uch thought." And then the judge made it
understood that if he were left to himself he would dress for dinner.

When the ladies left the parlour that evening they found Graham
in the drawing-room, but there was no longer any necessity for
embarrassment on Madeline's part at meeting him. They had been in the
room together on three or four occasions, and therefore she could
give him her hand, and ask after his arm without feeling that every
one was watching her. But she hardly spoke to him beyond this, nor
indeed did she speak much to anybody. The conversation, till the
gentlemen joined them, was chiefly kept up by Sophia Furnival and
Mrs. Arbuthnot, and even after that the evening did not pass very
briskly.

One little scene there was, during which poor Lady Staveley's eyes
were anxiously fixed upon her son, though most of those in the room
supposed that she was sleeping. Miss Furnival was to return to
London on the following day, and it therefore behoved Augustus to be
very sad. In truth he had been rather given to a melancholy humour
during the last day or two. Had Miss Furnival accepted all his civil
speeches, making him answers equally civil, the matter might very
probably have passed by without giving special trouble to any one.
But she had not done this, and therefore Augustus Staveley had
fancied himself to be really in love with her. What the lady's
intentions were I will not pretend to say; but if she was in truth
desirous of becoming Mrs. Staveley, she certainly went about her
business in a discreet and wise manner.

"So you leave us to-morrow, immediately after breakfast," said he,
having dressed his face with that romantic sobriety which he had been
practising for the last three days.

"I am sorry to say that such is the fact," said Sophia.

"To tell you the truth I am not sorry," said Augustus; and he turned
away his face for a moment, giving a long sigh.

"I dare say not, Mr. Staveley; but you need not have said so to me,"
said Sophia, pretending to take him literally at his word.

"Because I cannot stand this kind of thing any longer. I suppose I
must not see you in the morning,--alone?"

"Well, I suppose not. If I can get down to prayers after having all
my things packed up, it will be as much as I can do."

"And if I begged for half an hour as a last kindness--"

"I certainly should not grant it. Go and ask your mother whether such
a request would be reasonable."

"Psha!"

"Ah, but it's n