not prevent him from keeping up
such a stream of earplugs and sinister auguries, that it was almost the
climax of good-temper that enabled Louis to lie still, trying to read a
great quarto Park's Travels, and abstaining from any reply that could
aggravate matters. As the one would not go to luncheon, the other
would not; and after watching the sound of the ladies' setting out for
their drive, Louis said that he would go and lie on the turf; but at
that moment the door was thrown open, and in ran Virginia.
Explanations were quickly exchanged--how she had come to find Vertot's
Malta for Isabel, and how he had been sent in by hurting his foot.

'Were you going to stay in all day?' said Virginia. 'Oh, come with us!
We have the pony-carriage; and we are going to a dear old ruin, walking
and driving by turns. Do, pray, come; there's plenty of room.'

There could be no objection to the school-room party, and it was no
small relief to escape from James and hope he was amused; so
Fitzjocelyn allowed himself to be dragged off in triumph, and James was
acceding to his entreaty that he would go in search of the
shooting-party, when, as they reached the hall-door, they beheld Miss
Conway waiting on the steps.

There was no receding for her any more than for Louis, so she could
only make a private resolution against the pony-carriage, and dedicate
herself to the unexceptionable company of little sister, governess and
tutor; for James had resigned the shooting, and attached himself to the
expedition. It was an excellent opportunity of smoothing his cousin's
way, and showing that all was not caprice that might so appear: so he
began to tell of his most advantageous traits of character, and to
explain away his whimsical conduct, with great ardour and ingenuity.
He thought he should be perfectly satisfied if he could win but one
smile of approbation from that gravely beautiful mouth; and it came at
last, when he told of Fitzjocelyn's devoted affection to Mrs. Frost and
his unceasing kindness to the old ladies of Dynevor Terrace. Thus
gratified, he let himself be led into abstract questions of
principle,--a style of discussion frequent between Miss King and
Isabel, but on which the latter had never seen the light of a man's
mind thrown except through books. The gentlemen whom she had met were
seldom either deep or earnest, except those too much beyond her reach;
and she had avoided anything like confidence or intimacy: but Mr.
D