y laugh. "How very many pictures you have!" she went on,
turning to Ralph.

"They look a good many, because they're all put together," said Ralph.
"But it's really a bad way."

"Oh, I think it's so nice. I wish we had a gallery at Lockleigh. I'm so
very fond of pictures," Miss Molyneux went on, persistently, to Ralph,
as if she were afraid Miss Stackpole would address her again. Henrietta
appeared at once to fascinate and to frighten her.

"Ah yes, pictures are very convenient," said Ralph, who appeared to know
better what style of reflexion was acceptable to her.

"They're so very pleasant when it rains," the young lady continued. "It
has rained of late so very often."

"I'm sorry you're going away, Lord Warburton," said Henrietta. "I wanted
to get a great deal more out of you."

"I'm not going away," Lord Warburton answered.

"Your sister says you must. In America the gentlemen obey the ladies."

"I'm afraid we have some people to tea," said Miss Molyneux, looking at
her brother.

"Very good, my dear. We'll go."

"I hoped you would resist!" Henrietta exclaimed. "I wanted to see what
Miss Molyneux would do."

"I never do anything," said this young lady.

"I suppose in your position it's sufficient for you to exist!" Miss
Stackpole returned. "I should like very much to see you at home."

"You must come to Lockleigh again," said Miss Molyneux, very sweetly, to
Isabel, ignoring this remark of Isabel's friend. Isabel looked into her
quiet eyes a moment, and for that moment seemed to see in their grey
depths the reflexion of everything she had rejected in rejecting Lord
Warburton--the peace, the kindness, the honour, the possessions, a deep
security and a great exclusion. She kissed Miss Molyneux and then she
said: "I'm afraid I can never come again."

"Never again?"

"I'm afraid I'm going away."

"Oh, I'm so very sorry," said Miss Molyneux. "I think that's so very
wrong of you."

Lord Warburton watched this little passage; then he turned away and
stared at a picture. Ralph, leaning against the rail before the picture
with his hands in his pockets, had for the moment been watching him.

"I should like to see you at home," said Henrietta, whom Lord Warburton
found beside him. "I should like an hour's talk with you; there are a
great many questions I wish to ask you."

"I shall be delighted to see you," the proprietor of Lockleigh answered;
"but I'm certain not to be able to answer many of your questio