an Florence could never think that when you knew
of her engagement--knew that within a few months at furthest--"

"Pardon me, if I stop you. Tell your sister from me that she has nothing
to apprehend from any pretensions of mine. I can see that you think me
changed, Milly; grown very old and very worn. Well, go back, and tell
her that the inward change is far greater than the outward one. Mad
Harry has become as tame and quiet and commonplace as that gentleman in
the morocco case yonder; and if she will condescend to see me, she may
satisfy herself that neither of us in future need be deemed dangerous to
the other."

There was an insolent pride in the manner of his delivery of these words
that made Emily's cheek burn as she listened, and all that her aunt had
often told her of "Calvert insolence" now came fully to her mind.

"I will go and speak to my aunt," she said at last

"Do so," said he, carelessly, as he threw himself into a chair, and
took up the book that lay nearest to him. He had not turned over many
pages--he had read none--when Miss Grainger entered. She was flushed and
flurried in manner; but tried to conceal it.

"We are giving you a very strange welcome, Colonel--Mr. Calvert; but you
know us all of old, and you know that dear Florry is so easily agitated
and overcome. She is better now, and if you will come up stairs to the
little drawing-room, she'll see you."

"I am all gratitude," said he, with a low bow: "but I think it is,
perhaps, better not to inconvenience her. A visit of constraint would
be, to me at least, very painful. I'd rather leave the old memories of
my happiness here undashed by such a shadow. Go back, therefore, and say
that I think I understand the reason of her reserve; that I am sincerely
grateful for the thoughtful kindness she has been minded to observe
towards me. You need not add," said he with a faint smile, "that
the consideration in the present case was unnecessary. I am not so
impressionable as I used to be; but assure her that I am very sorry for
it, and that Colonel Calvert, with all his successes, is not half so
happy a fellow as mad Harry used to be without a guinea."

"But you'll not leave us? You'll stay here to-night?"

"Pray excuse me. One of my objects--my chief one--in coming over here,
was to ask your nieces' acceptance of some trinkets I had brought for
them. Perhaps this would not be a happy moment to ask a favour at their
hands, so pray keep them over an