my countenance from
behind the thick black veil which, with the shadowing panels, entirely
concealed her own from me.

'I--I came to see the place,' faltered I.

'The place,' repeated she, in a tone which betokened more displeasure or
disappointment than surprise.

'Will you not enter it, then?'

'If you wish it.'

'Can you doubt?'

'Yes, yes! he must enter,' cried Arthur, running round from the other
door; and seizing my hand in both his, he shook it heartily.

'Do you remember me, sir?' said he.

'Yes, full well, my little man, altered though you are,' replied I,
surveying the comparatively tall, slim young gentleman, with his mother's
image visibly stamped upon his fair, intelligent features, in spite of
the blue eyes beaming with gladness, and the bright locks clustering
beneath his cap.

'Am I not grown?' said he, stretching himself up to his full height.

'Grown! three inches, upon my word!'

'I was seven last birthday,' was the proud rejoinder. 'In seven years
more I shall be as tall as you nearly.'

'Arthur,' said his mother, 'tell him to come in. Go on, Richard.'

There was a touch of sadness as well as coldness in her voice, but I knew
not to what to ascribe it. The carriage drove on and entered the gates
before us. My little companion led me up the park, discoursing merrily
all the way. Arrived at the hall-door, I paused on the steps and looked
round me, waiting to recover my composure, if possible--or, at any rate,
to remember my new-formed resolutions and the principles on which they
were founded; and it was not till Arthur had been for some time gently
pulling my coat, and repeating his invitations to enter, that I at length
consented to accompany him into the apartment where the ladies awaited
us.

Helen eyed me as I entered with a kind of gentle, serious scrutiny, and
politely asked after Mrs. Markham and Rose. I respectfully answered her
inquiries. Mrs. Maxwell begged me to be seated, observing it was rather
cold, but she supposed I had not travelled far that morning.

'Not quite twenty miles,' I answered.

'Not on foot!'

'No, Madam, by coach.'

'Here's Rachel, sir,' said Arthur, the only truly happy one amongst us,
directing my attention to that worthy individual, who had just entered to
take her mistress's things. She vouchsafed me an almost friendly smile
of recognition--a favour that demanded, at least, a civil salutation on
my part, which was accordingly given and