e expected her to cling to him,
and Mr. Calthorp, springing forward, eagerly exclaimed in familiar,
patronizing tones, 'Miss Sandbrook! They told me you were gone this
way.' Then, in a very different voice at the unexpected look and bow
that he encountered: 'I hope Miss Charteris's accident is not serious.'

'Thank you, not serious,' was the freezing reply.

'I am glad. How did it occur?'

'It was a fall.' He should have no good story wherewith to regale his
friends.

'Going on well, I trust? Chancing to be at Dublin, I heard by accident
you were here, and fearing that there might be a difficulty, I ran down
in the hope of being of service to you.'

'Thank you,' in the least thankful of tones.

'Is there nothing I can do for you?'

'Thank you, nothing.'

'Could I not obtain some advice for Miss Charteris?'

'Thank you, she wishes for none.'

'I am sure'--he spoke eagerly--'that in some way I could be of use to
you. I shall remain at hand. I cannot bear that you should be alone in
this remote place.'

'Thank you, we will not put you to inconvenience. We intended to be
alone.'

'I see you esteem it a great liberty,' said poor Mr. Calthorp; 'but you
must forgive my impulse to see whether I could be of any assistance to
you. I will do as you desire, but at least you will let me leave Stefano
with you; he is a fellow full of resources, who would make you
comfortable here, and me easy about you.'

'Thank you, we require no one.'

Those 'thank you's' were intolerable, but her defensive reserve and
dignity attracted the gentleman more than all her dashing brilliancy, and
he became more urgent. 'You cannot ask me to leave you entirely to
yourselves under such circumstances.'

'I more than ask it, I insist upon it. Good morning.'

'Miss Sandbrook, do not go till you have heard and forgiven me.'

'I will not hear you, Mr. Calthorp. This is neither the time nor place,'
said Lucilla, inly more and more perturbed, but moving along with slow,
quiet steps, and betraying no emotion. 'The object of our journey was
totally defeated by meeting any of our ordinary acquaintance, and but for
this mischance I should have been on my way home to-day.'

'Oh! Miss Sandbrook, do you class me among your ordinary acquaintance?'

It was all she could do to hinder her walk from losing its calm slowness,
and before she could divest her intended reply of undignified sharpness,
he continued: 'Who could have betrayed my