't he changed, Alice? Did you ever see any one so altered?"

"Not a bit changed, Bella; he is exactly what he was at the
grammar-school, at Harrow, and at Sandhurst,--very intolerant to the
whole world, as a compensation for the tyranny some one, boy or man as
it may be, exercises over him. All his good qualities lie under this
veil, and so it was ever with him."

"I wish his friend was not coming."

"And I wish that he had not sent away _ours_, for I 'm sure Tony would
have been up here before this if something unusual had not occurred."

"Here's a strange piece of news for you, girls," said Sir Arthur,
coming towards them. "Tony Butler left for Liverpool in the packet this
morning. Barnes, who was seeing his brother off, saw him mount the side
of the steamer with his portmanteau in his hand. Is it not singular he
should have said nothing about this last night?"

The sisters looked with a certain secret intelligence at each other, but
did not speak. "Except, perhaps, he may have told you girls." added he
quickly, and catching the glance that passed between them.

"No, papa," said Alice, "he said nothing of his intention to us; indeed,
he was to have ridden over with me this morning to Mount-Leslie, and ask
about those private theatricals that have been concerted there for the
last two years, but of which all the performers either marry or die off
during the rehearsals."

"Perhaps this all-accomplished friend of Mark's who comes here by the
end of the week, will give the project his assistance. If the half of
what Mark says of him be true, we shall have for our guest one of the
wonders of Europe."

"I wish the Leslies would take me on a visit till he goes," said Alice.

"And I," said Bella, "have serious thoughts of a sore throat that
will confine me to my room. Brummelism--and I hate it--it is just
Brummelism--is somewhat out of vogue at this time of day. It wants
the prestige of originality, and it wants the high patronage that once
covered it; but there is no sacrifice of self-respect in being amused
by it, so let us at least enjoy a hearty laugh, which is more than the
adorers of the great Beau himself ever acquired at his expense."

"At all events, girls, don't desert the field and leave me alone with
the enemy; for this man is just coming when we shall have no one here,
as ill-luck would have it."

"Don't say ill-luck, papa," interposed Bella; "for if he be like what we
suspect, he would outrage and af