not offend her
more than by implying that he is mortal. Nay, child, it is very natural.
Quite apart from his fame, there is something in that man's familiar
talk, or rather, perhaps, in the very sound of his voice, which makes
most other society seem flat and insipid.

"I feel it myself. And when Flora's young admirers flutter and babble
round her--just after Darrell has quitted his chair beside her--they
seem very poor company. I am sure, Flora," continued Vyvyan kindly,
"that the mere acquaintance of such a man has done you much good; and
I am now in great hopes that, whenever you marry, it will be a man of
sense."

"Um!" again said the Colonel, eyeing Flora aslant, but with much
attention. "How I wish, for my friend's sake, that he was of an age
which inspired Miss Vyvyan with less--veneration."

Flora turned her back on the Colonel, looking out of the window, and her
small foot beating the ground with nervous irritation.

"It was given out that Darrell intended to marry again," said Mr.
Vyvyan. "A man of that sort requires a very superior highly-educated
woman; and if Miss Carr Vipont had been a little more of his age she
would have just suited him. But I am patriot enough to hope that he will
remain single, and have no wife but his country, like Mr. Pitt." The
Colonel having now satisfied his curiosity, and assured himself that
Darrell was, there at least, no rejected suitor, rose and approached
Flora to make peace and to take leave. As he held out his hand, he was
struck with the change in a countenance usually so gay in its aspect--it
spoke of more than dejection, it betrayed distress; when she took his
hand, she retained it, and looked into his eyes wistfully; evidently
there was something on her mind which she wished to express and did not
know how. At length she said in a whisper: "You are Mr. Darrell's most
intimate friend; I have heard him say so; shall you see him soon?"

"I fear not; but why?"

"Why? you, his friend; do you not perceive that he is not happy? I, a
mere stranger, saw it at the first. You should cheer and comfort him;
you have that right--it is a noble privilege."

"My dear young lady," said the Colonel, touched, "you have a better
heart than I thought for. It is true Darrell is not a happy man; but can
you give me any message that might cheer him more than an old bachelor's
commonplace exhortations to take heart, forget the rains of yesterday,
and hope for some gleam of sun on the mo