detailed,
which I should certainly not have felt in the case of another woman. I
could see no cause for any uneasiness or any doubt, but she had made me
a little uneasy, and a little doubtful, nevertheless. In my youth, I
should have chafed and fretted under the irritation of my own
unreasonable state of mind. In my age, I knew better, and went out
philosophically to walk it off.

II

We all met again at dinner-time.

Sir Percival was in such boisterous high spirits that I hardly
recognised him as the same man whose quiet tact, refinement, and good
sense had impressed me so strongly at the interview of the morning.
The only trace of his former self that I could detect reappeared, every
now and then, in his manner towards Miss Fairlie. A look or a word
from her suspended his loudest laugh, checked his gayest flow of talk,
and rendered him all attention to her, and to no one else at table, in
an instant. Although he never openly tried to draw her into the
conversation, he never lost the slightest chance she gave him of
letting her drift into it by accident, and of saying the words to her,
under those favourable circumstances, which a man with less tact and
delicacy would have pointedly addressed to her the moment they occurred
to him. Rather to my surprise, Miss Fairlie appeared to be sensible of
his attentions without being moved by them. She was a little confused
from time to time when he looked at her, or spoke to her; but she never
warmed towards him. Rank, fortune, good breeding, good looks, the
respect of a gentleman, and the devotion of a lover were all humbly
placed at her feet, and, so far as appearances went, were all offered
in vain.

On the next day, the Tuesday, Sir Percival went in the morning (taking
one of the servants with him as a guide) to Todd's Corner. His
inquiries, as I afterwards heard, led to no results. On his return he
had an interview with Mr. Fairlie, and in the afternoon he and Miss
Halcombe rode out together. Nothing else happened worthy of record.
The evening passed as usual. There was no change in Sir Percival, and
no change in Miss Fairlie.

The Wednesday's post brought with it an event--the reply from Mrs.
Catherick. I took a copy of the document, which I have preserved, and
which I may as well present in this place. It ran as follows--

"MADAM,--I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, inquiring
whether my daughter, Anne, was placed under medical sup