reasonwhy
the
fourth
daughter
invariably
took
precedence
of
all
the
others
,
when
she
whispered
in
a
confidential
tone
,
'
because
she
once
had
a
proposal
.
'
"
"
If
young
ladies
take
precedence
on
such
grounds
,
"
observed
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
with
a
glance
towards
Agnes
and
Marion
,
"
I
know
who
ought
soon
to
leave
all
others
behind
!
My
cousins
here
have
the
game
in
their
own
hands
;
four
by
honors
and
the
odd
trick
.
"
"
Young
ladies
had
much
better
gain
precedence
by
accepting
offers
than
by
refusing
them
!
"
said
Sir
Patrick
,
whistling
himself
off
to
the
window
.
"
She
's
daft
to
refuse
the
laird
o
'
Cock-pen
!
"
"
I
once
saw
a
man
who
had
been
refused
!
"
said
Captain
De
Crespigny
.
"
He
should
have
kicked
himself
out
of
the
world
after
such
an
adventure
!
From
that
day
to
this
I
have
lived
in
a
nervous
horror
of
being
rejected
!
I
am
the
most
marrying
man
in
the
world
,
but
I
never
can
venture
to
make
an
offer
.
I
do
wonder
how
people
set
about
it
!
The
author
who
published
a
complete
letter-writer
,
should
give
us
a
complete
manual
of
proposals
for
all
occasions
!
I
am
so
horribly
diffident
!
Even
coming
into
a
room
you
have
no
idea
how
much
I
suffer
from
shyness
!
"
"
It
is
astonishing
,
then
,
what
a
good
face
you
manage
to
put
upon
it
,
"
said
Marion
,
dryly
.
"
I
never
guessed
you
were
at
all
shy
!
"
"
No
!
nor
that
I
am
a
lover
out
of
place
,
in
want
of
a
situation
!
Would
it
be
a
good
plan
,
Miss
Marion
Dunbar
,
to
advertise
?
You
,
being
pen
in
hand
already
,
shall
write
the
advertisement
.
Describe
me
as
made
of
every
creature
's
best
!
How
would
it
do
to
make
a
raffle
of
me
?
Twenty
thousand
tickets
at
one
guinea
each
.
How
many
will
you
take
?
"
"
I
have
no
money
to
waste
,
"
replied
Marion
.
"
But
perhaps
some
young
ladies
with
more
,
if
they
could
be
quite
sure
of
a
blank
,
might
venture
on
one
ticket
,
out
of
charity
,
hearing
you
are
so
anxious
to
go
off
.
"
"
I
do
wonder
if
anybody
would
take
me
,
"
continued
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
a
tone
of
careless
conceit
.
"
I
have
the
greatest
mind
to
try
Lady
Charlotte
Malcolm
!
Do
you
think
,
Miss
Dunbar
,
I
might
have
any
chance
?
"
"
Not
the
slightest
!
"
replied
Agnes
,
laughing
.
"
I
could
bet
my
longest
ringlet
that
she
would
reject
you
at
once
.
Charlotte
complained
to
me
long
ago
how
forward
gentlemen
are
—
always
proposing
,
on
the
slightest
encouragement
.
"
"
Remarkably
true
!
I
am
positive
that
nine
out
of
ten
were
refused
last
winter
.
We
are
a
most
unfortunate
set
of
old
fellows
,
Dunbar
.
Nobody
appreciates
us
.
I
had
made
myself
a
promise
to
go
off
this
season
!
positively
my
last
appearance
.
But
,
"
added
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
dropping
his
voice
into
a
low
tone
of
apparent
feeling
,
"
the
more
I
am
desirous
to
recommend
myself
,
the
less
I
succeed
.
If
it
were
possible
for
either
of
you
ladies
ever
to
see
me
indifferent
about
pleasing
,
then
you
would
be
astonished
at
my
success
.
Did
Dunbar
never
mention
,
that
in
the
company
of
those
I
do
not
care
for
,
I
am
quite
another
man
?
"
"
No
!
"
replied
Agnes
,
blushing
and
smiling
.
"
Patrick
is
aware
that
we
always
judge
of
people
's
merits
for
ourselves
.
"
"
What
would
I
not
give
to
hear
that
verdict
pronounced
!
If
you
have
tried
me
by
a
court-martial
,
you
may
at
least
let
me
know
the
sentence
!
"
"
It
would
do
you
good
,
De
Crespigny
,
to
hear
those
girls
discussing
your
demerits
!
Your
vanity
requires
lowering
a
peg
or
two
!
"
said
Sir
Patrick
,
with
a
mischievous
laugh
.
"
You
owe
me
countless
thanks
for
putting
in
a
word
of
defence
now
and
then
to
protect
you
,
for
positively
they
are
too
bad
.
On
the
score
of
conceit
and
extravagance
,
I
undertake
to
be
your
champion
.
Such
faults
are
like
the
spots
upon
ermine
,
rather
ornamental
than
otherwise
;
but
if
any
one
says
you
dress
ill
,
I
have
not
a
syllable
to
say
.
Let
me
advise
you
,
as
a
friend
,
to
discard
that
tailor
.
He
is
atrocious
.
It
would
be
the
utmost
stretch
of
my
friendship
to
be
seen
with
you
anywhere
to-day
,
except
in
some
rural
parts
of
the
country
;
so
now
for
our
walk
.
"
"
Dress
as
you
may
,
Dunbar
,
you
will
never
look
like
me
!
"
replied
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
as
they
lounged
off
together
.
"
It
was
a
problem
of
Euclid
,
which
we
settled
at
Eton
long
ago
,
and
may
demonstrate
now
,
that
A
B
C
can
never
be
equal
to
D
E
F
.
Good
morning
,
ladies
!
au
revoir
!
we
must
fly
.
In
your
society
I
resemble
the
gentleman
we
used
to
read
of
in
our
school
books
,
whose
wings
were
melted
because
he
ventured
too
near
the
sun
.
"
The
more
Marion
saw
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
the
more
astonished
she
became
at
the
multiplicity
of
his
talents
for
conversation
,
and
at
his
universal
craving
to
be
admired
,
while
all
the
petits
soins
which
he
lavished
on
herself
,
she
,
as
a
matter
of
course
,
set
down
to
his
extraordinary
vanity
,
which
could
not
allow
the
most
insignificant
of
mortals
to
escape
his
fascinations
;
but
to
have
supposed
his
attentions
to
be
indications
of
love
,
she
would
have
considered
as
absurd
a
blunder
as
to
mistake
an
oyster-shell
for
an
oyster
.
Captain
De
Crespigny
sketched
caricatures
with
inimitable
humor
,
sung
with
taste
,
and
with
every
appearance
of
feeling
,
and
his
versatility
of
powers
in
talking
were
almost
incredible
.
He
discussed
science
occasionally
with
any
blue-stocking
,
like
a
philosopher
—
looked
dismal
upon
politics
with
members
of
Parliament
—
talked
agriculture
and
fat
cattle
with
country
gentlemen
—
could
describe
the
state
of
New
Zealand
,
as
if
he
had
visited
the
country
,
to
old
ladies
,
with
large
families
of
enterprising
sons
.
He
was
musical
with
the
musical
,
sentimental
with
the
sentimental
,
and
apparently
at
home
equally
in
poetry
or
metaphysics
.
With
a
smile
for
one
,
a
sigh
for
another
,
and
a
jest
for
a
third
,
his
small-talk
for
young
ladies
might
be
minced
into
the
smallest
grains
of
sense
or
nonsense
;
while
at
the
same
time
he
could
even
get
up
a
very
plausible
religious
conversation
,
on
the
most
approved
model
,
when
in
company
with
any
one
like
Marion
,
to
whom
he
thought
it
might
render
him
more
acceptable
.
The
true
secret
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
almost
universal
popularity
,
lay
in
his
appearing
so
flatteringly
interested
by
whatever
occupied
the
attention
of
others
;
and
whether
it
were
the
last
snowstorm
,
or
a
newly
discovered
star
in
the
firmament
—
an
old
pedigree
or
a
new
bonnet
,
he
seemed
equally
ready
to
follow
the
lead
of
any
young
lady
,
being
sufficiently
delighted
in
his
own
private
mind
,
to
imagine
how
every
word
he
said
,
and
every
look
he
looked
,
would
be
afterwards
treasured
and
remembered
by
those
whom
he
had
no
particular
intention
of
remembering
himself
.
Marion
observed
narrowly
and
anxiously
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
conduct
to
Agnes
;
but
even
her
discernment
,
quickened
by
the
most
affectionate
solicitude
,
could
bring
her
to
no
conclusive
decision
respecting
his
intentions
,
though
she
could
not
but
feel
sanguine
at
one
time
,
and
justly
indignant
at
another
,
according
as
the
thermometer
of
her
hopes
and
fears
rose
or
fell
;
yet
she
strongly
suspected
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
was
but
indulging
his
own
ambition
—
that
he
wished
to
be
thought
of
and
talked
about
—
to
become
devotedly
loved
—
to
be
necessary
to
the
happiness
of
another
—
to
constitute
that
happiness
for
a
short
time
,
and
then
to
destroy
it
as
a
useless
toy
,
which
had
amused
him
for
an
hour
,
and
might
be
broken
without
remorse
.
"
How
different
!
oh
!
how
very
different
from
Richard
Granville
!
"
thought
Marion
,
with
a
glowing
smile
.
"
To
him
the
peace
of
no
living
mortal
is
insignificant
;
and
when
loved
or
trusted
,
who
ever
was
so
considerate
,
so
totally
unselfish
,
so
free
from
vanity
and
caprice
!
No
Christian
can
doubt
that
happiness
and
principle
are
one
.
"
The
name
of
any
individual
more
than
commonly
interesting
is
apt
to
occur
often
in
conversation
,
a
propos
to
everything
or
nothing
;
and
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
penetration
very
soon
discovered
,
that
the
Granvilles
were
never
heard
of
or
mentioned
by
Marion
with
indifference
;
therefore
being
anxious
to
fathom
her
secret
,
and
to
ascertain
the
extent
of
her
intimacy
with
them
,
he
tried
the
experiment
one
day
,
by
professing
an
enthusiastic
admiration
for
the
extraordinary
eloquence
of
"
Dick
Granville
!
"
in
whom
he
appeared
suddenly
to
have
discovered
a
thousand
new
and
unheard-of
good
qualities
,
while
with
humorous
pertinacity
he
defended
him
from
all
the
satirical
cuts
with
which
Sir
Patrick
tried
to
lower
his
importance
in
the
eyes
of
Marion
;
but
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
unconscious
of
the
lead
which
he
was
expected
to
follow
,
rattled
on
in
his
accustomed
way
,
"
Granville
always
was
one
whom
nothing
could
spoil
!
So
different
from
young
Meredith
,
who
used
one
short
month
since
to
go
about
with
a
quiet
country-curate
look
,
but
since
he
has
become
rather
popular
in
the
pulpit
,
he
enters
a
room
with
his
chin
in
the
air
,
and
all
the
self-confidence
of
a
great
lion
.
Weak
heads
are
easily
intoxicated
.
"
"
And
people
here
do
all
in
their
power
to
ruin
those
they
most
admire
,
by
very
overdone
adulation
,
"
added
Agnes
.
"
It
would
be
a
very
strong
fortress
of
humility
that
could
withstand
all
the
absurd
mobbing
which
Mr.
Granville
has
to
undergo
.
"
"
As
Lady
Towercliffe
said
to
me
yesterday
,
in
her
usual
slip-slop
style
of
talking
,
'
Mr
.
Granville
is
so
very
eloquent
,
so
benevolent
,
so
learned
,
so
pious
,
and
has
such
a
neat
foot
!
'
"
continued
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
laughing
.
"
Really
,
Dunbar
!
if
you
and
I
quarrel
with
everybody
better
than
ourselves
,
we
shall
find
no
one
left
to
associate
with
!
I
have
but
one
weak
side
on
earth
,
Miss
Marion
Dunbar
,
and
it
is
that
of
always
standing
up
for
the
absent
.
"
"
They
very
often
require
it
;
and
whether
in
jest
or
earnest
,
I
am
glad
you
do
,
"
replied
Marion
,
finding
herself
obliged
to
speak
,
while
her
look
of
agitated
consciousness
,
occasioned
a
thrill
of
jealousy
in
the
heart
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
which
brought
a
sudden
flush
into
his
countenance
;
but
he
assumed
a
careless
tone
,
to
conceal
his
real
feelings
,
and
turned
to
Sir
Patrick
,
saying
,
"
a
propos
of
absence
,
the
Granvilles
are
never
here
now
!
I
remember
the
time
when
that
pretty
sister
and
my
cousins
were
like
the
three
graces
,
perfectly
inseparable
!
"
At
these
words
,
Sir
Patrick
colored
to
the
very
temples
;
and
instantly
afterwards
becoming
pale
as
marble
,
he
stooped
to
pat
his
dog
,
and
then
impatiently
whistled
Dash
,
along
with
himself
,
out
of
the
room
first
,
and
finally
out
of
the
house
;
while
Marion
's
eye
was
turned
towards
Agnes
,
with
a
deep
and
searching
look
of
enquiry
and
astonishment
.
CHAPTER
XXII
.
Nothing
had
ever
surprised
and
annoyed
Captain
De
Crespigny
more
than
the
unadmiring
indifference
with
which
,
week
after
week
,
Marion
received
his
visits
.
Her
easy
,
good
humored
courtesy
of
manner
was
unpardonable
!
No
peculiar
consciousness
became
visible
in
her
manner
,
when
he
addressed
her
;
no
accession
of
sensibility
in
her
voice
;
no
agitation
in
her
smile
;
no
increase
of
her
natural
timidity
;
no
desire
of
captivation
,
nor
the
slightest
coquetry
in
displaying
her
own
fascinations
.
To
be
thus
treated
like
a
cousin
or
a
brother
was
mortifying
in
the
extreme
,
and
appeared
to
him
perfectly
unaccountable
,
because
he
little
guessed
the
contrast
which
incessantly
presented
itself
to
Marion
's
mind
,
between
the
low
,
every-day
tone
of
his
thoughts
,
on
all
the
essential
objects
of
existence
,
and
the
elevated
sentiments
or
generous
feelings
,
to
which
she
had
lately
become
accustomed
in
the
society
of
Mr.
Granville
.
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
conversation
always
diverted
her
on
account
of
its
eccentricity
;
but
in
the
selfishness
and
vanity
he
inadvertently
betrayed
,
she
saw
how
little
he
could
know
the
real
nature
and
value
of
that
happiness
springing
from
principle
and
affection
,
which
alone
could
satisfy
her
heart
.
Formerly
,
Captain
De
Crespigny
would
have
gloried
in
surmounting
difficulties
,
if
he
had
ever
found
any
difficulties
to
conquer
;
and
now
he
was
determined
not
to
become
discouraged
,
though
he
felt
,
if
such
a
thing
could
be
possible
,
almost
humbled
.
His
eye
followed
Marion
wherever
she
turned
,
and
he
was
now
for
ever
by
her
side
,
though
she
evidently
made
it
her
continual
business
to
avoid
him
,
as
she
had
latterly
become
more
aware
than
before
of
his
assiduity
.
Fortified
by
the
consciousness
of
her
own
secret
engagement
,
and
by
the
knowledge
that
Agnes
had
a
well-founded
belief
in
his
attachment
to
herself
,
Marion
's
countenance
,
which
told
every
transient
emotion
of
her
heart
,
never
betrayed
a
thought
of
love
;
and
it
seemed
to
Captain
De
Crespigny
as
if
her
heart
must
be
of
granite
,
so
cold
and
hard
beneath
a
smiling
stream
.
She
was
long
of
even
suspecting
the
worst
,
and
would
not
fully
believe
when
she
did
,
that
his
volatile
fancy
had
really
changed
;
yet
a
spell
seemed
over
her
,
that
she
could
not
escape
from
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
society
,
without
giving
offence
to
Sir
Patrick
and
Agnes
,
who
both
,
for
different
reasons
,
insisted
on
her
being
present
when
he
called
,
though
,
unlike
her
sister
,
who
would
have
sacrificed
every
one
to
herself
,
she
would
have
sacrificed
herself
for
every
one
,
and
only
thought
with
considerate
affection
,
how
she
could
best
spare
the
feelings
of
Agnes
,
and
at
the
same
time
escape
from
occasioning
any
jealousy
,
the
fear
of
which
now
haunted
her
like
a
perpetual
night-mare
.
One
morning
,
when
Agnes
was
seated
in
a
state
of
exceedingly
full-blown
satisfaction
,
expecting
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
usual
visit
,
and
considering
him
as
much
her
own
property
as
either
her
reticule
or
her
work-box
,
she
observed
Marion
,
who
had
occupations
for
every
hour
of
the
day
,
hastily
gather
up
her
drawing
materials
,
and
glide
towards
the
door
,
evidently
anxious
to
escape
without
observation
,
but
in
vain
.
The
barometer
of
Agnes
's
countenance
had
become
exceedingly
stormy
,
while
watching
Marion
's
progress
;
and
being
one
who
rather
enjoyed
the
excitement
of
a
quarrel
than
otherwise
,
she
asked
Marion
in
a
voice
raised
an
octave
higher
than
usual
,
which
sounded
as
sharp
and
cutting
as
an
east
wind
,
where
she
was
about
to
go
,
adding
,
in
her
most
sarcastic
tone
,
"
Pray
inform
me
,
Marion
,
why
I
am
to
be
left
in
solitude
here
,
when
everybody
knows
that
in
a
place
like
this
I
cannot
possibly
receive
visitors
alone
.
One
would
suppose
that
you
wished
to
prevent
me
from
seeing
Captain
De
Crespigny
this
morning
.
"
"
By
no
means
,
Agnes
.
But
is
there
any
occasion
for
me
to
remain
,
when
Patrick
of
course
accompanies
him
here
as
usual
?
"
"
Nonsense
,
Marion
.
You
know
perfectly
well
that
Patrick
may
or
may
not
be
here
,
for
that
all
depends
on
whims
like
your
own
,
and
nothing
renders
it
correct
to
receive
gentlemen
in
the
morning
,
except
there
being
two
of
us
at
home
.
I
expected
more
friendship
and
consideration
from
you
;
but
people
never
will
think
of
any
one
but
themselves
!
"
"
You
are
like
a
Hebrew
scholar
,
and
always
read
me
backwards
,
Agnes
.
I
have
only
to
know
your
wishes
in
order
to
comply
with
them
,
"
replied
Marion
,
good-humoredly
re-seating
herself
,
and
adding
,
with
a
beautiful
timidity
of
manner
and
voice
,
"
I
cannot
but
think
that
,
until
you
are
actually
engaged
,
it
would
perhaps
be
better
if
—
if
—
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
attentions
were
not
to
—
to
be
at
all
divided
.
"
"
Divided
!
"
exclaimed
Agnes
,
looking
perfectly
sublime
in
her
anger
.
"
What
can
you
mean
?
"
"
Excuse
me
,
Agnes
,
"
replied
Marion
,
trying
to
steady
her
voice
,
and
to
hide
her
confusion
.
"
I
mean
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
has
the
reputation
of
being
a
confirmed
flirt
;
that
I
hope
and
trust
,
if
it
be
really
for
your
happiness
,
he
is
,
as
you
think
,
irretrievably
attached
and
engaged
to
yourself
;
but
if
a
housemaid
enter
the
room
,
he
cannot
resist
attempting
to
look
handsome
,
and
to
attract
her
admiration
;
therefore
you
cannot
but
suppose
he
will
endeavor
to
waste
some
of
his
fascinations
occasionally
upon
me
,
and
till
he
is
my
brother
,
I
would
rather
avoid
any
such
absurdity
.
"
"
Your
meaning
is
plain
enough
now
,
and
requires
no
interpreter
!
"
said
Agnes
,
with
an
angry
toss
of
her
head
.
"
Every
one
must
see
and
know
,
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
is
exclusively
and
entirely
devoted
to
me
.
"
"
That
is
a
point
,
Agnes
,
of
which
no
third
person
can
be
an
adequate
judge
,
"
replied
Marion
,
evasively
;
"
but
I
am
as
anxious
to
believe
it
as
yourself
.
"
"
If
you
entertain
any
fear
of
causing
me
a
disappointment
,
make
your
own
mind
perfectly
easy
,
as
mine
is
.
If
Captain
De
Crespigny
could
hesitate
a
moment
between
us
,
I
should
scarcely
think
him
worth
living
for
,
and
still
less
worth
dying
for
.
Be
assured
I
shall
never
endure
a
moment
's
uneasiness
on
your
account
.
Here
he
comes
,
regular
as
the
rising
sun
,
and
quite
as
welcome
.
"
After
all
the
lively
badinage
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
first
reception
was
over
,
Marion
quietly
retreated
into
the
deep
embrasure
of
a
window
,
where
her
work-table
stood
,
and
busied
herself
with
answering
some
notes
,
while
almost
entirely
shaded
from
observation
;
yet
still
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
eye
incessantly
wandered
to
the
place
where
she
sat
,
for
there
was
something
unintentionally
piquante
in
the
total
indifference
with
which
she
thus
secluded
herself
from
his
attentions
and
civilities
.
Observing
,
at
length
,
that
Marion
had
begun
carefully
pruning
the
dead
leaves
from
a
bouquet
of
rather
drooping
flowers
,
which
seemed
still
vainly
affecting
to
look
fresh
and
gay
,
he
broke
off
in
the
middle
of
a
sentence
from
Agnes
,
and
clandestinely
approaching
the
table
when
Marion
was
looking
in
another
direction
,
he
stole
them
all
away
,
and
substituted
one
so
fresh
and
fragrant
that
Marion
uttered
an
exclamation
of
rapturous
admiration
.
She
neither
blushed
nor
looked
down
,
however
;
but
as
if
it
were
no
more
than
an
every
day
civility
,
held
it
up
to
Agnes
for
admiration
,
and
endeavored
to
attract
her
towards
the
table
by
the
perfume
of
her
beautiful
flowers
.
"
Nothing
withered
or
blighted
should
ever
be
here
,
"
said
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
his
most
sentimental
tone
.
"
I
should
like
,
in
one
respect
,
to
resemble
flowers
,
which
give
nothing
but
pleasure
to
all
who
see
them
.
Are
you
writing
prose
,
or
is
this
Poet
's
Corner
?
If
I
had
the
pen
of
Moore
,
I
could
find
one
subject
for
my
muse
more
beautiful
than
any
he
ever
wrote
upon
,
and
feelings
more
deep
than
he
ever
expressed
!
My
eyes
have
ached
for
the
last
half
hour
with
trying
to
see
you
;
and
half
my
eye-strings
are
cracked
with
looking
from
so
great
a
distance
.
"
Marion
was
now
seriously
annoyed
,
and
a
glow
of
indignant
vexation
mantled
upon
her
cheek
;
but
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
mistaking
her
blushes
and
silence
,
began
to
flatter
himself
that
the
fortress
was
not
so
impregnable
as
he
had
feared
.
A
scrap
of
paper
lay
on
the
table
,
which
Marion
had
carelessly
flung
aside
,
after
trying
a
pen
,
by
writing
down
several
times
her
own
Christian
name
,
and
Captain
De
Crespigny
having
picked
it
up
,
laughingly
added
to
it
the
name
of
De
Crespigny
.
"
How
does
this
look
?
"
asked
he
,
showing
her
the
signature
of
"
Marion
De
Crespigny
,
"
while
a
gleam
of
light
shot
through
his
dark
eye-lashes
.
"
This
is
a
valuable
autograph
,
which
I
shall
certainly
preserve
.
The
signature
is
not
yet
a
common
one
,
but
I
hope
it
may
become
so
,
as
no
other
looks
half
so
well
to
my
eye
—
or
to
my
heart
.
"
"
There
may
be
another
that
I
should
very
much
prefer
,
"
replied
Marion
,
decidedly
,
while
the
bright
carnation
mounted
to
her
cheek
,
and
she
turned
her
large
eyes
towards
Agnes
,
who
stood
at
some
distance
placid
and
secure
,
in
the
certain
belief
that
her
own
supremacy
was
established
,
and
that
the
conversation
probably
related
to
herself
.
"
Give
me
back
that
paper
,
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
for
it
contains
a
mischievous
forgery
—
a
name
that
can
never
exist
upon
the
earth
.
"
"
But
it
may
in
fairy-land
,
and
it
shall
!
"
replied
he
,
with
undaunted
pertinacity
.
"
The
fates
are
perpetually
weaving
people
together
,
and
may
do
something
for
me
!
When
we
are
unwillingly
separated
for
a
short
period
,
sometime
hereafter
,
I
shall
every
day
see
this
name
appended
to
the
most
interesting
accounts
of
your
garden
,
your
lap-dog
,
and
—
—
"
"
And
my
sister
!
"
added
Marion
,
coldly
.
"
She
is
always
the
first
object
of
interest
to
me
.
Agnes
!
do
come
here
and
admire
the
last
few
stitches
I
have
added
to
this
bible-cover
.
"
"
How
well
it
will
look
at
Beaujolie
Park
!
"
muttered
De
Crespigny
,
almost
inaudibly
,
in
that
low
musical
voice
which
had
been
irresistible
,
and
with
a
significance
of
manner
which
Marion
seemed
not
to
remark
.
"
I
hope
one
day
to
see
it
there
.
"
"
I
intend
it
as
a
present
to
Agnes
,
"
replied
Marion
,
dryly
.
—
"
That
and
the
prayer-book
are
both
for
her
dressing-table
.
"
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
assuming
a
look
of
respectful
despondency
,
examined
the
volumes
during
several
minutes
in
silence
;
but
having
accidentally
opened
the
service
of
matrimony
,
he
smilingly
pointed
it
out
to
Marion
,
saying
,
"
he
hoped
this
might
be
considered
a
good
omen
,
"
and
doubling
down
the
page
,
he
placed
the
prayer-book
opposite
to
her
,
saying
,
"
Let
me
request
you
will
study
that
till
we
meet
again
,
as
I
wish
to
ask
your
opinion
of
it
.
"
Before
Marion
had
time
to
reply
,
or
to
hurry
away
,
as
she
had
been
for
some
time
projecting
,
Agnes
advanced
with
an
air
of
exceedingly
forced
vivacity
,
while
there
was
a
perceptible
flutter
of
anger
in
her
tone
,
and
Marion
felt
as
much
confused
as
if
she
had
been
guilty
of
a
real
indiscretion
,
when
she
saw
that
her
sister
's
face
had
become
as
white
as
the
wall
,
her
eyes
glassy
,
and
her
manner
unusually
excited
,
though
she
tried
to
assume
a
careless
tone
,
saying
:
"
What
is
all
the
world
talking
about
here
?
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
you
must
have
learned
the
whole
mysteries
of
worsted
work
by
this
time
!
"
"
I
was
merely
showing
your
sister
that
most
interesting
of
all
compositions
,
the
marriage
service
,
"
replied
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
throwing
as
much
meaning
into
his
voice
as
it
could
carry
,
"
and
mentioning
that
the
fashionable
blacksmith
for
these
occasions
now
is
my
cousin
,
the
Dean
of
Chester
.
"
Agnes
looked
down
with
an
interesting
blush
,
and
Marion
looked
up
with
a
start
of
astonishment
,
at
the
hardened
intrepidity
of
manner
in
which
Captain
De
Crespigny
carried
on
his
double
game
,
adapting
his
tone
equally
to
suit
either
or
both
of
his
companions
;
and
it
was
with
a
sensation
of
extreme
relief
that
she
saw
him
at
last
rise
to
take
leave
,
looking
most
charmingly
distressed
;
but
he
had
glanced
at
his
watch
,
"
never
being
able
to
measure
time
at
St.
John
's
Lodge
,
"
and
an
unlucky
engagement
obliged
him
to
depart
.
"
All
engagements
are
unlucky
,
"
observed
Agnes
,
impatiently
.
"
I
never
made
one
yet
,
without
afterwards
finding
it
a
tyrannical
restraint
.
"
"
There
is
only
one
engagement
I
ever
wish
to
make
,
"
replied
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
a
sentimental
voice
,
but
carefully
looking
at
nobody
.
"
I
hope
soon
to
make
an
engagement
for
life
!
"
"
What
is
all
this
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Patrick
,
entering
the
room
.
"
Can
De
Crespigny
not
be
persuaded
into
remaining
with
you
two
or
three
hours
longer
,
girls
?
"
"
We
have
not
yet
tried
the
experiment
,
"
replied
Marion
,
seeing
Agnes
unwilling
to
speak
.
"
I
intend
to
be
busy
this
morning
reading
your
favorite
character
in
Shakespeare
,
Malvolio
.
He
had
the
very
common
fault
of
over-estimating
himself
.
"
"
To
some
people
that
is
impracticable
!
"
replied
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
with
a
self-satisfied
smile
.
"
The
world
really
spoils
me
for
one
.
"
"
Perhaps
,
"
observed
Sir
Patrick
,
"
you
flatter
yourself
,
and
that
is
the
most
dangerous
of
all
flattery
.
"
"
Not
to
me
!
I
only
wish
it
were
possible
for
me
to
think
as
much
of
myself
as
every
body
else
does
.
"
"
I
hear
old
Doncaster
is
likely
to
make
a
die
of
it
soon
;
therefore
wait
till
you
are
established
at
Beaujolie
Park
,
and
then
you
shall
see
how
much
we
all
think
of
you
!
"
replied
Sir
Patrick
,
laughing
.
"
I
hope
you
mean
to
be
the
most
hospitable
Marquis
in
the
whole
peerage
of
England
?
"
"
Most
undoubtedly
!
Hospitality
is
my
weakness
,
if
I
have
any
!
Dunbar
,
my
very
dear
friend
,
I
make
a
point
of
your
coming
to
dine
with
me
once
a-year
at
Beaujolie
Park
!
I
am
sorry
it
will
not
be
in
my
power
to
offer
you
a
bed
;
but
the
Highflyer
passes
my
door
at
nine
every
evening
.
I
wish
for
a
very
long
visit
from
you
!
We
are
old
friends
,
my
good
fellow
!
so
I
must
really
stretch
a
point
!
I
am
quite
serious
!
therefore
come
by
the
early
mail
for
breakfast
,
and
take
the
evening
one
for
your
departure
!
I
always
was
,
and
always
shall
be
the
most
hospitable
man
upon
earth
!
Have
you
half
a
moment
to
spare
to-morrow
?
I
want
you
to
help
me
in
my
bargain
for
a
bay
horse
with
Duncombe
of
ours
.
He
has
the
prettiest
sister
in
the
world
,
if
that
will
be
any
inducement
to
come
.
I
wish
he
would
throw
her
into
the
bargain
!
Good
morning
!
I
could
not
stay
a
minute
longer
to
save
all
your
lives
!
"
"
How
I
do
sometimes
hate
Captain
De
Crespigny
!
"
exclaimed
Agnes
,
with
angry
vehemence
,
after
he
had
made
a
very
conceited
exit
from
her
presence
,
accompanied
by
Sir
Patrick
,
while
she
watched
him
from
the
window
,
as
he
sprang
upon
his
horse
,
and
galloped
out
of
sight
.
"
I
know
he
is
perfectly
devoted
to
me
!
I
cannot
allow
myself
to
doubt
it
!
My
whole
happiness
in
life
is
cast
on
that
die
,
and
must
not
be
lost
!
No
!
"
continued
she
,
speaking
to
Marion
in
a
tone
of
unwonted
perplexity
,
"
it
would
indeed
be
a
disgraceful
triumph
,
to
awaken
in
my
heart
affections
which
,
if
they
must
die
,
I
shall
die
with
them
.
My
hopes
and
feelings
appear
all
frozen
into
icicles
this
morning
;
yet
I
can
scarcely
tell
why
!
A
sensation
of
utter
discouragement
torments
me
!
What
is
man
,
and
what
is
woman
that
trusts
him
?
If
all
my
happiness
is
now
torn
up
by
the
roots
,
I
shall
never
again
incur
the
grief
of
forming
any
earthly
plan
!
I
shall
continue
for
life
a
bankrupt
in
hope
and
peace
!
Do
not
speak
to
me
,
Marion
!
Do
not
look
as
if
you
believed
the
worst
!
I
will
not
hear
it
!
I
know
you
wish
to
say
and
do
all
that
is
kind
;
but
I
detest
sympathy
!
I
abhor
being
pitied
!
and
I
will
not
be
advised
.
"
Even
after
she
had
retired
to
the
gloomy
solitude
of
her
lonely
room
,
Agnes
buried
her
face
in
her
hands
,
as
if
she
would
hide
herself
from
the
whole
world
,
and
struggled
to
banish
thought
;
yet
the
suspicion
would
force
itself
into
her
mind
,
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
intended
to
treat
her
as
she
had
seen
him
treat
others
;
and
though
formerly
she
had
often
laughed
at
the
credulity
of
those
girls
who
believed
half
the
rubbish
he
talked
to
them
,
now
she
repeated
to
herself
all
his
professions
of
admiration
,
his
looks
,
smiles
,
innuendoes
,
implied
flattery
,
and
openly
expressed
interest
,
till
her
cheek
regained
its
bloom
,
her
eyes
their
brightness
,
and
she
looked
into
her
mirror
with
perfectly
restored
self-complacency
,
and
with
renovated
confidence
in
the
truth
,
honor
,
and
sincerity
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
.
CHAPTER
XXIII
.
One
of
the
best
receipts
for
happiness
in
this
world
is
,
to
make
the
utmost
of
small
pleasures
,
and
the
very
least
of
small
vexations
,
which
was
the
plan
on
which
Marion
invariably
lived
;
and
it
often
seemed
as
if
all
the
duties
of
affection
and
friendship
were
written
with
a
sunbeam
on
her
mind
.
She
now
resolved
,
with
characteristic
kindness
and
good
sense
,
that
as
her
presence
at
St.
John
's
Lodge
could
do
no
good
to
her
sister
,
it
should
at
least
do
no
harm
;
therefore
she
determined
if
possible
to
obtain
leave
of
absence
for
a
few
weeks
from
home
,
and
to
explain
in
writing
to
Agnes
,
her
own
opinion
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
conduct
,
and
the
reasons
on
which
it
was
grounded
;
being
convinced
that
in
all
the
important
affairs
of
life
,
perfect
frankness
between
friends
is
,
however
painful
,
an
imperative
duty
,
and
that
no
one
,
on
any
occasion
where
he
has
to
act
or
to
feel
,
should
be
left
in
the
dark
as
to
his
own
actual
position
.
With
a
somewhat
tremulous
voice
,
and
heightened
color
,
Marion
proceeded
next
morning
into
her
brother
's
private
sitting-room
,
where
,
surrounded
by
a
perfect
armory
of
rifles
,
double-barrelled
guns
and
pistols
,
she
found
him
selecting
his
weapons
for
a
pigeon-match
to
"
come
off
"
that
day
,
between
himself
and
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
of
whose
arrival
he
was
in
momentary
expectation
;
and
he
seemed
by
no
means
inclined
at
first
to
lend
her
much
of
his
notice
.
"
I
came
to
mention
,
Patrick
,
that
if
you
have
no
objection
,
it
is
my
wish
to
spend
a
fortnight
now
,
with
uncle
Arthur
,
"
said
Marion
.
"
We
have
met
very
seldom
of
late
,
and
Henry
De
Lancey
is
going
off
soon
to
join
the
army
.
Did
you
hear
that
a
commission
in
the
same
corps
as
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
has
been
sent
to
him
lately
by
his
unknown
friends
.
The
regiment
is
going
soon
,
I
am
told
,
to
Canada
,
but
he
is
to
join
the
depot
for
some
months
at
Portsmouth
.
"
"
Well
!
but
what
does
all
this
matter
to
you
!
I
shall
not
give
my
consent
if
you
ask
me
till
midnight
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Patrick
,
peevishly
;
for
he
felt
by
no
means
disposed
that
his
house
should
lose
the
attraction
of
Marion
's
resplendent
beauty
.
"
If
Sir
Arthur
in
his
dotage
,
chooses
to
make
himself
ridiculous
about
this
anonymous
youth
,
is
that
any
reason
why
the
whole
family
should
go
wild
about
him
?
Besides
,
Marion
,
you
confessed
long
ago
,
that
Mr.
Granville
visits
at
our
uncle
's
;
and
I
am
determined
that
you
shall
learn
to
know
your
own
value
better
than
to
take
him
!
What
has
he
to
offer
you
but
that
trumpery
little
cottage
,
like
a
Tunbridge-ware
work-box
,
a
kitchen
garden
stocked
with
cabbages
,
or
gooseberry
bushes
,
and
to
live
upon
brown
bread
and
water
.
But
I
begin
to
suspect
,
Marion
,
that
you
are
one
of
the
very
few
people
in
this
world
who
like
their
own
way
;
therefore
it
is
my
duty
to
keep
you
here
out
of
danger
.
"
"
I
wish
to
escape
a
danger
,
rather
than
to
encounter
one
,
"
replied
Marion
,
with
an
ingenuous
blush
.
"
You
know
,
Patrick
,
that
I
consider
Agnes
almost
engaged
to
Captain
De
Crespigny
.
It
would
be
a
very
great
disappointment
to
me
,
and
I
think
to
yourself
,
if
,
after
all
that
has
passed
,
he
become
merely
general
in
his
attentions
—
showing
no
preference
to
one
of
us
more
than
for
another
.
You
always
wish
me
to
be
in
the
room
when
he
calls
,
—
and
—
and
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
I
understand
!
"
exclaimed
Sir
Patrick
,
fixing
his
hawk
's
eyes
on
Marion
,
and
trying
to
conceal
a
smile
beneath
a
look
of
stern
interrogation
.
"
Agnes
is
jealous
!
"
"
No
!
not
in
the
very
least
!
I
trust
she
has
no
reason
—
that
she
never
can
have
any
.
It
seems
like
vanity
in
me
to
mention
the
subject
even
to
my
own
brother
in
confidence
,
but
I
will
be
perfectly
honest
.
You
know
,
Patrick
,
I
saw
no
society
at
school
.
I
am
not
at
all
aware
what
is
customary
;
but
your
friend
often
says
things
to
me
that
I
am
sure
he
would
not
like
Agnes
to
hear
.
"
"
You
are
young
and
green
in
this
old
world
,
Marion
,
if
you
fancy
that
Agnes
is
ever
to
catch
such
a
will-o'-the-wisp
as
De
Crespigny
.
Il
s'aime
,
et
n'a
point
de
rival
.
He
plays
with
hearts
as
if
they
were
shuttlecocks
;
and
indeed
some
hearts
are
little
better
.
It
is
an
absurd
affair
of
vanity
on
both
sides
,
and
the
sooner
the
thing
goes
off
the
better
.
I
know
you
are
a
perfect
coward
in
giving
pain
,
and
that
Agnes
considers
herself
sole
proprietor
of
De
Crespigny
's
attentions
;
but
who
made
her
so
?
That
bubble
will
burst
ere
long
;
and
if
he
is
inclined
to
try
a
little
harmless
flirtation
with
you
,
what
occasion
is
there
to
go
off
in
a
tangent
about
that
,
I
should
like
to
know
!
I
must
insist
,
Marion
,
on
your
doing
all
that
is
possible
to
make
this
dull
,
out-of-the-way
house
of
mine
,
agreeable
to
my
friends
,
for
it
is
impracticable
to
exist
here
without
society
,
which
is
the
best
weapon
to
kill
time
with
.
I
shall
take
it
as
a
mark
of
your
sisterly
kindness
,
to
receive
De
Crespigny
as
all
other
young
ladies
receive
him
everywhere
.
If
he
only
opened
his
mouth
wide
enough
,
I
know
at
least
a
dozen
girls
who
would
jump
down
his
throat
,
and
'
il
faut
jouer
le
jeu
,
selon
les
regles
de
la
societe
dans
laquelle
vous
etes
force
de
vivre
.
'
My
deepest
resentment
shall
rest
on
either
Agnes
or
you
,
Marion
,
if
my
most
intimate
companion
be
banished
from
our
society
,
either
by
the
one
liking
him
too
much
,
or
the
other
too
little
.
"
"
But
,
Patrick
!
if
you
think
Agnes
lays
too
much
stress
on
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
very
marked
attentions
,
and
lover-like
language
,
why
do
you
not
warn
her
against
becoming
really
attached
to
him
?
"
"
Pshaw
!
nonsense
!
She
will
come
to
her
senses
soon
,
if
she
has
any
senses
to
come
to
.
Agnes
'
hopes
are
all
certainties
;
and
she
expects
by
shutting
her
own
eyes
,
that
everybody
else
shall
become
blind
;
but
she
or
any
one
might
see
with
half
an
eye
,
that
De
Crespigny
cares
no
more
for
her
than
the
poker
does
for
the
tongs
.
Agnes
has
been
given
to
expecting
impossibilities
from
childhood
,
when
she
used
to
be
angry
at
her
wax
doll
for
not
answering
her
when
spoken
to
.
If
she
did
not
flatter
herself
so
egregiously
,
the
flattery
of
De
Crespigny
would
do
her
no
harm
.
His
love
affairs
flame
up
and
go
out
again
like
a
lucifer-match
box
.
"
"
Yet
,
Patrick
,
"
replied
Marion
,
trying
to
steady
her
voice
,
and
to
look
excessively
firm
,
"
I
must
make
a
point
of
going
for
one
week
to
uncle
Arthur
.
If
Agnes
is
to
be
disappointed
,
let
me
not
have
any
part
of
the
blame
,
either
from
her
,
or
from
myself
.
"
"
My
good
Marion
!
what
trash
you
talk
!
It
puts
my
mustachios
out
of
curl
to
hear
you
!
Agnes
is
no
more
engaged
to
De
Crespigny
than
I
am
to
Mrs.
Penfold
!
There
is
no
necessity
on
that
score
for
your
becoming
a
porcupine
,
and
setting
up
your
quills
at
my
friend
.
Il
n'a
fait
,
que
remplir
son
role
de
jeune
homme
.
Agnes
thinks
every
partner
at
a
ball
would
gladly
become
a
partner
for
life
,
and
if
any
one
of
them
were
to
mention
the
ring
of
Saturn
,
she
would
consider
it
a
proposal
;
but
her
lovers
all
drop
off
like
nine
pins
at
last
.
Many
a
time
she
has
seen
the
'
decline
and
fall
'
of
her
empire
already
,
and
it
will
be
the
same
thing
now
in
De
Crespigny
's
case
.
'
Old
birds
are
not
caught
with
chaff
.
'
"
"
You
mean
that
the
chaff
is
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
of
course
,
"
replied
Marion
,
with
reproachful
gravity
.
"
But
the
subject
might
have
been
illustrated
with
a
more
graceful
allusion
to
Agnes
'
lovers
.
"
"
As
for
Agnes
'
lovers
,
no
one
can
tell
who
they
are
;
yet
depend
upon
it
,
De
Crespigny
is
not
in
the
number
.
As
usual
,
she
is
always
flirting
with
the
wrong
man
!
Agnes
has
about
as
much
chance
of
him
as
the
man
in
the
moon
!
"
continued
Sir
Patrick
,
with
increasing
vehemence
.
"
She
might
as
well
attempt
to
overtake
last
year
!
Open
the
door
of
your
understanding
,
Marion
,
and
listen
to
me
:
De
Crespigny
will
no
more
propose
to
her
than
you
will
to
the
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
!
Anybody
may
see
he
is
merely
amusing
himself
!
"
"
Then
he
deserves
to
be
hanged
!
"
replied
Marion
,
indignantly
.
"
Surely
,
Patrick
,
you
should
not
have
allowed
this
to
continue
so
long
,
and
to
go
so
far
,
under
your
own
eyes
,
unless
you
really
believed
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
was
as
much
attached
to
Agnes
as
she
is
certainly
to
him
.
"
"
Or
at
least
to
his
future
title
and
estates
!
My
dear
friend
,
one
would
suppose
you
had
swallowed
a
whole
circulating
library
this
morning
!
Are
you
a
believer
in
broken
hearts
?
My
good
Marion
,
they
were
exploded
long
ago
,
like
ghosts
and
witchcraft
!
Nobody
now
dies
of
love
except
on
the
stage
.
You
do
not
actually
suppose
Agnes
will
expire
with
the
disappointment
!
She
knows
better
.
Why
,
Marion
,
you
must
expect
to
go
through
half-a-dozen
such
affairs
before
you
get
safe
into
the
harbor
of
matrimony
.
"
"
I
hope
not
!
My
heart
would
not
stand
quite
so
much
breakage
,
"
replied
Marion
,
coloring
and
laughing
,
while
she
added
,
in
a
lower
tone
,
"
besides
which
it
is
already
in
very
safe
keeping
.
I
have
given
it
away
,
you
know
,
Patrick
,
once
for
all
.
"
"
Pshaw
!
Marion
,
none
of
your
sentimental
vagaries
!
Your
attachment
is
,
of
course
,
to
be
a
chef
d'œuvre
d'amour
;
but
nothing
lasts
for
ever
now
.
If
there
were
no
disappointments
in
such
a
love-in-a-cottage
affair
as
yours
,
what
would
become
of
poets
and
novel
readers
!
Agnes
understands
the
game
of
life
better
than
you
do
.
In
her
estimation
,
it
is
like
a
rubber
at
whist
,
where
hearts
are
trumps
,
and
the
prize
a
good
establishment
in
common
with
the
first
partner
who
offers
.
De
Crespigny
knows
all
this
,
and
cannot
be
expected
to
place
any
great
value
on
a
second-hand
heart
,
much
the
worse
for
wear
.
The
intimacy
between
them
has
chiefly
arisen
from
our
relationship
,
he
being
her
cousin
only
once
removed
.
"
"
I
wish
he
were
removed
altogether
.
Captain
De
Crespigny
ought
to
suffer
all
the
bitterness
of
disappointment
himself
,
when
his
insatiable
vanity
inflicts
it
so
heartlessly
on
others
.
"
"
Suppose
you
take
that
method
of
revenging
Agnes
,
"
replied
Sir
Patrick
,
with
a
penetrating
look
.
"
He
is
the
best
catch
going
,
and
very
civil
to
you
.
De
Crespigny
's
attentions
are
an
honor
to
any
one
,
and
would
be
quite
a
feather
in
your
cap.
"
"
So
he
seems
to
think
;
but
I
have
no
desire
for
such
feathers
.
I
make
it
a
rule
,
"
said
Marion
,
archly
,
"
never
to
refuse
any
gentleman
till
he
has
proposed
;
but
the
honor
of
making
him
miserable
for
life
never
can
be
mine
,
though
he
so
well
deserves
it
.
I
suppose
,
being
a
Roman
Catholic
,
he
has
bought
an
indulgence
for
deceit
,
or
I
should
rather
say
falsehood
.
"
"
What
old-fashioned
bread-and-butter
ideas
you
have
,
Marion
!
Everybody
has
been
ill-used
by
somebody
,
and
nobody
minds
it
now
.
Agnes
will
continue
incurably
heart-broken
,
til
some
new
lover
pays
his
devoirs
,
and
then
you
will
understand
her
better
,
Marion
.
On
garde
long
temps
son
premier
amant
quand
on
n'en
pas
un
second
.
"
"
I
judge
of
her
by
myself
;
and
if
once
so
cruelly
deceived
as
she
is
,
Patrick
,
my
heart
could
never
venture
on
any
second
attachment
—
never
!
Once
awakened
from
such
a
dream
,
I
neither
could
nor
would
attempt
to
dream
it
over
again
.
My
ideas
of
mutual
attachment
are
not
borrowed
from
novels
or
poems
,
because
I
never
had
time
to
read
one
at
Mrs.
Penfold
's
,
but
from
conceiving
what
it
might
be
to
have
a
companion
for
life
,
from
whom
no
thought
should
be
concealed
,
and
all
my
happiness
derived
.
Who
could
ever
place
such
trust
in
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
if
he
has
really
,
as
I
may
say
,
swindled
Agnes
out
of
her
time
,
thoughts
,
and
affections
,
without
intending
amply
to
repay
them
with
his
own
?
I
am
rapidly
disliking
him
,
Patrick
;
and
the
longer
we
talk
,
the
more
anxious
I
become
for
your
leave
to
be
out
of
his
way
entirely
.
Depend
upon
it
,
I
shall
be
excessively
rude
to
your
friend
the
next
time
we
meet
.
So
,
pray
,
let
me
go
to-morrow
.
"
Hearing
a
slight
noise
,
Marion
looked
round
,
and
she
would
have
felt
it
rather
a
relief
at
the
moment
if
the
floor
could
have
opened
under
her
feet
,
when
,
with
a
gasp
of
consternation
,
she
beheld
Captain
De
Crespigny
standing
in
an
attitude
of
perplexity
and
irresolution
near
the
door
,
evidently
,
for
once
in
his
life
,
feeling
almost
awkward
,
and
very
nearly
abashed
,
though
a
moment
afterwards
he
regained
his
usual
matchless
intrepidity
of
countenance
and
manner
;
when
Sir
Patrick
advanced
,
with
extended
hand
,
to
welcome
him
,
saying
,
"
Ah
!
De
Crespigny
!
is
that
you
?
"
"
The
same
and
no
other
,
"
replied
he
,
bending
his
riding-whip
till
it
nearly
broke
;
but
assuming
an
Irish
accent
to
conceal
his
annoyance
.
"
The
top
of
the
morning
to
you
both
.
How
is
every
inch
of
you
?
"
"
Very
tolerable
,
indeed
!
It
always
does
me
good
to
be
astonished
,
and
certainly
your
apparition
came
rather
unexpectedly
.
It
made
my
mustachios
perfectly
stand
upon
end
;
and
Marion
will
not
require
a
stroke
of
electricity
for
some
time
after
this
!
She
seems
rapidly
petrifying
into
stone
!
"
"
Miss
Marion
Dunbar
!
if
my
presence
be
unwelcome
,
I
wish
it
were
possible
to
dissolve
away
in
the
likeness
of
a
sigh
!
"
said
he
,
with
a
comic
smile
.
"
Shall
I
invite
myself
to
sit
down
,
or
will
any
one
else
do
so
?
"
"
If
you
are
so
exceedingly
ceremonious
,
perhaps
Marion
ought
to
reach
you
a
chair
,
"
replied
Sir
Patrick
,
while
his
face
became
perfectly
crimsoned
with
trying
to
suppress
a
burst
of
laughter
,
when
he
observed
the
graceful
timidity
of
Marion
's
manner
,
contrasted
with
the
easy
assurance
of
Captain
De
Crespigny
's
,
who
looked
at
her
with
undisguised
admiration
.
"
I
had
been
inwardly
betting
with
myself
for
the
last
half
hour
that
you
would
drop
in
exactly
as
you
did
.
Here
is
an
undeniably
fine
day
,
so
that
ends
all
discussion
of
the
weather
,
and
now
for
our
pigeon-match
.
"
"
Any
match
you
please
in
this
house
.
I
have
been
sitting
for
the
last
ten
minutes
tuning
your
sister
's
guitar
,
and
she
sent
me
here
for
the
strings
.
How
much
her
dog
Darling
has
improved
in
the
tone
and
expression
of
his
barking
.
"
"
Agnes
is
perfectly
dog
mad
since
you
gave
her
that
pert
ill-tempered
little
animal
.
As
Lord
Byron
said
,
'
nobody
need
want
a
friend
who
can
get
a
dog
.
'
She
wears
a
lock
of
his
hair
set
in
gold
—
has
got
a
supply
of
sheets
and
towels
for
him
,
marked
with
his
name
—
helps
him
before
any
of
us
at
dinner
—
teaches
him
to
bark
Toryism
—
and
says
dogs
have
all
the
good
qualities
of
mankind
,
with
none
of
the
evil
.
I
wish
those
who
preach
sermons
against
cruelty
to
animals
,
would
also
say
a
little
against
over-indulging
them
,
especially
in
the
case
of
lap-dogs
.
"
"
It
is
an
amiable
weakness
,
"
observed
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
a
tone
that
sounded
very
like
contempt
.
"
I
suppose
your
sister
would
scarcely
be
outdone
by
Queen
Henrietta
Maria
,
who
rushed
through
a
shower
of
bullets
to
save
her
favorite
lap-dog
.
I
envy
the
whole
canine
race
.
They
have
,
like
ourselves
,
fox-hunting
and
grouse-shooting
for
amusement
;
and
moreover
,
they
are
such
favorites
with
the
ladies
!
Horses
are
slaves
and
drudges
from
youth
to
age
,
bearing
a
yoke
from
which
nothing
can
deliver
them
except
death
;
but
dogs
generally
meet
with
some
return
for
their
attachment
,
and
are
always
believed
to
be
sincere
in
what
they
profess
.
What
do
you
say
,
Miss
Marion
Dunbar
?
Have
I
not
reason
to
envy
your
estimation
of
Darling
?
"
Marion
colored
to
the
very
temples
,
embarrassed
by
the
consciousness
of
all
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
had
evidently
overheard
,
and
after
saying
a
few
inaudible
words
,
she
would
have
hastened
out
of
the
room
;
but
on
looking
round
,
Sir
Patrick
,
who
privately
thought
that
on
the
present
occasion
there
might
be
one
too
many
,
had
strolled
off
to
the
drawing-room
,
and
as
Captain
De
Crespigny
continued
speaking
,
she
could
not
,
without
actual
rudeness
,
withdraw
.
A
blush
is
one
of
the
most
beautiful
phenomena
in
nature
,
and
so
thought
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
when
he
perceived
Marion
's
color
flitting
like
an
aurora
borealis
,
while
for
a
moment
she
remained
completely
abashed
,
and
then
,
with
a
look
of
apprehensive
timidity
,
re-seated
herself
.
"
Excuse
me
,
Miss
Dunbar
!
"
said
he
,
in
a
tone
of
unwonted
gravity
and
respect
,
while
his
usual
self-confident
audacity
seemed
entirely
to
have
forsaken
him
.
"
I
became
inadvertently
a
listener
to-day
,
when
my
name
was
mentioned
by
you
in
terms
of
which
I
must
entreat
an
explanation
.
You
will
think
me
perhaps
rather
too
much
of
the
free-and-easy
school
,
if
I
take
this
liberty
;
but
the
value
I
place
upon
your
good
opinion
and
cousinly
regard
is
such
,
that
I
shall
neither
eat
nor
sleep
till
you
have
enlightened
me
respecting
the
offences
for
which
I
am
to
be
thus
condemned
unheard
.
"
"
Pray
forget
all
that
was
said
!
I
am
unaccustomed
to
—
to
conceal
my
thoughts
!
"
replied
Marion
,
trying
to
look
particularly
firm
;
but
seeing
that
Captain
De
Crespigny
still
waited
with
an
obvious
resolution
to
obtain
something
more
explicit
,
she
felt
herself
urged
on
to
say
what
,
under
ordinary
circumstances
,
she
would
have
sunk
into
the
earth
rather
than
utter
;
therefore
assuming
a
certain
haughty
dignity
of
manner
quite
unusual
with
her
,
she
added
,
"
If
I
did
not
almost
consider
you
a
brother
,
I
should
not
remain
in
the
room
now
;
but
I
do
most
sincerely
regret
that
your
name
occurred
in
our
conversation
at
all
,
and
particularly
in
a
way
for
which
I
ought
to
apologise
.
"
"
As
for
my
name
,
Miss
Dunbar
!
"
replied
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
in
a
rallying
tone
,
"
make
any
use
of
it
you
please
.
Take
it
yourself
,
or
give
it
to
your
dog
,
and
I
shall
feel
honored
;
but
pardon
me
for
being
desirous
that
you
,
more
than
any
other
person
in
the
world
,
should
understand
how
perfectly
unfounded
is
the
idea
of
my
being
engaged
to
—
to
any
lady
.
"
"
From
all
that
has
passed
,
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
and
from
what
I
have
myself
heard
you
say
,
I
could
scarcely
have
believed
it
possible
that
there
could
be
any
mistake
,
"
replied
Marion
,
indignantly
.
"
I
shall
never
pardon
myself
for
having
betrayed
such
unfounded
expectations
;
but
let
it
be
understood
,
that
I
spoke
only
my
own
thoughts
,
in
which
no
other
person
is
implicated
.
"
"
And
the
misapprehension
was
most
natural
—
perhaps
unavoidable
,
Miss
Dunbar
,
considering
how
little
you
are
yet
accustomed
to
the
persiflage
of
every-day
society
,
"
replied
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
looking
perfectly
irresistible
.
"
But
allow
me
the
privilege
of
a
cousin
,
to
give
you
some
little
knowledge
of
the
world
as
it
is
.
"
"
You
have
done
that
already
,
"
replied
Marion
,
coldly
;
"
and
I
mean
to
be
as
long
as
possible
of
learning
more
.
It
certainly
does
not
improve
upon
acquaintance
.
"
"
We
have
all
much
to
complain
of
,
undoubtedly
!
If
the
gossiping
world
here
had
its
own
way
,
I
should
be
married
to
as
rapid
a
succession
of
young
ladies
as
the
Sultan
in
the
Arabian
Nights
.
Reports
grow
here
like
hops
.
Old
women
round
a
tea
table
make
up
their
budget
of
scandal
,
without
giving
due
allowance
to
the
altered
customs
of
society
,
and
my
name
is
for
ever
going
about
the
world
like
a
cricket-ball
.
Every
gentleman
asks
his
partners
to
dance
now
,
as
nearly
as
possible
in
a
tone
as
if
he
were
engaging
a
partner
for
life
,
and
says
all
that
words
can
express
,
without
attaching
any
permanent
meaning
to
it
,
provided
he
has
never
asked
that
one
conclusive
question
,
which
I
have
never
yet
ventured
to
put
,
though
most
anxious
soon
to
do
so
,
if
I
had
the
slightest
encouragement
from
one
whom
,
above
all
others
,
I
admire
,
—
Madam
,
will
you
marry
me
?
"
Captain
De
Crespigny
said
these
last
words
very
much
as
if
he
meant
them
now
to
be
serious
,
and
fixed
his
eyes
—
eyes
accustomed
to
do
wonders
—
on
Marion
,
who
felt
the
color
rushing
painfully
into
her
cheek
;
but
angry
at
herself
for
blushing
,
she
turned
away
in
silence
,
while
he
added
more
energetically
than
before
,
"
I
would
not
,
for
all
the
worlds
upon
earth
,
lose
one
iota
of
your
good
opinion
.
That
really
is
precious
to
me
.
Allow
me
,
irritated
as
you
evidently
are
,
in
some
degree
to
justify
myself
respecting
my
cousin
Agnes
.
Strike
,
but
hear
me
.
She
knows
the
world
,
having
already
smiled
on
hundreds
of
admirers
,
and
blushed
for
dozens
;
therefore
I
am
but
one
in
a
crowd
,
who
,
like
the
kings
in
Macbeth
,
'
come
like
shadows
and
so
depart
,
'
being
scarcely
missed
in
the
rapid
succession
which
follows
;
and
,
to
use
a
vulgar
proverb
,
'
there
are
some
ladies
with
whom
one
shoulder
of
mutton
very
soon
drives
down
another
.
'
"
Captain
Be
Crespigny
paused
;
and
had
Marion
been
less
agitated
,
and
less
anxious
to
terminate
the
interview
,
she
could
have
smiled
at
this
unusual
fit
of
humility
,
which
made
him
willing
,
for
once
,
to
suppose
that
his
attentions
could
be
insignificant
;
but
seeing
that
she
was
now
about
to
make
a
hasty
exit
from
the
room
,
he
rapidly
continued
,
with
a
slight
relapse
into
his
ordinary
tone
of
conceit
:
"
I
am
vain
enough
to
think
that
I
deserve
to
be
preferred
for
something
better
than
the
mere
accident
of
birth
and
fortune
,
with
which
the
very
meanest
of
mankind
may
be
endowed
;
but
there
are
ladies
—
observe
I
name
nobody
—
who
,
if
they
were
informed
that
a
gentleman
waited
in
the
next
room
ready
to
marry
them
,
with
double
my
income
,
rank
,
and
property
,
would
ask
no
other
question
,
but
put
on
a
veil
,
get
up
a
fit
of
bridal
hysterics
,
and
proceed
to
chapel
.
Such
intimacies
as
mine
with
your
sister
are
like
a
tread-mill
,
always
apparently
getting
on
,
but
never
advancing
,
while
neither
of
us
ever
dream
of
going
a
step
beyond
it
.
Agnes
is
formed
to
be
gazed
at
with
wondering
admiration
—
to
make
conquests
,
but
not
to
keep
them
.
I
would
no
more
think
of
being
seriously
in
love
with
her
,
than
with
a
piece
of
Dresden
china
in
a
shop
window
.
She
should
be
shut
up
in
a
glass
case
,
to
be
admired
and
forgotten
every
day
.
It
is
not
the
mere
symmetry
of
form
or
features
that
could
permanently
interest
me
,
"
continued
Captain
De
Crespigny
,
looking
a
million
of
things
;
but
Marion
's
eyes
were
fixed
on
the
door
,
while
her
whole
countenance
was
in
a
glow
of
indignant
vexation
,
and
he
continued
to
speak
with
increasing
ardor
.
"
There
is
beauty
in
an
icicle
,
and
beauty
in
a
sunbeam
;
but
how
different
.
Can
you
wonder
—
can
you
blame
