in his voice, as who should say:
"Well, now to be done with explanations and the velvet glove. Have at
you!" What he actually said was:

"Ah, there's a deal of mischief to be done without a declaration, my
friend. But, however, I don't expect that you should share my view. I
only suggested it on the off chance because--well, I suppose, because
that would be the easiest way out for me, as host. But I don't know that
I should have thought much of you if you had met me half-way. So now
let me do my part and get it over, for it's not very pleasant. I have
shown you my reasons, which, however they may seem to you, are
undeniable to me. Now for my wishes in the matter, as a father; I am
sure there is no need for me to say 'instructions,' so I say 'wishes.'
They are simply that for the time--for a year or two, anyhow--you should
not give me the pleasure of being your host, and that you should not
communicate in any way with Sylvia. There, now it's said, and done, and
I think we might leave it at that; for I don't think it's much more
pleasant for me than for you. I'm sure I hope we shall have many a
pleasant evening together--er--after a few years have passed. Now, what
do you say--shall we have another cigar, or go in to the ladies?"

I flatter myself that, with all my shortcomings, I was never a sulky
fellow. At all events, I elected to join the ladies; but my reward was
not immediately apparent, for it seemed that Sylvia had retired for the
night. At least, we did not meet again until breakfast-time next
morning, when departure was imminent, and the week's work had, so to
say, begun.

VIII

A STIRRING WEEK

Ay! we would each fain drive
At random, and not steer by rule.
Weakness! and worse, weakness bestows in vain.
Winds from our side the unsuiting consort rive.
We rush by coasts where we had lief remain;
Man cannot, though he would, live chance's fool.

. . . . .

Even so we leave behind,
As, charter'd by some unknown Powers,
We stem across the sea of life by night.
The joys which were not for our use design'd;
The friends to whom we had no natural right,
The homes that were not destined to be ours.

MATTHEW ARNOLD.

It goes without saying that Mr. Wheeler's attitude, and my being
practically forbidden the house at Weybridge, strengthened and sharpened
my interest in Sylvia. N