an unusually dry summer. Milly and I had been very happy together, and I think we both looked forward with a vague dread to the coming break in our lives. She lo

come between me and any wish of mine. But I don't know how he would act under his wife's influence. You cannot imagine the power she has over him. And we shall have to begin the old fa

rn he came to Thornleigh, looking more careworn than ever. I pitied him a little, knowing the state of his feelings about Milly, believing

nd he said something about hard work and

would any one care if I were to drop over the side of the quay some dark night, on my wa

hat, Julian! There are plenty of people

ood man of business, and he would scarcely like going back to the counting

l's embrace, very different from her reception of Milly at that first meeting which I had witnessed more than a year before. It seemed to me

s it had done when we first met. She was a woman who, I could imagine, might be more admired than many handsomer women. There was a

itered with her husband on the terrace, while innumerable travelling-bags, shawls,

nt-up everything

ear Augusta?' Mr. Darrell asked in rather a wounded tone. '

,' she answered. 'I hope you will take a h

g deliciously pale and cool in the sultry weather. Milly had spent the afternoon in going round the gardens and home-farm with her father, and had thoroughly enjoyed the delight of a couple of hours alone with

in Milly's, ever since Mr. Darrell's arrival. We were in the drawing-room after breakfast, not quite decided what to do with the

up riding, Ellis tells

while you were away, pap

nt to ride; there would alway

ng nervously with one of the buttons on her father's coat. 'I used t

t, Milly,' he answered,

o. O, by the bye, papa, I did not tell you quite

dee

ntion that Mr. Eger

s Ege

ame back l

aid so in yo

were rather prejudiced against him; and one can

away my dislike of Angus Egerton, either in o

ted there. The Collingwoods are very fond of him. I am sure - I think - you will l

erent air; 'I shall not be uncivil to him. But I am rather sorry

of his coat, looking downward, her dark

that, papa,' sh

manner. Has he done anything to

he stables; and the land is in better order, t

ve alone at

alone

ther a dull busines

collection of old books. He is a great smoker too, I believe; he walks a g

antage in the plain tight-fitting cloth habit; and the little felt hat with its bright scarlet feather

, if your are

been waiting for t

ly followed them to the terrace, a

g, with Julian Stormont in attendance upon

snatches of pensive melody, now taking up a book, only to throw it down again with a little weary sigh. She seated herself at a table presently, and began to arrange the sketches in her portfolio. While she was doing this a servant announced Mr. Egerton. She rose

Filby,' she said to the servant. 'I t

time she came forward to shake hands with the visitor; and in

ell,' he said presently. 'I am not too proud to show him how anxio

aster of Cumber Priory, his manner soon softened and grew more cordial. There was a certain kind of charm abo

ith regard to him. Mr. Egerton had caught sight of the open portfolio, and had insisted on looking over the sketches - not the first of Milly's that he had seen by a great many. I noticed the grave, almost tender, smile with which he looked at the little artistic

ace,' he said; 'for I am determined no

priory in all those years that you

hook his head

ange master at Cumber since it belonged to the Egertons. I daresay it's a foolish piece of sentimentality o

the only person who saw her face at that moment. It was so sudden a look that came upon it, a look half terror, half pain, and it passed away so quickly, that I had scarcely time to distinguish the expression before it was gone; but it was a look t

ce at Mr. Egerton's face. It was paler than usual; and the expression of Mrs. Darrell's countenance seemed in a manner reflected in

Augusta Darrell's face with a strange half-bewildered look, like a man who doubts the evidence of his own senses. Mrs. Darrell, on the contrary, seemed, after tha

. Egerton,' she said. 'It is quite an ag

ubt my power to add to the liveliness of this part of the w

p at him with a

t the Priory,' she said, 'and that you intended to

etimes, Miss Darrell; but there are

one. Mr. Darrell asked him to dinner on an early day, when I knew th

ace, and had remained in the background, a very attentive

ton,' he said, when ou

got to introduce you; you came in

e honour of knowing that gentleman,' said

Milly ask

ver heard any

ber, the Collingwoods tell me. Augusta and I called at the Rectory this morning, and the Rect

nd how little she thought of the jealous eyes that were watching her! I saw Julian Stormont's face darken with an

mer; and as the afternoon advanced, the air grew still, that palpable stillness which so often comes before a thunder-storm. Milly had been full of life and vivacity all day, flitting from room to room with a kind of joyous re

Rectory, and after shaking hands with Mr. Darrell, made h

nce I was here last, M

oing nothing for t

ce I called here. I am stronger in criticism than in execution, you know.

of it, that I don't fancy it was very profitabl

artled by Mrs. Darrell's appearance. She is so s

a curious coin

dence?' asked

our portrait when we were at Cumber one day. It

ve for small events, Miss Crofto

me, at any rate. Whether Angus Egerton had seen her or not, I do not know. He

ection many times during dinner, and I felt that the dear girl I loved so fondly was in an atmosphere of falsehood. What was the nature of the past acquaintance between those two people? and why was it tacitly denied by both of them? If it had been an ordinary friendsh

' I said to myself, as I glance

ussing what they were going to wear, and what Milly was going to wear, on the occasion. While they were engaged in this way, Mrs. Collingwood told me a long story about one of her poor parishioners, always an inexhaustible subject with her. This arrangement left Mrs. Darrell unoccupied; and after standing at one of the open windows looking listlessly out, she sauntered out upon the terrace, her favourite lounge always in this summer weather. I saw her repas

lish ballads which I had never heard her sing before - simple pathe

closely, and others in relation to him, at this time, it was from no frivolous or impertinent curiosity, but because I felt very certain that my darling's happiness was at stake. I saw her little disappointed look when he rema