Roby.

"Nobody knew when he was coming. I think he told Emily that he might
be here any day."

"He's the most uncertain man alive," said Mrs. Dick, who was a good
deal scared by the arrival, though determined to hold up her head and
exhibit no fear.

"I suppose the old gentleman will come in and have some dinner,"
whispered Captain Gunner to his neighbour Mrs. Leslie.

"Not if he knows I'm here," replied Mrs. Leslie, tittering. "He
thinks that I am,--oh, something a great deal worse than I can tell
you."

"Is he given to be cross?" asked Lady Eustace, also affecting to
whisper.

"Never saw him in my life," answered the Major, "but I shouldn't
wonder if he was. Old gentlemen generally are cross. Gout, and that
kind of thing, you know."

For a minute or two the servants stopped their ministrations,
and things were very uncomfortable; but Lopez, as soon as he had
recovered himself, directed Mr. Sugarscraps' men to proceed with the
banquet. "We can eat our dinner, I suppose, though my father-in-law
has come back," he said. "I wish my wife was not so fussy, though
that is a kind of thing, Lady Eustace, that one has to expect from
young wives." The banquet did go on, but the feeling was general that
a misfortune had come upon them, and that something dreadful might
possibly happen.

Emily, when she rushed out, met her father in the hall, and ran into
his arms. "Oh, papa!" she exclaimed.

"What's all this about?" he asked, and as he spoke he passed on
through the hall to his own room at the back of the house. There were
of course many evidences on all sides of the party,--the strange
servants, the dishes going in and out, the clatter of glasses, and
the smell of viands. "You've got a dinner-party," he said. "Had you
not better go back to your friends?"

"No, papa."

"What is the matter, Emily? You are unhappy."

"Oh, so unhappy!"

"What is it all about? Who are they? Whose doing is it,--yours or
his? What makes you unhappy?"

He was now seated in his arm-chair, and she threw herself on her
knees at his feet. "He would have them. You mustn't be angry with me.
You won't be angry with me;--will you?"

He put his hand upon her head, and stroked her hair. "Why should I
be angry with you because your husband has asked friends to dinner?"
She was so unlike her usual self that he knew not what to make of it.
It had not been her nature to kneel and to ask for pardon, or to be
timid and submissive. "What is it, E