te, tinted
with a soft eglantine pink, deepening into roses on the cheeks; the hair
was in long flaxen curls, and the eyelashes, so long and fair that at
times they caught a glossy light, shaded eyes of that deep blue upon that
limpid white, which is like nothing but the clear tints of old porcelain.
The features were as yet unformed, but small and delicate, and the
upright Napoleon gesture had something peculiarly quaint and pretty in
such a soft-looking little creature. The boy was a handsome fellow, with
more solidity and sturdiness, and Honora could scarcely continue to amuse
him, as she thought of the father's pain in parting with two such
beings--his sole objects of affection. A moment's wish flashed across
her, but was dismissed the next moment as a mere childish romance.

Old Mr. Sandbrook came in, and various other guests arrived, old
acquaintance to whom Owen must be re-introduced, and he looked fagged and
worn by the time all the greetings had been exchanged and all the remarks
made on his children. When dinner was announced, he remained to the last
with them, and did not appear in the dining-room till his uncle had had
time to look round for him, and mutter something discontentedly about
'those brats.' The vacant chair was beside Honora, and he was soon
seated in it, but at first he did not seem inclined to talk, and leant
back, so white and exhausted, that she thought it kinder to leave him to
himself.

When, somewhat recruited, he said in a low voice something of his hopes
that his little Cilly, as he called her, would be less shy another time,
and Honora responding heartily, he quickly fell into the parental strain
of anecdotes of the children's sayings and doings, whence Honora
collected that in his estimation Lucilla's forte was decision and Owen's
was sweetness, and that he was completely devoted to them, nursing and
teaching them himself, and finding his whole solace in them. Tender pity
moved her strongly towards him, as she listened to the evidences of the
desolateness of his home and his heavy sorrow; and yet it was pity alone,
admiration would not revive, and indeed, in spite of herself, her
judgment _would_ now and then respond 'unwise,' or 'weak,' or 'why permit
this?' at details of Lucilla's _mutinerie_. Presently she found that his
intentions were quite at variance with those of his brother. His purpose
was fixed to take the children with him.

'They are very young,' said Honora.

'