w must have thought Farleigh
wretchedly out of order. Poor Sir John was so very careless about keeping
up the house and grounds. I often talked to him about it, but he said,
"Pooh pooh! as long as my friends find a good dinner and a good bottle of
wine, they won't care about my ceilings being rather smoky." He was so
very hospitable, was Sir John.'

'I think the view of the house from the park, just after we passed the
bridge, particularly fine,' said Miss Assher, interposing rather eagerly,
as if she feared her mother might be making infelicitous speeches, 'and
the pleasure of the first glimpse was all the greater because Anthony
would describe nothing to us beforehand. He would not spoil our first
impressions by raising false ideas. I long to go over the house, Sir
Christopher, and learn the history of all your architectural designs,
which Anthony says have cost you so much time and study.'

'Take care how you set an old man talking about the past, my dear,' said
the Baronet; 'I hope we shall find something pleasanter for you to do
than turning over my old plans and pictures. Our friend Mr. Gilfil here
has found a beautiful mare for you and you can scour the country to your
heart's content. Anthony has sent us word what a horsewoman you are.'

Miss Assher turned to Mr. Gilfil with her most beaming smile, and
expressed her thanks with the elaborate graciousness of a person who
means to be thought charming, and is sure of success.

'Pray do not thank me,' said Mr. Gilfil, 'till you have tried the mare.
She has been ridden by Lady Sara Linter for the last two years; but one
lady's taste may not be like another's in horses, any more than in other
matters.'

While this conversation was passing, Captain Wybrow was leaning against
the mantelpiece, contenting himself with responding from under his
indolent eyelids to the glances Miss Assher was constantly directing
towards him as she spoke. 'She is very much in love with him,' thought
Caterina. But she was relieved that Anthony remained passive in his
attentions. She thought, too, that he was looking paler and more languid
than usual. 'If he didn't love her very much--if he sometimes thought of
the past with regret, I think I could bear it all, and be glad to see Sir
Christopher made happy.'

During dinner there was a little incident which confirmed these thoughts.
When the sweets were on the table, there was a mould of jelly just
opposite Captain Wybrow, and being incl