5. FROM THE FIRST TO THE TWENTY-SEVENTH
OF AUGUSTThe long sunny days of the later summer-time brought only the
same dreary accounts from Budmouth, and saw Cytherea paying the
same sad visits.
She grew perceptibly weaker, in body and mind. Manston still
persisted in his suit, but with more of his former indirectness,
now that he saw how unexpectedly well she stood an open attack. His
was the system of Dares at the Sicilian games—
'He, like a captain who beleaguers round
Some strong-built castle on a rising ground,
Views all the approaches with observing eyes,
This and that other part again he tries,
And more on industry than force relies.'
Miss Aldclyffe made it appear more clearly than ever that aid to
Owen from herself depended entirely upon Cytherea's acceptance of
her ste
