Inthemeantime，affairshadbeengoingquietlyatMercyFarm。
Lilla，ofcourse，feltlonelyintheabsenceofhercousin，buttheeventenoroflifewentonforherasforothers。Afterthefirstshockofpartingwasover，thingswentbacktotheiraccustomedroutine。Inonerespect，however，therewasamarkeddifference。
Solongashomeconditionshadremainedunchanged，Lillawascontenttoputambitionfarfromher，andtosettledowntothelifewhichhadbeenhersaslongasshecouldremember。ButMimi’smarriagesetherthinking;naturally，shecametotheconclusionthatshetoomighthaveamate。Therewasnotforhermuchchoice——therewaslittlemovementinthematrimonialdirectionatthefarmhouse。ShedidnotapproveofthepersonalityofEdgarCaswall，andhisstrugglewithMimihadfrightenedher;buthewasunmistakablyanexcellentPARTI，muchbetterthanshecouldhaveanyrighttoexpect。Thisweighsmuchwithawoman，andmoreparticularlyoneofherclass。So，onthewhole，shewascontenttoletthingstaketheircourse，andtoabidebytheissue。
Astimewenton，shehadreasontobelievethatthingsdidnotpointtohappiness。Shecouldnotshuthereyestocertaindisturbingfacts，amongstwhichweretheexistenceofLadyArabellaandhergrowingintimacywithEdgarCaswall;aswellashisowncoldandhaughtynature，solittleinaccordwiththeardourwhichisthefoundationofayoungmaid’sdreamsofhappiness。Howthingswould，ofnecessity，alterifsheweretomarry，shewasafraidtothink。
Alltold，theprospectwasnothappyforher，andshehadasecretlongingthatsomethingmightoccurtoupsettheorderofthingsasatpresentarranged。