to
his parlour fire in a quiet spirit, and in no intoxicated mood regardless
of issues. She could scarcely reply to his supposition; and the parting
was what might have been predicted from a conversation so carefully
controlled.

Ethelberta, as she had intended, now went on further, and entering the
nave began to inspect the sallow monuments which lined the grizzled pile.
She did not perceive amid the shadows an old gentleman who had crept into
the mouldy place as stealthily as a worm into a skull, and was keeping
himself carefully beyond her observation. She continued to regard
feature after feature till the choristers had filed in from the south
side, and peals broke forth from the organ on the black oaken mass at the
junction of nave and choir, shaking every cobweb in the dusky vaults, and
Ethelberta's heart no less. She knew the fingers that were pressing out
those rolling sounds, and knowing them, became absorbed in tracing their
progress. To go towards the organ-loft was an act of unconsciousness,
and she did not pause till she stood almost beneath it.

Ethelberta was awakened from vague imaginings by the close approach of
the old gentleman alluded to, who spoke with a great deal of agitation.

'I have been trying to meet with you,' said Lord Mountclere. 'Come, let
us be friends again!--Ethelberta, I MUST not lose you! You cannot mean
that the engagement shall be broken off?' He was far too desirous to
possess her at any price now to run a second risk of exasperating her,
and forbore to make any allusion to the recent pantomime between herself
and Christopher that he had beheld, though it might reasonably have
filled him with dread and petulance.

'I do not mean anything beyond this,' said she, 'that I entirely withdraw
from it on the faintest sign that you have not abandoned such miserable
jealous proceedings as those you adopted to-day.'

'I have quite abandoned them. Will you come a little further this way,
and walk in the aisle? You do still agree to be mine?'

'If it gives you any pleasure, I do.'

'Yes, yes. I implore that the marriage may be soon--very soon.' The
viscount spoke hastily, for the notes of the organ which were plunging
into their ears ever and anon from the hands of his young rival seemed
inconveniently and solemnly in the way of his suit.

'Well, Lord Mountclere?'

'Say in a few days?--it is the only thing that will satisfy me.'

'I am absolutely indifferent as to the da