He looked up; it was Lady Montfort. He did not speak, but gave her,
perhaps unconsciously, a glance of reproach and despair.

"What is the matter with you?" she said.

"Nothing."

"That is nonsense. Something must have happened. I have missed you so
long, but was determined to find you. Have you a headache?"

"No."

"Come back; come back with me. It is so odd. My lord has asked for you
twice."

"I want to see no one."

"Oh! but this is absurd--and on a day like this, when every thing has
been so successful, and every one is so happy."

"I am not happy, and I am not successful."

"You perfectly astonish me," said Lady Montfort; "I shall begin to
believe that you have not so sweet a temper as I always supposed."

"It matters not what my temper is."

"I think it matters a great deal. I like, above all things, to live with
good-tempered people."

"I hope you may not be disappointed. My temper is my own affair, and I
am content always to be alone."

"Why! you are talking nonsense, Endymion."

"Probably; I do not pretend to be gifted. I am not one of those
gentlemen who cannot fail. I am not the man of the future."

"Well! I never was so surprised in my life," exclaimed Lady Montfort. "I
never will pretend to form an opinion of human character again. Now, my
dear Endymion, rouse yourself, and come back with me. Give me your arm.
I cannot stay another moment; I dare say I have already been wanted a
thousand times."

"I cannot go back," said Endymion; "I never wish to see anybody again.
If you want an arm, there is the Count of Ferroll, and I hope you may
find he has a sweeter temper than I have."

Lady Montfort looked at him with a strange and startled glance. It was
a mixture of surprise, a little disdain, some affection blended with
mockery. And then exclaiming "Silly boy!" she swept out of the room.

CHAPTER LXI

"I do not like the prospect of affairs," said Mr. Sidney Wilton to
Endymion as they were posting up to London from Montfort Castle; a long
journey, but softened in those days by many luxuries, and they had much
to talk about.

"The decline of the revenue is not fitful; it is regular. Our people are
too apt to look at the state of the revenue merely in a financial point
of view. If a surplus, take off taxes; if a deficiency, put them on. But
the state of the revenue should also be considered as the index of the
condition of the population. According to my impression, the condition
o