ration of the captain decided Honora on
accepting it, but not without much murmuring from Lucilla. Caroline and
Horatia were detestable grown-up young ladies, her aunt was horrid,
Castle Blanch was the slowest place in the world; she should be shut up
in some abominable school-room to do fancy-work, and never to get a bit
of fun. Even the being reminded of Wrapworth and its associations only
made her more cross. She was of a nature to fly from thought or
feeling--she was keen to perceive, but hated reflection, and from the
very violence of her feelings, she unconsciously abhorred any awakening
of them, and steeled herself by levity.

Her distaste only gave way in Robert's presence, when she appeared highly
gratified by the change, certain that Castle Blanch would be charming,
and her cousin the Life-guardsman especially so. The more disconsolate
she saw Robert, the higher rose her spirits, and his arrival to see the
party off sent her away in open triumph, glorifying her whole cousinhood
without a civil word to him; but when seated in the carriage she launched
at him a drawing, the favourite work of her leisure hours, broke into
unrestrained giggling at his grateful surprise, and ere the wood was
past, was almost strangled with sobs.

Castle Blanch was just beyond the suburbs of London, in complete country,
but with an immense neighbourhood, and not half-an-hour by train from
town. Honora drove all the way, to enjoy the lovely Thames scenery to
the full. They passed through Wrapworth, and as they did so, Lucilla
chattered to the utmost, while Honora stole her hand over Owen's and
gently pressed it. He returned the squeeze with interest, and looked up
in her face with a loving smile--mother and home were not wanting to him!

About two miles further on, and not in the same parish, began the Castle
Blanch demesne. The park sloped down to the Thames, and was handsome,
and quite full of timber, and the mansion, as the name imported, had been
built in the height of pseudo-Gothic, with a formidable keep-looking
tower at each corner, but the fortification below consisting of glass;
the sham cloister, likewise glass windows, for drawing-room, music-room,
and conservatory; and jutting out far in advance, a great embattled
gateway, with a sham portcullis, and doors fit to defy an army.

Three men-servants met the guests in the hall, and Mrs. Charteris
received them in the drawing-room, with the woman-of-the-world tact th