 will have it,« Mr Lyon went on, smiling, »that I must not walk
about in the crowd without him to act as my special constable.«
    Esther felt vexed with herself that her heart was suddenly beating with
unusual quickness, and that her last resolution not to trouble herself about
what Felix thought, had transformed itself with magic swiftness into
mortification that he evidently avoided coming to the house when she was there,
though he used to come on the slightest occasion. He knew that she was always at
home until the afternoon on market days; that was the reason why he would not
call for her father. Of course, it was because he attributed such littleness to
her that he supposed she would retain nothing else than a feeling of offence
towards him for what he had said to her. Such distrust of any good in others,
such arrogance of immeasurable superiority, was extremely ungenerous. But
presently she said -
    »I should have liked to hear Mr Transome speak, but I suppose it is too late
to get a place now.«
    »I am not sure; I would fain have you go if you desire it, my dear,« said Mr
Lyon, who could not bear to deny Esther any lawful wish. »Walk with me to
Mistress Holt's, and we will learn from Felix, who will doubtless already have
been out, whether he could lead you in safety to Friend Lambert's.«
    Esther was glad of the proposal, because, if it answered no other purpose,
it would be an easy way of obliging Felix to see her, and of showing him that it
was not she who cherished offence. But when, later in the morning, she was
walking towards Mrs Holt's with her father, they met Mr Jermyn, who stopped them
to ask, in his most affable manner, whether Miss Lyon intended to hear the
candidate, and whether she had secured a suitable place. And he ended by
insisting that his daughters, who were presently coming in an open carriage,
should call for her, if she would permit them. It was impossible to refuse this
civility, and Esther turned back to await the carriage, pleased with the
certainty of hearing and seeing, yet sorry to miss Felix. There was another day
for her to think of him with unsatisfied resentment, mixed with some longings
for a better understanding; and in our spring-time every day has its hidden
growths in the mind, as it has in the earth when the little folded blades are
getting ready to pierce the ground.
 

                                   Chapter 19

 Consistency? - I
