As soon as he had deposited his brother at the hotel, he came back

again, and in answer to Ermine's "Well," he demanded, "What she thought

of his brother, and if he were what she expected?"

"Very much, only older and feebler. And did he communicate his views of

Mackarel Lane? I saw him regarding, me as a species of mermaid or syren,

evidently thinking it a great shame that I have not a burnt face. If he

had only known about Rose!"

"The worst of it is that he wants me to go home with him, and I am

afraid I must do so, for now that he and I are the last in the entail,

there is an opportunity of making an arrangement about the property, for

which he is very anxious."

"Well, you know, I have long thought it would be very good for you."

"And when I am there I shall have to visit every one in the family;" and

he looked into her eyes to see if she would let them show concern, but

she kept up their brave sparkle as she still said, "You know you ought."

"Then you deliver me up to Keith's tender mercies till--"

"Till you have done your duty--and forgiven him."

"Remember, Ermine, I can't spend a winter in Scotland. A cold always

makes the ball remind me of its presence in my chest, and I was told

that if I spent a winter at home, it must be on the Devonshire coast."

"That ball is sufficient justification for ourselves, I allow," she

said, that one little word our making up for all that had gone before.

"And meantime you will write to me--about Rose's education."

"To be sure, or what would be the use of growing old?"

Alison felt savage all through this interview. That perfect

understanding and the playful fiction about waiting for Rose left him a

great deal too free. Ermine might almost be supposed to want to get rid

of him, and even when he took leave she only remained for a few minutes

leaning her cheek on her hand, and scarcely indulged in a sigh before

asking to be wheeled into the house again, nor would she make any

remark, save "It has been too bright a summer to last for ever. It would

be very wrong to wish him to stay dangling here. Let what will happen,

he is himself."

It sounded far too like a deliberate resignation of him, and persuasion

that if he went he would not return to be all he had been. However, the

departure was not immediate, Lord Keith had taken a fancy to the place

and scenery, and wished to see all the lions of the neighbourhood, so

that there were various expeditions in the carriages or on horseback, in

which he displayed his grand courtesy to Lady Temple, and Rachel enjoyed

the colonel's conversation, and would have enjoyed it still more if she

had not been tracing a meaning in every attention that he paid her, and

considering whether she was committing herself by receiving it. She was

glad he was going away that she might have time to face the subject, and

make up her mind, for she was convinced that the object of his journey

was to make himself certain of his prospects. When he said that he

should return for the winter, and that he had too much to leave at

Avonmouth to stay long away from it, there must be a meaning in his

words.




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