veying my countenance from behind the thick black veil
which, with the shadowing panels, entirely concealed her
own from me.

'I--I came to see the place,' faltered I.

'The place,' repeated she, in a tone which betokened
more displeasure or disappointment than surprise.

'Will you not enter it, then ?'

'If you wish it.'

'Can you doubt?'

'Yes, yes! he must enter,' cried Arthur, running round
from the other door; and seizing my hand in both his, he
shook it heartily.

'Do you remember me, sir?' said he.

'Yes, full well, my little man, altered though you are,'
replied I, surveying the comparatively tall, slim young
gentleman, with his mother's image visibly stamped upon his
fair, intelligent features, in spite of the blue eyes beaming
with gladness, and the bright looks clustering beneath his cap.

'Am I not grown?' said he, stretching himself up to his
full height.

'Grown! three inches, upon my word!'

'I was seven last birthday,' was the proud rejoinder. 'In
seven years more I shall be as tall as you nearly.'

'Arthur,' said his mother, 'tell him to come in. Go on,
Richard.'

There was a touch of sadness as well as coldness in her
voice, but I knew not to what to ascribe it. The carriage drove
on and entered the gates before us. My little companion
led me up the park, discoursing merrily all the way.
Arrived at the hall-door, I paused on the steps and looked
round me, waiting to recover my composure, if possible--or,
at any rate, to remember my new-formed resolutions and
the principles on which they were founded; and it was not
till Arthur had been for some time gently pulling my coat,
and repeating his invitations to enter, that I at length
consented to accompany him into the apartment where the
ladies awaited us.

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