without ceremony. Sol, being anxious
to know if Lord Mountclere was there, ordered the coachman to wait a few
moments. It was now nearly eight o'clock, and the smoke which ascended
from the newly-lit fires of the Court painted soft blue tints upon the
brown and golden leaves of lofty boughs adjoining.

'O, Ethelberta!' said Sol, as he regarded the fair prospect.

The gravel of the drive had been washed clean and smooth by the night's
rain, but there were fresh wheelmarks other than their own upon the
track. Yet the mansion seemed scarcely awake, and stillness reigned
everywhere around.

Not more than three or four minutes had passed when the door was opened
for Mountclere, and he came hastily from the doorsteps.

'I must go on with you,' he said, getting into the vehicle. 'He's gone.'

'Where--to Knollsea?' said Sol.

'Yes,' said Mountclere. 'Now, go ahead to Knollsea!' he shouted to the
man. 'To think I should be fooled like this! I had no idea that he
would be leaving so soon! We might perhaps have been here an hour
earlier by hard striving. But who was to dream that he would arrange to
leave it at such an unearthly time of the morning at this dark season of
the year? Drive--drive!' he called again out of the window, and the pace
was increased.

'I have come two or three miles out of my way on account of you,' said
Sol sullenly. 'And all this time lost. I don't see why you wanted to
come here at all. I knew it would be a waste of time.'

'Damn it all, man,' said Mountclere; 'it is no use for you to be angry
with me!'

'I think it is, for 'tis you have brought me into this muddle,' said Sol,
in no sweeter tone. 'Ha, ha! Upon my life I should be inclined to
laugh, if I were not so much inclined to do the other thing, at Berta's
trick of trying to make close family allies of such a cantankerous pair
as you and I! So much of one mind as we be, so alike in our ways of
living, so close connected in our callings and principles, so matched in
manners and customs! 'twould be a thousand pities to part us--hey, Mr.
Mountclere!'

Mountclere faintly laughed with the same hideous merriment at the same
idea, and then both remained in a withering silence, meant to express the
utter contempt of each for the other, both in family and in person. They
passed the Lodge, and again swept into the highroad.

'Drive on!' said Mountclere, putting his head again out of the window,
and shouting to the man. 'Drive l