self out for
goodness, and fling him the rein, with only now and then a jerk to remind
him that she was a free agent.

A long-talked-of journey on the Continent was to come to pass as soon as
Horatia's strain was well. In spite of wealth and splendour, Eloisa had
found herself disappointed in the step that she had hoped her marriage
would give her into the most _elite_ circles. Languid and indolent as
her mind was, she could not but perceive that where Ratia was intimate
and at ease, she continued on terms of form and ceremony, and her husband
felt more keenly that the society in his house was not what it had been
in his mother's time. They both became restless, and Lolly, who had
already lived much abroad, dreaded the dulness of an English winter in
the country; while Charles knew that he had already spent more than he
liked to recollect, and that the only means of keeping her contented at
Castle Blanch, would be to continue most ruinous expenses.

With all these secret motives, the tour was projected as a scheme of
amusement, and the details were discussed between Charles and Rashe with
great animation, making the soberness of Hiltonbury appear both tedious
and sombre, though all the time Lucy felt that there she should again
meet that which her heart both feared and yearned for, and without which
these pleasures would be but shadows of enjoyment. Yet that they were
not including her in their party, gave her a sense of angry neglect and
impatience. She wanted to reject their invitation indignantly, and make
a merit of the sacrifice.

The after-dinner discussion was in full progress when she was called out
to speak to Mr. Prendergast. Heated, wearied, and choking with dust, he
would not come beyond the hall, but before going home he had walked all
this distance to tell her the result of his expedition. Derval had not
been uncivil, but evidently thought the suspicion an affront to his
_corps_, which at present was dispersed by the end of the season. The
Italian bass was a married man, and had returned to his own country. The
clue had failed. The poor leaf must be left to drift upon unknown winds.

'But,' said the curate, by way of compensation, 'at Masters's I found
Miss Charlecote herself, and gave your message.'

'I gave no message.'

'No, no, because you would not send me up into the City; but I told her
all you would have had me say, and how nearly you had come up with me,
only I would not let you, f