hake of the
hand to Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, with the ease and air of the young master,
returning to his mother's house.

'When did you come?'

'Only to-day. I got away sooner than I expected. I went to Lowndes
Square, and they told me I should find you here, so I came away as soon
as dinner was over. They were dressing for some grand affair, and wanted
me to come with them, but of course I must come to see if you had really
achieved bringing bright Phoebe from her orbit.'

His simile conveyed the astronomical compliment at once to Honora and
Phoebe, who were content to share it. Honora was in a condition of
subdued excitement and anxiety, compared to which all other sensations
were tame, chequered as was her felicity, a state well known to mothers
and sisters. Intensely gratified at her darling's arrival, gladdened by
his presence, rejoicing in his endowments, she yet dreaded every phrase
lest some dim misgiving should be deepened, and watched for the
impression he made on her friends, as though her own depended upon it.

Admiration could not but come foremost. It was pleasant to look upon
such a fine specimen of manly beauty and vigour. Of unusual height, his
form was so well moulded, that his superior stature was only perceived by
comparison with others, and the proportions were those of great strength.
The small, well-set head, proudly carried, the short, straight features,
and the form of the free massive curls, might have been a model for the
bust of a Greek athlete; the colouring was the fresh, healthy bronzed
ruddiness of English youth, and the expression had a certain boldness of
good-humoured freedom, agreeing with the quiet power of the whole figure.
Those bright gray eyes could never have been daunted, those curling,
merry lips never at a loss, that smooth brow never been unwelcome, those
easy movements never cramped, nor the manners restrained by bashfulness.

The contrast was not favourable to Robert. The fair proportions of the
one brought out the irregular build of the other; the classical face made
the plain one more homely, the erect bearing made the eye turn to the
slouching carriage, and the readiness of address provoked comparison with
the awkward diffidence of one disregarded at home. Bashfulness and
depression had regained their hold of the elder lad almost as the younger
one entered, and in the changes of position consequent upon the new
arrival, he fell into the background, and stood l