ther fragile than slight. But in his carriage and air
there was remarkable dignity. His countenance was at direct variance
with his figure; for as delicacy was the attribute of the last, so power
was unmistakably the characteristic of the first. He looked fully
the age his steward had ascribed to him,--about forty-eight; at a
superficial glance, more, for his hair was prematurely white,--not gray,
but white as snow. But his eyebrows were still jet black, and his eyes,
equally dark, were serenely bright. His forehead was magnificent,--lofty
and spacious, and with only one slight wrinkle between the brows. His
complexion was sunburnt, showing no sign of weak health. The outline of
his lips was that which I have often remarked in men accustomed to
great dangers, and contracting in such dangers the habit of
self-reliance,--firm and quiet, compressed without an effort. And
the power of this very noble countenance was not intimidating, not
aggressive; it was mild, it was benignant. A man oppressed by some
formidable tyranny, and despairing to find a protector, would, on seeing
that face, have said, "Here is one who can protect me, and who will!"

Sir Philip was the first to break the silence.

"I have so many relations scattered over England, that fortunately not
one of them can venture to calculate on my property if I die childless,
and therefore not one of them can feel himself injured when, a few weeks
hence, he shall read in the newspapers that Philip Derval is married.
But for Richard Strahan at least, though I never saw him, I must do
something before the newspapers make that announcement. His sister was
very dear to me."

"Your neighbours, Sir Philip, will rejoice at your marriage, since, I
presume, it may induce you to settle amongst them at Derval Court."

"At Derval Court! No! I shall not settle there." Again he paused a
moment or so, and then went on: "I have long lived a wandering life, and
in it learned much that the wisdom of cities cannot teach. I return to
my native land with a profound conviction that the happiest life is the
life most in common with all. I have gone out of my way to do what I
deemed good, and to avert or mitigate what appeared to me evil. I pause
now and ask myself, whether the most virtuous existence be not that
in which virtue flows spontaneously from the springs of quiet everyday
action; when a man does good without restlessly seeking it, does good
unconsciously, simply because he is g