IowedittoMariantoconsultherbeforeIspoketoLaura，andtobeguidedafterwardsbyheradvice。
OnthethirddayfromourarrivalIfoundafitopportunityofspeakingtoheralone。Themomentwelookedatoneanother，herquickinstinctdetectedthethoughtinmymindbeforeIcouldgiveitexpression。Withhercustomaryenergyanddirectnessshespokeatonce，andspokefirst。
`YouarethinkingofthatsubjectwhichwasmentionedbetweenusontheeveningofyourreturnfromHampshire，’shesaid。`Ihavebeenexpectingyoutoalludetoitforsometimepast。Theremustbeachangeinourlittlehousehold，Walter，wecannotgoonmuchlongeraswearenow。Iseeitasplainlyasyoudo——asplainlyasLauraseesit，thoughshesaysnothing。
HowstrangelytheoldtimesinCumberlandseemtohavecomeback！YouandIaretogetheragain，andtheonesubjectofinterestbetweenusisLauraoncemore。Icouldalmostfancythatthisroomisthesummer-houseatLimmeridge，andthatthosewavesbeyondusarebeatingonourseashore。’
`Iwasguidedbyyouradviceinthosepastdays，’Isaid，`andnow，Marian，withreliancetenfoldgreaterIwillbeguidedbyitagain。’