he love that had existed without
aliment for six years might trust now. And "hap what hap," there never
was a happier man than my Fulk that evening.

He was too joyous not to be universally charitable. Nay, he called it
a blessed fancy of Emily's that brought her here, as it was Emily's,
and had brought him such bliss he could not quite scorn it, but he did
not, _could_ not believe in it as we did. It was culpable carelessness
in Hester, but colonial people had been used to such health that they
did not care about infection. But it was a glorious act of Emily's!
In fact the manly mind could believe nothing so horrible of any woman.

CHAPTER VII.

HUNTING.

Emily told Mr. Dayman the whole truth. Poor fellow! he could not face
Fulk again, and went back to Canada.

No doubt Emily went through a great deal, but we never exactly knew
what.

Fulk wrote to Mrs. Deerhurst, stating that he hoped in four years' time
to be able to purchase the farm, of which he had the lease, and without
going into the past, asking her sanction to the engagement.

She sent a cold letter in answer, to desire that the impertinence
should not be repeated.

And Emily wrote that her mother would not hear of the engagement, and
she knew Fulk would not wish her to deceive or disobey, "And so we must
trust one another still; but how sweet to do that!"

And when any of us met her there were precious little words and looks,
and Fulk meant to try again after the four years. In the meantime he
was much respected, and had made himself a place of his own. It chafed
Hester to perceive that though she had pulled us down she could not
depress us after the first. She had lowered her position, too, by her
marriage. At first Perrault was on his good behaviour, and made a
favourable impression among the second-rate Shinglebay society Hester
got round her; but as the hopes of the title coming to her diminished,
he kept less within bounds, did not treat her well at home, and took to
racing and gambling.

I never could get Fulk to share my alarms about Alured, but he did not
think Perrault's society fit for the boy, told Alured so, and forbade
him to go to Spinney Lawn. But though Alured was much improved as to
obedience, it was almost impossible to enforce this command. Hester
had some strange fascination for him. She would fiercely caress him at
times, and he knew she was his sister, and could not see why, when she
was often alone, he