n's heart. And no adequate reason assigned for
so sudden a flight and so morbid a resolve! Some tormenting
remembrance--some rankling grief--distinct from those of which Alban was
cognisant, from those in which he had been consulted, was implied, but
by vague and general hints. But what was the remembrance or the grief,
Alban Morley, who knew everything, was quite persuaded that Darrell
would never suffer him to know. Could it be in any way connected with
those three young ladies to whom Darrell's attentions had been so
perversely impartial? The Colonel did not fail to observe that to those
young ladies Darrell's letter made no allusion. Was it not possible
that he had really felt for one of them a deeper sentiment than a man
advanced in years ever likes to own even to his nearest friend--hazarded
a proposal, and met with a rebuff? If so, Alban conjectured the
female culprit by whom the sentiment had been inspired, and the rebuff
administered. "That mischievous kitten, Flora Vyvyan," growled the
Colonel. "I always felt that she had the claws of a tigress under her
_patte de velours_!" Roused by this suspicion, he sallied forth to call
on the Vyvyans. Mr. Vyvyan, a widower, one of those quiet gentleman-like
men who sit much in the drawing-room and like receiving morning
visitors, was at home to him. "So Darrell has left town for the season,"
said the Colonel, pushing straight to the point.

"Yes," said Mr. Vyvyan. "I had a note from him this morning to say he
had renounced all hope of--"

"What?" cried the Colonel.

"Joining us in Switzerland. I am so sorry. Flora still more sorry. She
is accustomed to have her own way, and she had set her heart on hearing
Darrell read 'Manfred' in sight of the Jungfrau!"

"Um!" said the Colonel. "What might be sport to her might be death to
him. A man at his age is not too old to fall in love with a young lady
of hers. But he is too old not to be extremely ridiculous to such a
young lady if he does."

"Colonel Morley--Fie!" cried an angry voice behind him. Flora had
entered the room unobserved. Her face was much flushed, and her eyelids
looked as if tears had lately swelled beneath them, and were swelling
still.

"What have I said to merit your rebuke?" asked the Colonel composedly.

"Said! coupled the thought of ridicule with the name of Mr. Darrell!"

"Take care, Morley," said Mr. Vyvyan, laughing. "Flora is positively
superstitious in her respect for Guy Darrell; and you can