's sensitive pride, and eagerly
explained the disproportion between his birth and fortune, and his
gallant efforts to relieve his grandmother from her burthens. He was
pleased to find that he had touched all his auditors, and to hear
kind-hearted Mrs. Mansell repeat her special invitation to Mr. Frost
Dynevor with double cordiality.

'If you must play practical jokes,' said James, as they watched the
carriage drive off, 'I wish you would choose better moments for them.'

'I thought you would be more in character as a merman brave,' said
Louis.

'I wonder what character you thought you appeared in?'

'I never meant you to discover it while they were here, nor would you,
if you were not so careful of your complexion. Come, throw it at my
head now, as you would have done naturally, and we shall have fair
weather again!'

'I am only concerned at the impression you have made.'

'Too late now, is it? You don't mean to be bad company for the rest of
the day. It is too bad, after such a presence as has been here. She is
a poem in herself. It is like a vision to see her move in that calm,
gliding way. Such eyes, so deep, so tranquil, revealing the sphere
apart where she dwells! An ideal! How can you be savage after sitting
in the same room, and hearing that sweet, low voice?'

Meantime the young lady sat back in the carriage, dreamily hearing, and
sometimes answering, the conversation of her two elders, as they
returned through pretty forest-drives into the park of Beauchastel, and
up to the handsome, well-kept house; where, after a few words from Mrs.
Mansell, she ascended the stairs.

'Isabel!' cried a bright voice, and a girl of fourteen came skating
along the polished oak corridor. 'Come and have some tea in the
school-room, and tell us your adventures!' And so saying, she dragged
the dignified Isabel into an old-fashioned sitting-room, where a little
pale child, two years younger, sprang up, and, with a cry of joy, clung
round the elder sister.

'My white bind-weed,' said Isabel, fondly caressing her, 'have you been
out on the pony?'

'Oh I yes, we wanted only you. Sit down there.'

And as Isabel obeyed, the little Louisa placed herself on her lap, with
one arm round her neck, and looked with proud glee at the kind,
sensible-faced governess who was pouring out the tea.

'The reconnoitring party!' eagerly cried Virginia.

'Did you find the cousin?'

'Yes, we did.'

'Oh! Then what is he like?'