n up with
her, so entirely a thread in her being as to crave little expression,
and too reverent to be violent even in her grief. The nature, always
gentle, had recovered its balance, and the difference in years had no
doubt told in the readiness with which her spirits had recovered their
cheerfulness, though her heart remained unchanged. Still, retired as her
habits were, and becoming as was her whole conduct, Colin began to
see that there had been enough of liveliness about her to lead to Lord
Keith's mistake, though not to justify his want of delicacy in the
precipitation of his suit.

These reflections enabled him at length to encounter his brother
with temper, and to find that, after all, it had been more like the
declaration of an intended siege than an actual summons to surrender.
Lord Keith was a less foolish and more courteous man than might have
been gathered from poor Fanny's terrified account; and all he had done
was to intimate his intention of recommending himself to her, and the
view with which he had placed himself at Avonmouth; nor was he in the
slightest degree disconcerted by her vehemence, but rather entertained
by it, accepting her faithfulness to her first husband's memory as the
best augury of her affection for a second. He did not even own that he
had been precipitate.

"Let her get accustomed to the idea," he said with a shrewd smile. "The
very outcry she makes against it will be all in my favour when the turn
comes."

"I doubt whether you will find it so."

"All the world does not live on romance like you, man. Look on, and
you will see that a pretty young widow like her cannot fail to get into
scrapes; have offers made to her, or at least the credit of them. I'd
lay you ten pounds that you are said to be engaged to her yourself by
this time, and it is no one's fault but your own that you are not. It is
in the very nature of things that she will be driven to shelter herself
from the persecution, with whoever has bided his time."

"Oh, if you prefer being accepted on such terms--"

He smiled, as if the romance of the exclamation were beneath contempt,
and proceeded--"A pretty, gracious, ladylike woman, who has seen enough
of the world to know how to take her place, and yet will be content with
a quiet home. It is an introduction I thank you for, Colin."

"And pray," said Colin, the more inwardly nettled because he knew that
his elder brother enjoyed his annoyance, "what do you think of t