not without some self reference a fellow may be good looking and yet not be a six foot like master tom here ah it s poor talking about and � anybody may think it s a mercy they re straight said aunt s that mis made son o� lawyer s � i saw him at church to day dear dear to think o the property he s like to have and they say he s very queer and lonely � doesn t like mu h company i shouldn t wonder if he goes out of his mind for we never come along the road but he s a out o the trees and at the red this wide statement by which mrs represented the feet that she had twice seen philip at the spot indicated produced an effect on which was all the stronger because tom opposite her and she was intensely anxious to look indifferent at philip s name she had blushed and the blush deepened every instant from consciousness until the mention of the red made her feel as if the whole secret were betrayed and she dared not even hold her tea spoon lest she should show how she trembled she sat with her hands clasped under the table not daring to look round happily her father was seated on the same side with herself beyond her uncle and could not see her face without stooping forward her mother s voice brought the first relief � turning the conversation for mrs was always alarmed when the name of was mentioned in her husband s presence gradually recovered composure enough to look up her eyes met tom s but he turned away his head immediately and she went to bed that night wondering if he had gathered any suspicion from her confusion perhaps not perhaps he would think it was only her alarm at her aunt s mention of before her father that was the interpretation her mother had put on it to her father was like a disease of which he was obliged to endure the the ok the but was exasperated to have the existence recognised by others and no amount of in her about her father could be surprising thought but tom was too keen sighted to rest satisfied with such an interpretation he had seen clearly enough that there was something distinct from anxiety about her father in s excessive confusion in trying to recall all the details that could give shape to his suspicions he remembered only lately hearing his mother for walking in the red when the ground was wet and bringing home shoes with red soil still tom retaining all his old for philip s shrank from to his sister the probability of feeling more than a friendly interest in such an unfortunate exception to the common run of men tom s was a nature which had a sort of superstitious to everything exceptional a love for a man would be odious in any woman in a sister intolerable but if she had been carrying on any kind of intercourse whatever with philip a stop must be put to it at once she was her other s strongest feelings and her brother s express commands besides herself by secret meetings he left home the next morning in that watchful state of mind which turns the most ordinary course of things into that afternoon about half past three o clock tom was standing on the wharf talking with bob about the probability of the good ship coming in in a day or two with results highly important to both of them eh said bob as he looked over the fields on the other side of the river there goes that crooked young i know him or his as far off as i can see em i m lighting on him o that side the river a sudden thought seemed to have darted through tom s mind i must go bob he said i ve something to attend to hurrying off to the where he left notice for some one to take his place � he was called away home on business the pace and the shortest road took him to the gate and he was pausing to open it deliberately that he might walk into the house with an appearance of perfect composure when came out at the front door in bonnet and shawl his conjecture was fulfilled and he waited for her at the gate she started violently when she saw him tom how is it you are come home is there anything the matter spoke in a low tremulous voice i m come to with you to the � a thb mill ok thb philip the central fold in his brow whidi had become habitual with him deepening as he spoke stood helpless � pale and cold by some means then tom knew everything at last she said fm not going and turned round yes you are but i want to speak to you first where is my father out on horseback and my mother in the yard i think with the poultry i can go in then without her seeing me they walked in together and tom entering the parlor said to come in here she obeyed and he closed the door behind her now tell me this instant everything that has passed between you and philip does my father know anything said still trembling no said tom indignantly but he s know if yon attempt to use deceit towards me any further i don t wish to use deceit said flushing into resentment at hearing this word applied to her conduct tell me the whole truth then perhaps you know it never mind whether i know it or not tell me exactly what has happened or my father shall know everything i tell it for my father s sake then yes it becomes you to profess affection for 