Whether he
would have succeeded in keeping her away is very doubtful, had not a
remarkably inclement season of weather set in, and lasted a fortnight,
leaving the roads nearly impassable for two other weeks. And just as
traveling was getting to be possible, Thurston Willcoxen was called to
Baltimore, on his grandfather's business, and was absent a fortnight.
So, altogether, six weeks had passed without Jacquelina's finding an
opportunity to defy Dr. Grimshaw by attending the lectures against his
consent.
At the end of that time, on Sunday morning, it was announced in the
church that Mr. Willcoxen having returned to the county, would resume
his lectures on the Wednesday evening following. Dr. Grimshaw looked at
Jacquelina, to note how she would receive this news. Poor Jacko had been
under Marian's good influences for the week previous, and was, in her
fitful and uncertain way, "trying to be good." "As an experiment to
please you, Marian," she said, "and to see how it will answer." Poor
elf! So she called up no false, provoking smile of joy, to drive Grim
frantic, but heard the news of Thurston's arrival with the outward
calmness that was perfectly true to the perfect inward indifference.
"She has grown guarded--that is a very bad sign--I shall watch her
closer," muttered Grim behind his closed teeth.
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