and gay of
speech, was now completely silent, yet without constraint, and as if
wrapt in a dream.

"What has come over Nora?" asked Lefevre of his mother when they had
gone to the drawing-room.

"Ah," said Lady Lefevre, "you have noticed something, have you? Do you
find her very changed, then?"

"Very much changed."

"It's this attachment of hers to Julius. I want to have a talk with you
about it presently. She seems scarcely to live when he is not with her.
She sits like that always when he is gone, and appears only to dream and
wait,--wait with her life as if suspended till he comes back."

"Has it, indeed, got so far as that?" said her son with concern. "I had
better have a word or two with Julius about it."

Just then Mr Courtney was announced, and there were introductions on
this side and on that. He turned to be introduced to Lady Mary, and for
the time Lefevre forgot his sister, so engrossed was he with the altered
aspect of his friend. He looked worn and weary, like a student when the
dawn finds him still at his books. Lady Lefevre expressed that in her
question--

"Why, Julius, have you taken to hard work? You're not looking well, and
we have not seen you for days."

A flush rose to tinge his cheek, but it sank as soon as it appeared.

"I have been out of sorts," said he; "that is all. And you have not seen
me because I have bought a yacht and have been trying it on the river."

"A yacht!" exclaimed Lefevre. "I did not know you cared for the water."

"_You_ know me," laughed Julius in his own manner, "and not know that I
care for everything!" So saying, he laid his hand on Lefevre's arm. The
act was not remarkable, but its result was, for Lefevre felt it as if it
were a blow, and stood astonished at it.

During this interchange of words Lefevre (with Lady Mary) had been
moving with Julius, as he drew off across the room to greet Nora, and
the doctor could not help observing how the attention of all the company
was bent on his friend. Before his entrance all had been chatting or
laughing easily with their neighbours; now they seemed as constrained
and belittled as is a crowd of courtiers when a royal personage appears
in their midst. In truth, Julius at all times had a grace, an ease, and
a distinction of manner not unworthy of a prince; but on this occasion
he had an added something, an indefinable attraction which strangely
held the attention. Lefevre, therefore, was scarcely surprised (though,