At noon and at night she had been pestering herself with endeavours to perceive more distinctly his conception of her as a woman apart from an author: whether he really despised her; whether he thought more or less of her than of ordinary young women who never ventured into the fire of criticism at all.

Now she would have the satisfaction of feeling that at any rate he knew her true intent in crossing his path, and annoying him so by her performance, and be taught perhaps to despise it a little less.
Four days later an envelope, directed to Miss Swancourt in a strange hand, made its appearance from the post-bag.
'Oh,' said Elfride, her heart sinking within her.

'Can it be from that man--a lecture for impertinence?
And actually one for Mrs.Swancourt in the same hand-writing!' She feared to open hers.

'Yet how can he know my name?
No; it is somebody else.' 'Nonsense!' said her father grimly.

'You sent your initials, and the Directory was available.