e handsome now, Helen!' whispered Milicent, her sisterly pride
overcoming, for the moment, all other considerations.

'He would be,' I returned, 'if that brilliance of eye, and lip, and cheek
were natural to him; but look again, a few hours hence.'

Here the gentleman took a seat near me at the table, and petitioned for a
cup of coffee.

'I consider this an apt illustration of heaven taken by storm,' said he,
as I handed one to him. 'I am in paradise, now; but I have fought my way
through flood and fire to win it. Ralph Hattersley's last resource was
to set his back against the door, and swear I should find no passage but
through his body (a pretty substantial one too). Happily, however, that
was not the only door, and I effected my escape by the side entrance
through the butler's pantry, to the infinite amazement of Benson, who was
cleaning the plate.'

Mr. Hargrave laughed, and so did his cousin; but his sister and I
remained silent and grave.

'Pardon my levity, Mrs. Huntingdon,' murmured he, more seriously, as he
raised his eyes to my face. 'You are not used to these things: you
suffer them to affect your delicate mind too sensibly. But I thought of
you in the midst of those lawless roysterers; and I endeavoured to
persuade Mr. Huntingdon to think of you too; but to no purpose: I fear he
is fully determined to enjoy himself this night; and it will be no use
keeping the coffee waiting for him or his companions; it will be much if
they join us at tea. Meantime, I earnestly wish I could banish the
thoughts of them from your mind--and my own too, for I hate to think of
them--yes--even of my dear friend Huntingdon, when I consider the power
he possesses over the happiness of one so immeasurably superior to
himself, and the use he makes of it--I positively detest the man!'

'You had better not say so to me, then,' said I; 'for, bad as he is, he
is part of myself, and you cannot abuse him without offending me.'

'Pardon me, then, for I would sooner die than offend you. But let us say
no more of him for the present, if you please.'

At last they came; but not till after ten, when tea, which had been
delayed for more than half an hour, was nearly over. Much as I had
longed for their coming, my heart failed me at the riotous uproar of
their approach; and Milicent turned pale, and almost started from her
seat, as Mr. Hattersley burst into the room with a clamorous volley of
oaths in his mouth, which Hargrave en