Harriet's
health seemed to have improved since her return to town. Previously,
as in her childhood, she had always been more or less ailing. From
both father and mother she had inherited an unhealthy body; there
was a scrofulous tendency in her constitution, and the slightest
casual ill-health, a cold or any trifling accident, always
threatened her with serious results. She was of mind corresponding
to her body; restless, self-willed, discontented, sour-tempered,
querulous. She certainly used no special pains to hide these faults
from Julian, perhaps was not herself sufficiently conscious of them,
but the young man did not seem to be repelled by her imperfections;
he invariably treated her with gentle forbearance, pitied her
sufferings, did many a graceful little kindness in hope of pleasing
her.
The first interview between Julian and Waymark was followed by a
second a few days after, when it was agreed that they should spend
each Sunday evening together in Kennington; Julian had no room in
which he could well receive visitors. The next Sunday proved fine;
Julian planned to take Harriet for a walk in the afternoon, then,
after accompanying her home, to proceed to Walcot Square.
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