owever, that he held his thoughts shut up
in his own mind, the more active and troublesome they became, and an
idea took possession of him, which he made very few efforts to shake
off, though he could not at first see clearly how to carry it into
execution.

This idea was that he must return to Canada. He thought that one hour of
actual presence would do more for his cause than a hundred letters--nay,
he did not despair of persuading Mrs. Costello to bring Lucia to
England, where he could keep some watch and guard over them both; but,
at any rate, he had a strong fancy that he might at once learn the
secret of her distress himself, and help her to keep it from others. He
calculated that six weeks' absence from Hunsdon would enable him to do
this, and at the same time to make arrangements for his father's comfort
more satisfactory than the present ones. The last inducement was, of
course, the one he meant to make bear the weight of his sudden anxiety,
and after much deliberation, or what he thought was deliberation, he
decided that the first thing to be done was to interest his cousin in
his plans and try to get her help.

But as it happened, Lady Dighton was just at that moment away from home.
She and Sir John were staying at a house which, though nearer to Hunsdon
than to their own home, was a considerable distance for morning
visitors, even in the country. Still Maurice, who had some acquaintance
with the family, thought he might ride over and see her there, and take
his chance of being able to get an opportunity of explaining the service
he wanted her to do him. However, a slight increase of illness in Mr.
Beresford prevented him from getting away from home, and he was obliged
to wait with what patience he could for her next visit to Hunsdon.

Mr. Beresford's health appeared to return to its usual condition, and
grateful for the comfort Maurice's presence had been to him during his
greater suffering, he seemed to be every day more satisfied with and
attached to his heir. The disadvantage of this was that he required more
and more of Maurice's company, and seemed to dislike sparing him a
moment except while he slept. This was not promising for the success of
any scheme of absence, but, on the other hand, there was so much of
reason and consideration for his grandson, mixed with the invalid's
exactions, that it seemed not hopeless to try to obtain his consent.

After an interval of more than a week, Lady Dighton rea