ouched some secret sore, some latent
wound of the memory? She recalled all their conversations again and
again. Ah, why could they not be renewed? Upon her fancy and her
thoughts Maltravers had made an impression not to be obliterated.
She wrote more frequently than ever to Lady Vargrave, and the name of
Maltravers was found in every page of her correspondence.

One evening, at the house of a neighbour, Miss Cameron (with the
Mertons) entered the room almost in the same instant as Maltravers. The
party was small, and so few had yet arrived that it was impossible
for Maltravers, without marked rudeness, to avoid his friends from the
rectory; and Mrs. Merton, placing herself next to Evelyn, graciously
motioned to Maltravers to occupy the third vacant seat on the sofa, of
which she filled the centre.

"We grudge all your improvements, Mr. Maltravers, since they cost us
your society. But we know that our dull circle must seem tame to one who
has seen so much. However, we expect to offer you an inducement soon in
Lord Vargrave. What a lively, agreeable person he is!"

Maltravers raised his eyes to Evelyn, calmly and penetratingly, at the
latter part of this speech. He observed that she turned pale, and sighed
involuntarily.

"He had great spirits when I knew him," said he; "and he had then less
cause to make him happy."

Mrs. Merton smiled, and turned rather pointedly towards Evelyn.

Maltravers continued, "I never met the late lord. He had none of the
vivacity of his nephew, I believe."

"I have heard that he was very severe," said Mrs. Merton, lifting her
glass towards a party that had just entered.

"Severe!" exclaimed Evelyn. "Ah, if you could have known him! the
kindest, the most indulgent--no one ever loved me as he did." She
paused, for she felt her lip quiver.

"I beg your pardon, my dear," said Mrs. Merton, coolly. Mrs. Merton had
no idea of the pain inflicted by _treading upon a feeling_. Maltravers
was touched, and Mrs. Merton went on. "No wonder he was kind to you,
Evelyn,--a brute would be that; but he was generally considered a stern
man."

"I never saw a stern look, I never heard a harsh word; nay, I do not
remember that he ever even used the word 'command,'" said Evelyn, almost
angrily.

Mrs. Merton was about to reply, when suddenly seeing a lady whose little
girl had been ill of the measles, her motherly thoughts flowed into a
new channel, and she fluttered away in that sympathy which unites al