They had been at Brighton already nearly a
month, when a new circumstance was added to her discomfort. As she
walked with her mother one day, they met their acquaintance, Mr.
Budge. This gentleman dined with them that evening at Mrs. Enderby's
invitation, and persuaded the latter to join a party he had made up
for an excursion on the following day. Maud excused herself. She did
not like Mr. Budge, and his demeanour during the evening only
strengthened her prejudice. He was unduly excited and fervent, and
allowed himself a certain freedom in his conversation with Mrs.
Enderby which Maud resented strongly.
When they were once more in London, Maud did not win back the former
quiet of mind. Waymark came again as usual, but if anything the
distance between him and herself seemed more hopeless. He appeared
preoccupied; his talk, when he spoke with her, was of a more general
kind than formerly; she was conscious that her presence did not
affect him as it had done. She sank again into despondency; books
were insipid, and society irritated her. She began the habit of
taking long walks, an aimless wandering about the streets and parks
within her reach. One evening, wending wearily homewards, she was
attracted by the lights in a church in Marylebone Road, and, partly
for a few minutes' rest, partly out of a sudden attraction to a
religious service, she entered.
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