebell，askedofthepagewhoanswereditforMissGraye。