Humfrey's discomfited look of diversion.

'It won't do to generalize,' she said, merrily. 'Owen must be content to
regard crabs and shrimp boys as privileged individuals.'

Owen demanded whether when he was big he might be a shrimp boy, and a
good deal of fraternization had taken place between him and Mr.
Charlecote before the cottage was reached.

It was a very happy day to Honora; there was a repose and trust to be
felt in Humfrey's company, such as she had not experienced since she had
lost her parents, and the home sense of kindred was very precious. Only
women whose chief prop is gone, can tell the value of one who is still
near enough to disapprove without ceremony.

The anxiety that Honor felt to prove to her cousin that it was not a bit
of romantic folly to have assumed her present charge, was worth more than
all the freedom of action in the world. How much she wanted the children
to show off to advantage! how desirous she was that he should not think
her injudicious! yes, and how eager to see him pleased with their pretty
looks!

Lucilla came down cleaned, curled, and pardoned, and certainly a heart
must have been much less tender than Humfrey Charlecote's not to be
touched by the aspect of those two little fair waxen-looking beings in
the deepest mourning of orphanhood. He was not slow in making advances
towards them, but the maiden had been affronted, and chose to be slyly
shy and retiring, retreating to the other side of Miss Wells, and there
becoming intent upon her story-book, though many a gleam through her
eyelashes betrayed furtive glances at the stranger whom Owen was
monopolizing. And then she let herself be drawn out, with the drollest
mixture of arch demureness and gracious caprice. Honora had never before
seen her with a gentleman, and to be courted was evidently as congenial
an element to her as to a reigning beauty. She was perfectly
irresistible to manhood, and there was no doubt, ere the evening was
over, that Humfrey thought her one of the prettiest little girls he had
ever seen.

He remained a week at Sandbeach, lodging at the inn, but spending most of
his time with Honor. He owned that he had been unwell, and there
certainly was a degree of lassitude about him, though Honor suspected
that his real motive in coming was brotherly kindness and desire to see
whether she were suffering much from the death of Owen Sandbrook. Having
come, he seemed not to know how to go away. He wa