Chapter 81

           "DuErdewarstauchdieseNachtbestandig,UndathmestneuerquicktzumeinenFussen,BeginnestschonmitLustmichzuumgeben,ZumregstundruhrsteinkraftigesReschliessenZumhochstenDaseinimmerfortzustreben.—Faust:2rTheil.

           WhenDorotheawasagainatLydgate’sdoorspeakingtoMartha,hewasintheroomclosebywiththedoorajar,preparingtogoout.Heheardhervoice,andimmediatelycametoher.

           "DoyouthinkthatMrs.Lydgatecanreceivemethismorning?"shesaid,havingreflectedthatitwouldbebettertoleaveoutallallusiontoherpreviousvisit.

           "Ihavenodoubtshewill,"saidLydgate,suppressinghisthoughtaboutDorothea’slooks,whichwereasmuchchangedasRosamond’s,"ifyouwillbekindenoughtocomeinandletmetellherthatyouarehere.Shehasnotbeenverywellsinceyouwerehereyesterday,butsheisbetterthismorning,andIthinkitisverylikelythatshewillbecheeredbyseeingyouagain."

           ItwasplainthatLydgate,asDorotheahadexpected,knewnothingaboutthecircumstancesofheryesterday’svisit;nay,heappearedtoimaginethatshehadcarrieditoutaccordingtoherintention.ShehadpreparedalittlenoteaskingRosamondtoseeher,whichshewouldhavegiventotheservantifhehadnotbeenintheway,butnowshewasinmuchanxietyastotheresultofhisannouncement.