r.
Impertinent prig! He looks just capable of it!"

Frank was no better as to cold and deafness, though somewhat less
uncomfortable the next day in the lodging, and Rosamond went up
without him to the station to meet the rest of the party, and
arrange for Mrs. Poynsett's conveyance. They had accomplished the
journey much better than had been, hoped, but it was late and dark
enough to make it expedient that Mrs. Poynsett should be carried to
bed at once, after her most unwonted fatigue, and only have one
glimpse and embrace of Frank, so as to stave off the knowledge of
his troubles till after her night's rest. He seconded this desire,
and indeed Miles and Anne only saw that he had a bad cold; but
Rosamond no sooner had her husband to herself, than she raved over
his wrongs to her heart's content, and implored Julius to redress
them, though how, she did not well know, since she by turns declared
that Frank was well quit of Lenore, and that he would never get over
the loss.

Julius demurred a good deal to her wish of sending him on a mission
to Eleonora. All Charnocks naturally swung back to distrust of the
Vivians, and he did not like to plead with a girl who seemed only to
be making an excuse to reject his brother; while, on the other hand,
he knew that Raymond had not been satisfied with Frank's London
habits, nor had he himself been at ease as to his religious
practices, which certainly had been the minimum required to suit his
mother's notions. He had been a communicant on Christmas Day, but
he was so entirely out of reach that there was no knowing what
difference his illness might have made in him; Eleonora might know
more than his own family did, and have good and conscientious
reasons for breaking with him; and, aware that his own authority had
weight with her, Julius felt it almost too much responsibility to
interfere till the next day, when his mother, with tears in her
eyes, entreated him to go to Miss Vivian, to find out what was this
dreadful misunderstanding, which perhaps might only be from his want
of hearing, and implore her, in the name of an old woman, not to
break her boy's heart and darken his life, as it had been with his
brother.

Mrs. Poynsett was tremulous and agitated, and grief had evidently
told on her high spirit, so that Julius could make no objection, but
promised to do his best.

By the time it was possible to Julius to call, Sir Harry and Miss
Vivian were out riding, and he had