ButnewsreachedthevillagefromafriendofPhyllis’sfatherconcerningMr。HumphreyGould，herremarkablycoolandpatientbetrothed。ThisgentlemanhadbeenheardtosayinBaththatheconsideredhisoverturestoMissPhyllisGrovetohavereachedonlythestageofahalf-understanding；andinviewofhisenforcedabsenceonhisfather’saccount，whowastoogreataninvalidnowtoattendtohisaffairs，hethoughtitbestthatthereshouldbenodefinitepromiseasyetoneitherside。Hewasnotsure，indeed，thathemightnotcasthiseyeselsewhere。
Thisaccount——thoughonlyapieceofhearsay，andassuchentitledtonoabsolutecredit——talliedsowellwiththeinfrequencyofhislettersandtheirlackofwarmth，thatPhyllisdidnotdoubtitstruthforonemoment；andfromthathourshefeltherselffreetobestowherheartassheshouldchoose。Notsoherfather；hedeclaredthewholestorytobeafabrication。HehadknownMr。
Gould’sfamilyfromhisboyhood；andiftherewasoneproverbwhichexpressedthematrimonialaspectofthatfamilywell，itwas’Lovemelittle，lovemelong。’Humphreywasanhonourableman，whowouldnotthinkoftreatinghisengagementsolightly。’Doyouwaitinpatience，’hesaid；’allwillberightenoughintime。’
FromthesewordsPhyllisatfirstimaginedthatherfatherwasincorrespondencewithMr。Gould；andherheartsankwithinher；forinspiteofheroriginalintentionsshehadbeenrelievedtohearthatherengagementhadcometonothing。ButshepresentlylearntthatherfatherhadheardnomoreofHumphreyGouldthansheherselfhaddone；whilehewouldnotwriteandaddressheraffianceddirectlyonthesubject，lestitshouldbedeemedanimputationonthatbachelor’shonour。
’Youwantanexcuseforencouragingoneorotherofthoseforeignfellowstoflatteryouwithhisunmeaningattentions，’herfatherexclaimed，hismoodhavingoflatebeenaveryunkindonetowardsher。’IseemorethanIsay。Don’tyoueversetfootoutsidethatgarden-fencewithoutmypermission。IfyouwanttoseethecampI’lltakeyoumyselfsomeSundayafternoon。’