`Pray, go away,' said Maggie, looking at him helplessly, her eyes glancing immediately form him to the opposite corner of the orchestra, which was half hidden by the folds of the old faded green curtain. Maggie had no sooner uttered this entreaty than she was wretched at the admission it implied, but Stephen turned away at once, and, following her upward glance, he saw Philip Wakem seated in the half-hidden corner, so that he could command little more than that angle of the hall in which Maggie sat. An entirely new thought occurred to Stephen, and, linking itself with what he had observed of Wakem's manner, and with Lucy's reply to his observation, it convinced him that there had been some former relation between Philip and Maggie beyond that childish one of which he had heard. More than one impulse made him immediately leave the hall, and go upstairs to the refreshment room, where, walking up to Philip, he sat down behind him, and put his hand on his shoulder.

`Are you studying for a portrait, Phil,' he said, `or for a sketch of that oriel window? By George, it makes a capital bit from this dark corner, with the curtain just marking it off.'

`I have been studying expression,' said Philip curtly.

`What, Miss Tulliver's? It's rather of the savage-moody order today, I think - something of the fallen princess serving behind a counter. Her cousin sent me to her with a civil offer to get her some refreshment, but I have been snubbed, as usual. There's a natural antipathy between us, I suppose - I have seldom the honour to please her.'

`What a hypocrite you are!' said Philip, flushing angrily.

`What, because experience must have told me that I'm universally pleasing? I admit the law, but there's some disturbing force here.'

`I am going,' said Philip, rising abruptly.

`So am I - to get a breath of fresh air; this place gets oppressive. I think I have done suit and service long enough.'

The two friends walked downstairs together without speaking. Philip turned through the outer door into the churchyard, but Stephen, saying, `O by the by, I must call in here,' went on along the passage to one of the rooms at the other end of the building, which were appropriated to the town library. He had the room all to himself and a man requires nothing less than this, when he wants to dash his cap on the table, throw himself astride a chair and stare at a high brick wall with a frown which would not have been beneath the occasion if he had been slaying the Giant Python. The conduct that issues from a moral conflict has often so close a resemblance to vice, that the distinction escapes all outward judgments, founded on a mere comparison of actions. It is clear to you, I hope, that Stephen was not a hypocrite - capable of deliberate doubleness for a selfish end; and yet his fluctuations between the indulgence of a feeling and the systematic concealment of it might have made a good case in support of Philip's accusation.

Meanwhile, Maggie sate at her stall cold and trembling, with that painful sensation in the eyes which comes from resolutely repressed tears. Was her life to be always like this? - always bringing some new source of inward strife? She heard confusedly the busy indifferent voices around her and wished her mind could flow into that easy, babbling current. It was at this moment that Dr Kenn, who had quite lately come into the hall, and was now walking down the middle with his hands behind him, taking a general view, fixed his eyes on Maggie for the first time, and was struck with the expression of pain on her beautiful face. She was sitting quite still, for the stream of customers had lessened at this late hour in the afternoon: the gentlemen had chiefly chosen the middle of the day, and Maggie's stall was looking rather bare. This, with her absent, pained expression, finished the contrast between her and her companions, who were all bright, eager and busy. He was strongly arrested. Her face had naturally drawn his attention as a new and striking one at church, and he had been introduced to her during a short call on business at Mr Deane's, but he had never spoken more than three words to her. He walked