en there was a pause as if the stranger had stopped to
reconnoitre. Then came a knock at the window, which could only have been
done by a tall man, and the hearts of the ladies jumped up, and then
seemed to stop beating. To be sure, there were bolts and bars, but
Pearson was not much good, and the house was full of valuables and very
lonely. Mrs. Dennistoun rose up, trembling a little, and went forward to
the window, bidding Elinor go back and keep quite quiet. But here they
were interrupted by a voice which called from without, with another
knock on the window, "Nell! Nell!"

"It is Phil," said Elinor, flying to the door.

Mrs. Dennistoun sat down again and said nothing. Her heart sank in her
breast. She did not know what she feared; perhaps that he had come to
break off the marriage, perhaps to hurry it and carry her child away.
There was a pause as was natural at the door, a murmur of voices, a fond
confusion of words, which made it clear that no breach was likely, and
presently after that interval, Elinor came back beaming, leading her
lover. "Here is Phil," she said, in such liquid tones of happiness as
filled her mother with mingled pleasure, gratitude, and despite. "He has
found he had a day or two to spare, and he has rushed down here, fancy,
with an apology for not letting us know!"

"She thinks everyone is like herself, Mrs. Dennistoun, but I am aware
that I am not such a popular personage as she thinks me, and you have
least reason of all to approve of the man who is coming to carry her
away."

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Compton," she said, gravely, giving him her
hand.

The Hon. Philip Compton was a very tall man, with very black hair. He
had fine but rather hawk-like features, a large nose, a complexion too
white to be agreeable, though it added to his romantic appearance. There
was a furtive look in his big dark eyes, which had a way of surveying
the country, so to speak, before making a reply to any question,
like a man whose response depended upon what he saw. He surveyed Mrs.
Dennistoun in this way while she spoke; but then he took her hand,
stooped his head over it, and kissed it, not without grace. "Thank you
very much for that," he said, as if there had been some doubt on his
mind about his reception. "I was glad enough to get the opportunity, I
can tell you. I've brought you some birds, Mrs. Dennistoun, and I hope
you'll give me some supper, for I'm as hungry as a hawk. And now, Nell,
let's ha