looked　at　the　flower　in　his　hand。
  His　past　existence　had　disciplined　him　to　bear　disaster　and
  insult；　as　few　happier　men　could　have　borne　them；　but　it　had　not
  prepared　him　to　feel　the　master…passion　of　humanity；　for　the
  first　time；　at　the　dreary　end　of　his　life；　in　the　hopeless　decay
  of　a　manhood　that　had　withered　under　the　double　blight　of
  conjugal　disappointment　and　parental　sorrow。　〃Oh；　if　I　was　only
  young　again！〃　murmured　the　poor　wretch；　resting　his　arms　on　the
  wall　and　touching　the　flower　with　his　dry；　fevered　lips　in　a
  stealthy　rapture　of　tenderness。　〃She　might　have　liked　me　when　I
  was　twenty！〃　He　suddenly　started　back　into　an　erect　position；　and
  stared　about　him　in　vacant　bewilderment　and　terror。　〃She　told　me
  to　go　home；〃　he　said；　with　a　startled　look。　〃Why　am　I　stopping
  here？〃　He　turned；　and　hurried　on　to　the　townin　such　dread　of
  her　anger；　if　she　looked　round　and　saw　him；　that　he　never　so　much
  as　ventured　on　a　backward　glance　at　the　road　by　which　she　had
  retired；　and　never　detected　the　spy　dogging　her　footsteps；　under
  cover　of　the　empty　houses　and　the　brick…heaps　by　the　roadside。
  Smoothly　and　gracefully；　carefully　preserving　the　speckless
  integrity　of　her　dress；　never　hastening　her　pace；　and　never
  looking　aside　to　the　right　hand　or　the　left；　Miss　Gwilt　pursued
  her　way　toward　the　open　country。　The　suburban　road　branched　off
  at　its　end　in　two　directions。　On　the　left；　the　path　wound　through
  a　ragged　little　coppice　to　the　grazing　grounds　of　a　neighboring
  farm；　on　the　right；　it　led　across　a　hillock　of　waste　land　to　the
  high…road。　Stopping　a　moment　to　consider；　but　not　showing　the　spy
  that　she　suspected　him　by　glancing　behind　her　while　there　was　a
  hiding…place　within　his　reach；　Miss　Gwilt　took　the　path　across
  the　hillock。　〃I'll　catch　him　there；〃　she　said　to　herself；　looking
  up　quietly　at　the　long　straight　line　of　the　empty　high…road。
  Once　on　the　ground　that　she　had　chosen　for　her　purpose；　she　met
  the　difficulties　of　the　position　with　perfect　tact　and
  self…possession。　After　walking　some　thirty　yards　along　the　road；
  she　let　her　nosegay　drop；　half　turned　round　in　stooping　to　pick
  it　up；　saw　the　man　stopping　at　the　same　moment　behind　her；　and
  instantly　went　on　again；　quickening　her　pace　little　by　little；
  until　she　was　walking　at　the　top　of　her　speed。　The　spy　fell　into
  the　snare　laid　for　him。　Seeing　the　night　coming；　and　fearing　that
  he　might　lose　sight　of　her　in　the　darkness；　he　rapidly　lessened
  the　distance　between　them。　Miss　Gwilt　went　on　faster　and　faster
  till　she　plainly　heard　his　footstep　behind　her；　then　stopped；
  turned；　and　met　the　man　face　to　face　the　next　moment。
  〃My　compliments　to　Mr。　Armadale；〃　she　said；　〃and　tell　him　I've
  caught　you　watching　me。〃
  〃I'm　not　watching　you；　miss；〃　retorted　the　spy；　thrown　off　his
  guard　by　the　daring　plainness　of　the　language　in　which　she　had
  spoken　to　him。
  Miss　Gwilt's　eyes　measured　him　contemptuously　from　head　to　foot。
  He　was　a　weakly；　undersized　man。　She　wa　s　the　taller；　and　（quite
  possibly）　the　stronger　of　the　two。
  〃Take　your　hat　off；　you　blackguard；　when　you　speak　to　a　lady；〃
  she　said；　and　tossed　his　hat　in　an　instant；　across　a　ditch　by
  which　they　were　standing；　into　a　pool　on　the　other　side。
  This　time　the　spy　was　on　his　guard。　He　knew　as　well　as　Miss　Gwilt
  knew　the　use　which　might　be　made　of　the　precious　minutes；　if　he
  turned　his　back　on　her　and　crossed　the　ditch　to　recover　his　hat。
  〃It's　well　for　you　you're　a　woman；〃　he　said；　standing　scowling　at
  her　bareheaded　in　the　fast…darkening　light。
  Miss　Gwilt　glanced　sidelong　down　the　onward　vista　of　the　road；
  and　saw；　through　the　gathering　obscurity；　the　solitary　figure　of
  a　man　rapidly　advancing　toward　her。　Some　women　would　have　noticed
  the　approach　of　a　stranger　at　that　hour　and　in　that　lonely　place
  with　a　certain　anxiety。　Miss　Gwilt　was　too　confident　in　her　own
  powers　of　persuasion　not　to　count　on　the　man's　assistance
  beforehand；　whoever　he　might　be；　_because_　he　was　a　man。　She
  looked　back　at　the　spy　with　redoubled　confidence　in　herself；　and
  measured　him　contemptuously　from　head　to　foot　for　the　second
  time。
  〃I　wonder　whether　I'm　strong　enough　to　throw　you　after　your　hat？〃
  she　said。　〃I'll　take　a　turn　and　consider　it。〃
  She　sauntered　on　a　few　steps　toward　the　figure　advancing　along
  the　road。　The　spy　followed　her　close。　〃Try　it；〃　he　said；
  brutally。　〃You're　a　fine　woman；　you're　welcome　to　put　your　arms
  round　me　if　you　like。〃　As　the　words　escaped　him；　he　too　saw　the
  stranger　for　the　first　time。　He　drew　back　a　step　and　waited。　Miss
  Gwilt；　on　her　side；　advanced　a　step　and　waited；　too。
  The　stranger　came　on；　with　the　lithe；　light　step　of　a　practiced
  walker；　swinging　a　stick　in　his　hand　and　carrying　a　knapsack　on
  his　shoulders。　A　few　paces　nearer；　and　his　face　became　visible。
  He　was　a　dark　man；　his　black　hair　was　powdered　with　dust；　and　his
  black　eyes　were　looking　steadfastly　forward　along　the　road　before
  him。
  Miss　Gwilt　advanced　with　the　first　signs　of　agitation　she　had
  shown　yet。　〃Is　it　possible？〃　she　said；　softly。　〃Can　it　really　be
  you？〃
  It　was　Midwinter；　on　his　way　back　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；　after　his
  fortnight　among　the　Yorkshire　moors。
  He　stopped　and　looked　at　her；　in　breathless　surprise。　The　image
  of　the　woman　had　been　in　his　thoughts；　at　the　moment　when　the
  woman　herself　spoke　to　him。　〃Miss　Gwilt！〃　he　exclaimed；　and
  mechanically　held　out　his　hand。
  She　took　it；　and　pressed　it　gently。　〃I　should　have　been　glad　to
  see　you　at　any　time；〃　she　said。　〃You　don't　know　how　glad　I　am　to
  see　you　now。　May　I　trouble　you　to　speak　to　that　man？　He　has　been
  following　me；　and　annoying　me　all　the　way　from　the　town。〃
  Midwinter　stepped　past　her　without　uttering　a　word。　Faint　as　the
  light　was；　the　spy　saw　what　was　coming　in　his　face；　and；　turning
  instantly；　leaped　the　ditch　by　the　road…side。　Before　Midwinter
  could　follow；　Miss　Gwilt's　hand　was　on　his　shoulder。
  〃No；〃　she　said；　〃you　don't　know　who　his　employer　is。〃
  Midwinter　stopped　and　looked　at　her。
  〃Strange　things　have　happened　since　you　left　us；〃　she　went　on。　〃I
  have　been　forced　to　give　up　my　situation；　and　I　am　followed　and
  watched　by　a　paid　spy。　Don't　ask　who　forced　me　out　of　my
  situation；　and　who　pays　the　spyat　least　not　just　yet。　I　can't
  make　up　my　mind　to　tell　you　till　I　am　a　little　more　composed。　Let
  the　wretch　go。　Do　you　mind　seeing　me　safe　back　to　my　lodging？
  It's　in　your　way　home。　May　Imay　I　ask　for　the　support　of　your
  arm？　My　little　stock　of　courage　is　quite　exhausted。〃　She　took　his
  arm　and　clung　close　to　it。　The　woman　who　had　tyrannized　over　Mr。
  Bashwood　was　gone；　and　the　woman　who　had　tossed　the　spy's　hat
  into　the　pool　was　gone。　A　timid；　shrinking；　interesting　creature
  filled　the　fair　skin　and　trembled　on　the　symmetrical　limbs　of
  Miss　Gwilt。　She　put　her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes。　〃They　say
  necessity　has　no　law；〃　she　murmured；　faintly。　〃I　am　treating　you
  like　an　old　friend。　God　knows　I　want　one！〃
  They　went　on　toward　the　town。　She　recovered　herself　with　a
  touching　fortitude；　she　put　her　handkerchief　back　in　her　pocket；
  and　persisted　in　turning　the　conversation　on　Midwinter's　walking
  tour。　〃It　is　bad　enough　to　be　a　burden　on　you；〃　she　said；　gently
  pressing　on　his　arm　as　she　spoke；　〃I　mustn't　distress　you　as
  well。　Tell　me　where　you　have　been；　and　what　you　have　seen。
  Interest　me　in　your　journey；　help　me　to　escape　from　myself。〃
  They　reached　the　modest　little　lodging　in　the　miserable　little
  suburb。　Miss　Gwilt　sighed；　and　removed　her　glove　before　she　took
  Midwinter's　hand。　〃I　have　taken　refuge　here；〃　she　said；　simply。
  〃It　is　clean　and　quiet；　I　am　too　poor　to　want　or　expect　more。　We
  must　say　good…by；　I　suppose；　unless〃she　hesitated　modestly；　and
  satisfied　herself　by　a　quick　look　round　that　they　were
  unobserved〃unless　you　would　like　to　come　in　and　rest　a　little？
  I　feel　so　gratefully　toward　you；　Mr。　Midwinter！　Is　there　any
  harm；　do　you　think；　in　my　offering　you　a　cup　of　tea？〃
  The　magnetic　influence　of　her　touch　was　thrilling　through　him
  while　she　spoke。　Change　and　absence；　to　which　he　had　trusted　to
  weaken　her　hold　on　him；　had　treacherously　strengthened　it
  instead。　A　man　exceptionally　sensitive；　a　man　exceptionally　pure
  in　his　past　life；　he　stood　hand　in　hand；　in　the　tempting　secrecy
  of　the　night；　with　the　first　woman　who　had　exercised　over　him　the
  all…absorbing　influence　of　her　sex。　At　his　age；　and　in　his
  position；　who　could　have　left　her？　The　man　（with　a　man's
  temperament）　doesn't　live　who　could　have　left　her。　Midwinter　went
  in。
  A　stupid；　sleepy　lad　opened　the　house　door。　Even　he；　being　a　male
  creature；　brightened　under　the　influence　of　Miss　Gwilt。　〃The　urn；
  John；〃　she　said；　kindly；　〃and　another　cup　and　saucer。　I'll　borrow
  your　candle　to　light　my　candles　upstairs；　and　then　I　won't
  trouble　you　any　more　to…night。〃　John　was　wakeful　and　active　in　an
  instant。　〃No　trouble；　miss；〃　he　said；　with　awkward　civility。　Miss
  Gwilt　took　his　candle　with　a　smile。　〃How　good　people　are　to　me！〃
  she　whispered；　innocently；　to　Midwinter；　as　she　led　the　way
  upstairs　to　the　little　drawing…room　on　the　first　floor。
  She　lit　the　candles；　and；　turning　quickly　on　her　guest；　stopped
  him　at　the　first　attempt　he　made　to　remove　the　knapsack　from　his
  shoulders。