Chapter 3 June 16th.

I have a few lines more to add to the stay-century before I go to bed tonight.

About two hours after Sir Percival rose from the luncheon table to receive his solicitor,

Mr. Maryman, in the library, I left my room alone to take a walk in the plantations.

Just as I was at the end of the landing, the library door opened, and the two gentlemen

came out, thinking it best not to disturb them by appearing on the stairs, I resolved

to defer going down till they had crossed the hall.

Although they spoke to each other in guarded tones, their words were pronounced with sufficient

distinctness and utterance to reach my ears.

Make your mind easy, Sir Percival, I heard the lawyer say, it all rests with Lady Glide.

I turned my back to go to my own room for a minute or two, but the sound of Laura's name

on the lips of a stranger stopped me instantly.

I dare say it was very wrong and very discreditable to listen, but where is the woman in the

whole range of our sex who can regulate her actions by the abstract principles of honor?

When those principles point one way and when her affections and the interests which grow

out of them point the other.

I listened, and under similar circumstances I would listen again, yes, with my ear at

the keyhole if I could not possibly manage it in any other way.

You quite understand, Sir Percival, the lawyer went on.

Lady Glide is to sign her name in the presence of a witness or of two witnesses, if you wish

to be particularly careful, and is then to put her finger on the seal and say, I deliver

this as my act indeed.

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