me!'

'Oh! dear, my lord, your lordship, no,' said Mistress Pauncefort, with
a simper.

'But you, Pauncefort,' said Cadurcis, 'why there must be some magic in
the air here. I have been complimenting your lady and Miss Venetia;
but really, you, I should almost have thought it was some younger
sister.'

'Oh! my lord, you have such a way,' said Mistress Pauncefort,
retreating with a slow step that still lingered for a remark.

'Pauncefort, is that an Italian cap?' said Lord Cadurcis; 'you know,
Pauncefort, you were always famous for your caps.'

Mistress Pauncefort disappeared in a fluster of delight.

And now they had indeed departed. There was a pause of complete
silence after they had disappeared, the slight and not painful
reaction after the mirthful excitement of the last few hours. At
length Herbert, dropping, as was his evening custom, a few drops of
orange-flower into a tumbler of water, said, 'Annabel, my love, I am
rather surprised that neither you nor Venetia should have mentioned to
me that you knew, and knew so intimately, a man like Lord Cadurcis.'

Lady Annabel appeared a little confused; she looked even at Venetia,
but Venetia's eyes were on the ground. At length she said, 'In truth,
Marmion, since we met we have thought only of you.'

'Cadurcis Abbey, papa, is close to Cherbury,' said Venetia.

'Cherbury!' said Herbert, with a faint blush. 'I have never seen it,
and now I shall never see it. No matter, my country is your mother and
yourself. Some find a home in their country, I find a country in my
home. Well,' he added, in a gayer tone, 'it has gratified me much to
meet Lord Cadurcis. We were happy before, but now we are even gay.
I like to see you smile, Annabel, and hear Venetia laugh. I feel,
myself, quite an unusual hilarity. Cadurcis! It is very strange how
often I have mused over that name. A year ago it was one of my few
wishes to know him; my wishes, then, dear Annabel, were not very
ambitious. They did not mount so high as you have since permitted
them. And now I do know him, and under what circumstances! Is not life
strange? But is it not happy? I feel it so. Good night, sweet wife;
my darling daughter, a happy, happy night!' He embraced them ere
they retired; and opening a volume composed his mind after the novel
excitement of the evening.

CHAPTER IV.

Cadurcis left the brig early in the morning alone, and strolled
towards the villa. He met Herbert half-way to Spezzia, w