l observer might have said, much more
important than a question of a foolish young fellow's love. Meanwhile
the maids peeped, and the old butler looked down the avenue where
Warrender's black horse was visible, marked with foam as if he had been
pushed on at a great pace, and yet, now that the house was in sight,
coming slowly enough. The servants had no doubt about what was going to
happen so far as Warrender was concerned--but it was all the more like
an exciting story to them that they had no certainty at all how it was
to end. Opinions were divided as to Lady Markland; indeed so wrapped was
the whole matter in mystery that those who ought to know the best, old
Soames for one, and her own maid for another, could give no opinion at
all.

Geoff was all this time in the room where he had his lessons, waiting
for his tutor. He was biting his nails to the quick, and twisting his
little face into every kind of contortion. Geoff was now ten, and he had
grown a great deal during the year,--if not so very much in stature, yet
a great deal in experience. A little, a very little, and yet enough to
swear by, of the wholesome discipline of neglect had fallen to Geoff's
share. Business and lessons had parted his day from his mother's in a
way which was very surprising when it was realised; and Geoff realised
it, perhaps, better than Lady Markland did. In the evenings she was, as
before, his alone; though sometimes even then a little preoccupied and
with other things in her mind, as she allowed, which she could scarcely
speak to him about. But in the long day these two saw comparatively little
of each other. At luncheon, Warrender was always there talking to Lady
Markland of subjects which Geoff was not familiar with. The boy thought,
sometimes, that Theo chose them on purpose to keep him "out of it."
Certainly he was very often out of it, and had to sit and stare and
listen, which was very good for him but did not make him more affectionate
towards Theo. To feel "out of it" is not a comfortable, but it is a very
maturing experience. Geoff sat by and thought what a lot Theo knew;
what a lot mamma knew; what an advantage grown-up people had; and how
inattentive to other people's feelings they were in using it. After
luncheon, Theo frequently stayed to talk something over with Lady
Markland; to show her something; now and then to help her with something
which she did not feel equal to, and during these moments Geoff was
supposed to "