is natural, I know, that you should take the most interest in that
member of the family who is to be your relation. You consider him in
that light, I believe?"

"Of course. He is to be our cousin."

"The parties wish it to be kept a secret, I conclude," said he, glancing
at Enderby, and then stretching back as far as he thought safe, to look
at the other boat.

"Oh dear, no! There is no secret about the matter."

"I should not have supposed them to be engaged, by their manner to each
other. Perhaps it is off," said he, quickly, fixing his eyes upon her.

"Off! What an odd idea! Who ever thought of such a thing?"

"Such things have been heard of as engagements going off, you know."

Both had raised their voices during the last few eager sentences.
Sophia became aware that they had been overheard, by seeing the deep
flush which overspread Miss Young's pale face. Philip looked at Mr
Walcot as if he would have knocked him down, if they had only been on
land. The young man took off his hat, and ran his fingers through his
white hair, for the sake of something to do: replaced his hat, and shook
his head manfully, as if to settle his heart in his breast, as well as
his beaver on his crown. He glanced down the river, in hopes that the
abbey was not yet too near. It was important to him that the wrath of
so extremely clever a man as Mr Enderby should have subsided before the
party went on shore.

It would have been a strange thing to have known how many of that
company were dreading to reach the object of their excursion. A thrill
passed through many hearts when the ruins, with their overshadowing ivy,
were at length discerned, seated in the meadow to which the boats seemed
approaching far too rapidly. In the bustle of landing, however, it was
easy for those who wished to avoid one another to do so.

Most of the guests walked straight up to the abbey walls, to examine all
that was left of them. Mrs Grey and her maids went to the little
farmhouse which was at one corner of the old building, and chiefly
constructed out of its ruins; and while the parties on whom the cares of
hospitality devolved were consulting with the farmer's wife about
preparations for tea, any stray guest might search for wood-plants in
the skirts of the copse on the hill behind, or talk with the children
who were jumping in and out of an old saw-pit in the wood, or if
contemplative, might watch the minnows in the brook, which was here