r his rent. Hester had bidden adieu
to the horse with a sort of glee, as she had never been able to overcome
her panic during her husband's long country rides; and Hope found that
he hung more and more upon Hester's smiles: they cheered him, from
whatever cause they arose. Margaret was gay from discourse with Philip.
She had just despatched a letter to him--a letter which had
acknowledged that it was, indeed, long since they had met--that it was
almost time that he was coming to Deerbrook again.

The party they joined looked less merry than themselves. The two boats
which lay at the wharf were gay enough--the one with crimson cushions,
and the other with blue. A servant-maid was to go in each, to take care
of the provisions, and provide tea at the ruins; and Alice and her
companion were alert and smiling. But Mrs Grey wore a countenance of
extraordinary anxiety; and the twitching of her face showed that
something had gone very seriously wrong. Sophia nearly turned her back
upon Mr Walcot, who continued to address her with patient diligence.
Maria was sitting on some deals, waiting to be called to enter the boat;
and some of the people of the village were staring at her from a little
distance. Margaret immediately joined her.

"What are those people looking at you for?"

"I cannot conceive. I fancied that while I was sitting I looked pretty
much like other people."

"To be sure you do. I will ask Mr Grey. I am sure there is some
meaning in their gaze--so ridiculously compassionate."

"Do not you know?" said Mr Grey. "Do not you know the story they have
got up about Miss Young's case. They say Mr Hope set her limb so badly
that he had to break it again twice. I have been asked several times
whether he did not get me to help him: and they will not believe me when
I deny the whole."

Maria laughed; and Margaret observed that they would presently see how
much better Maria could walk now than she did before her last accident,
such being the effect of the long and complete rest which had been
enforced upon her.

"Nothing like seeing for themselves," observed Mr Grey, surveying the
company. "All come but Dr Levitt now, I think. It really goes to my
heart not to take some of my partner's children. There they are,
peeping at us, one head behind another, from that gate. There is room
for two or three, from the Jameses failing us at the last. The little
things might as well go; but I suppose there would be