StillIprophesyhewillbeconsideredasafashionable\"lion，\"andperhapstheveryuncouthnesswhichjarsagainstmysenseofrefinement，mayevenbecomeadmiredinascientifictraveller，whohasbeenintomoredesertplaces，andeatenmoreextraordinaryfood，thananyotherEnglishmanoftheday。Isupposehehasgivenupallchanceofinheritingtheestate，forIhearhetalksofreturningtoAfrica，andbecomingaregularwanderer。
Yournamewasnotmentioned，butIbelieveheinquiredaboutyoufromMrGibson。’’There！’saidshetoherself，asshefoldedupanddirectedthisletter；
’thatcan’tdisturbher，ormakeheruncomfortable。Andit’sallthetruthtoo，orverynearit。Ofcoursehe’llwanttoseeherwhenshecomesback；
butbythattimeIdohopeMrHendersonwillhaveproposedagain，andthatthataffairwillbeallsettled。’ButCynthiareturnedtoHollingfordoneTuesdaymorning，andinanswertohermother’sanxiousinquiriesonthesubject，wouldonlysaythatMrHendersonhadnotofferedagain。’Whyshouldhe？Shehadrefusedhimonce，’
andhedidnotknowthereasonofherrefusal，atleastoneofthereasons。