ld be out of Horatia's sight, and so
drew on and on to the detriment of her distances.

Positively it was past twelve, and the desire to be surprised
unconcernedly occupied could no longer obviate her restlessness, so she
packed up her hair-pencil, and, walking back to the inn, found Rashe in
solitary possession of the coffee-room.

'You have missed him, Cilly.'

'Owen? No one else?'

'No, not the Calthorp; I am sorry for you.'

'But who was here? tell me, Rashe.'

'Owen, I tell you,' repeated Horatia, playing with her impatience.

'Tell me; I will know whether he has any one with him.'

'Alack for your disappointment, for the waste of that blue bow; not a
soul came here but himself.'

'And where is he? how did I miss him?' said Lucilla, forcibly repressing
the mortification for which her cousin was watching.

'Gone. As I was not in travelling trim, and you not forthcoming, he
could not wait; but we are to be off to-morrow at ten o'clock.'

'Why did he not come out to find me? Did you tell him I was close by?'

'He had to join his friend, and go to the Vale of Avoca. I've found out
the man, Cilla. No, don't look so much on the _qui vive_; it's only Jack
Hastings!'

'Jack Hastings!' said Lucilla, her looks fallen. 'No wonder he would not
bring him here.'

'Why not, poor fellow? I used to know him very well before he was up the
spout.'

'I wish Owen had not fallen in with him,' said the sister, gravely. 'Are
you certain it is so, Rashe?'

'I taxed him with it, and he did not deny it; only put it from him,
laughing. What's the harm? Poor Jack was always a good-natured,
honourable fellow, uncommonly clever and amusing--a well-read man, too;
and Owen is safe enough--no one could try to borrow of him.'

'What would Honor's feelings be?' said Lucilla, with more fellow-feeling
for her than for months past. Lax as was the sister's tolerance, she was
startled at his becoming the associate of an avowedly loose character
under the stigma of the world, and with perilous abilities and
agreeableness; and it was another of Horatia's offences against proper
feeling, not only to regard such evil communications with indifference,
but absolutely to wish to be brought into contact with a person of this
description in their present isolated state. Displeased and uneasy,
Lucilla assumed the _role_ of petulance and quarrelsomeness for the rest
of the day, and revenged herself to the best of her abilities upon R