and you seemed to expect. How did you rest last night?"

"Oh, excellently well! remarkably well! never better in my life," said
General Browne rapidly, and yet with an air of embarrassment which was
obvious to his friend. He then hastily swallowed a cup of tea, and,
neglecting or refusing whatever else was offered, seemed to fall into a
fit of abstraction.

"You will take the gun to-day, General?" said his friend and host, but had
to repeat the question twice ere he received the abrupt answer: "No, my
lord; I am sorry I cannot have the honor of spending another day with your
lordship; my post horses are ordered, and will be here directly."

All who were present showed surprise, and Lord Woodville immediately
replied: "Post horses, my good friend! What can you possibly want with
them, when you promised to stay with me quietly for at least a week?"

"I believe," said the general, obviously much embarrassed, "that I might,
in the pleasure of my first meeting with your lordship, have said
something about stopping here a few days; but I have since found it
altogether impossible."

"That is very extraordinary," answered the young nobleman. "You seemed
quite disengaged yesterday, and you cannot have had a summons to-day; for
our post has not come up from the town, and therefore you cannot have
received any letters."

General Browne, without giving any further explanation, muttered something
of indispensable business, and insisted on the absolute necessity of his
departure in a manner which silenced all opposition on the part of his
host, who saw that his resolution was taken, and forbore all further
importunity.

"At least, however," he said, "permit me, my dear Browne, since go you
will or must, to show you the view from the terrace, which the mist, that
is now rising, will soon display."

He threw open a sash-window, and stepped down upon the terrace as he
spoke. The general followed him mechanically, but seemed little to attend
to what his host was saying, as, looking across an extended and rich
prospect, he pointed out the different objects worthy of observation.

Thus they moved on till Lord Woodville had attained his purpose of drawing
his guest entirely apart from the rest of the company, when, turning
around upon him with an air of great solemnity, he addressed him thus:

"Richard Browne, my old and very dear friend, we are now alone. Let me
conjure you to answer me upon the word of a friend, and the honor o