The difficulty of this, however, was constantly present to her, for the kind of communion to which Cocker's so richly ministered rested on the fact that Cissy and he were so often in different places.

She knew by this time all the places--Suchbury, Monkhouse, Whiteroy, Finches--and even how the parties on these occasions were composed; but her subtlety found ways to make her knowledge fairly protect and promote their keeping, as she had heard Mrs.Jordan say, in touch.

So, when he actually sometimes smiled as if he really felt the awkwardness of giving her again one of the same old addresses, all her being went out in the desire--which her face must have expressed--that he should recognise her forbearance to criticise as one of the finest tenderest sacrifices a woman had ever made for love..