e to the winds and
acknowledged, either by acts or words, the object of their love; but
not so Philip, who even at that age was by no means deficient in the
characteristic caution of the Caresfoot family. He saw clearly that
his father would never consent to his marriage with Hilda, nor, to
speak truth, did he himself at all like the idea of losing Miss Lee
and her estates.

On the other hand, he knew Hilda's proud and jealous mind. She was no
melting beauty who would sigh and submit to an affront, but, for all
her gracious ways, at heart a haughty woman, who, if she reigned at
all, would reign like Alexander, unrivalled and alone. That she was
well aware of her friend's tendresse for Philip the latter very
shortly guessed; indeed, as he suspected, Maria was in the habit of
confiding to her all her hopes and fears connected with himself, a
suspicion that made him very careful in his remarks to that young
lady.

The early summer passed away whilst Philip was still thinking over his
position, and the face of the country was blushing with all the glory
of July, when one afternoon he found himself, as he did pretty
frequently, in the shady drawing-room at Miss Lee's. As he entered,
the sound of voices told him that there were other visitors beside
himself, and, as soon as his eyes had grown accustomed to the light,
he saw his cousin George, together with his partner Mr. Bellamy, and a
lady with whom he was not acquainted.

George had improved in appearance somewhat since we last saw him
meeting with severe treatment at his cousin's hands. The face had
filled up a little, with the result that the nose did not look so
hooked, nor the thick lips so coarse and sensual. The hair, however,
was as red as ever, and as for the small, light-blue eyes, they
twinkled with the added sharpness and lustre that four years of such
experience of the shady side of humanity as can be gathered in a
lawyer's office, is able to give to the student of men and manners.

So soon as Philip had said how-do-you-do to Maria and Hilda, giving to
each a gentle pressure of the hand, George greeted him with warmth.

"How are you, Philip? delighted to see you; how is my uncle? Bellamy
saw him this morning, and thought that he did not look well."

"I certainly did think, Mr. Philip," said the gentleman alluded to, a
very young-looking, apple-faced little man, with a timid manner, who
stood in the background nervously rubbing his dry hands together--"I