e present crisis without a certain
consciousness in his looks; and it was well that it was twilight, and
he could not read distinctly all that was written in their
countenances. Miss Cecilia held out her lovely old hand to him first
of all. She said, "How do you do, Frank?" which was not very original,
but yet counted for a good deal in the silence. When he came up to
her, she offered him her sweet old cheek with a look of pity which
touched, and yet affronted, the Perpetual Curate. He thought it was
the wisest way to accept the challenge at once.

"It is very good of you, but you need not be sorry for me," he said, as
he sat down by her. And then there was a little pause--an awful pause;
for Miss Wentworth had no further observations to offer, and Miss Dora,
who had risen up hastily, dropped into her chair again in a disconsolate
condition, when she saw that her nephew did not take any notice of her.
The poor little woman sat down with miserable sensations, and did not
find the comfort she hoped for in contemplation of the smoke of Jack's
cigar. After all, it was Frank who was the original owner of Miss Dora's
affections. When she saw him, as she thought, in a state of guilt and
trouble, received with grim silence by the dreaded Leonora, the poor
lady began to waver greatly, divided between a longing to return to her
old allegiance, and a certain pride in the new bonds which bound her to
so great a sinner as Jack. She could not help feeling the distinction of
having such a reprobate in her hands. But the sight of Frank brought
back old habits, and Miss Dora felt at her wits' end, and could not tell
what to do.

At length Miss Leonora's voice, which was decided contralto, broke the
silence. "I am very glad to see you, Frank," said the strong-minded
aunt. "From something we heard, I supposed you had gone away for a
time, and we were rather anxious about your movements. There are so
many things going on in the family just now, that one does not know
what to think. I am glad to see you are still in Carlingford."

"I never had the least intention of going away," said Mr Wentworth.
"I can't imagine who could tell you so."

"Nobody told us," said Miss Leonora; "we drew that conclusion from
other things we heard. Dora, give Frank the newspaper with that
paragraph about Gerald. I have prophesied from the very first which
way Gerald was tending. It is very shocking of him, and I don't know
what they are to do, for Louisa is