ed between a wish and a command. Her heart is as yet
untouched. If she can love you, may you deserve her affection."

"It shall be my study to do so. But why this departure from your roof
just when we ought to see most of each other? It cannot be that you
would separate us?"

"I fear, Lord Vargrave, that if Evelyn were to remain here, she would
decide against you. I fear if you press her now, such now may be her
premature decision. Perhaps this arises from too fond an attachment for
her home; perhaps even a short absence from her home--from me--may more
reconcile her to a permanent separation."

Vargrave could say no more, for here they were joined by Caroline and
Mrs. Merton; but his manner was changed, nor could he recover the gayety
of the previous night.

When, however, he found time for meditation, he contrived to reconcile
himself to the intended visit. He felt that it was easy to secure the
friendship of the whole of the Merton family; and that friendship might
be more useful to him than the neutral part adopted by Lady Vargrave. He
should, of course, be invited to the rectory; it was much nearer London
than Lady Vargrave's cottage, he could more often escape from public
cares to superintend his private interest. A country neighbourhood,
particularly at that season of the year, was not likely to abound
in very dangerous rivals. Evelyn would, he saw, be surrounded by a
_worldly_ family, and he thought that an advantage; it might serve to
dissipate Evelyn's romantic tendencies, and make her sensible of the
pleasures of the London life, the official rank, the gay society that
her union with him would offer as an equivalent for her fortune. In
short, as was his wont, he strove to make the best of the new turn
affairs had taken. Though guardian to Miss Cameron, and one of the
trustees for the fortune she was to receive on attaining her majority,
he had not the right to dictate as to her residence. The late lord's
will had expressly and pointedly corroborated the natural and lawful
authority of Lady Vargrave in all matters connected with Evelyn's
education and home. It may be as well, in this place, to add, that to
Vargrave and the co-trustee, Mr. Gustavus Douce, a banker of repute
and eminence, the testator left large discretionary powers as to the
investment of the fortune. He had stated it as his wish that from one
hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty thousand pounds should be
invested in the purchase of