she not just see him hear him be in his presence once again the went forth � no and alone accepted their aunt s hospitality and not a word or sign gave the little sister when she heard it hard as her fate was she had borne it bravely but none the less had the disappointment been bitter and to find herself once more without act or effort of her own within a few hours of meeting her cousin within his own halls filled her with amazement and strange delight no wonder that had over run her frame as she stood in patient silence during her mother s deliberation could never speak but she could keenly feel it was not the decision she had had to fear however it was the delay and that we shall presently explain mrs being by the state of her health from leaving her own apartments had known nothing of what had passed between and his cousin she saw gentle quiet composed as ever and fancied that her youngest daughter whose temper and disposition she had hardly so far had an opportunity of studying was the history of an evening j by nature silent and reserved as she had certainly shown herself to be under the before mentioned since the parent had nothing whereof to complain she asked no questions and was vouchsafed no information there being no occasion for her to be enlightened at least so thought and and they had their own reasons for s gallantry had annoyed them to the full as much as had its effect upon their sister and they had been even more out of temper with their friend and gossip than with either for it was who referring to the feat had alleged that people talked and that it was given out everywhere that sir was engaged to one of his cousins this was the more provoking since there neither was nor ever had been any truth in such a statement and the idea was with indignation � but it was not repeated at home would think it did not signify what people said mamma would show that there was something wrong before aunt added we should be prevented going to ourselves concluded both and that settled the matter for they liked going to very much if not quite so much as did and as they came home along the shore from their walk to the village on the afternoon in question they were in high good humour at the prospect of spending the evening there they had thought themselves obliged to go out stormy as the weather was that a few little odds and ends of messages trifles that were wanted by one and another would not be properly attended to unless they took upon themselves the task was no good they did not think of asking her to undertake the business and on no account would they have out a carriage a carriage being needed so soon again that is to say they wanted the walk to some of their spirits and to the roses in their cheeks for the evening when lady s messenger arrived at the castle it was not far from the hour when the return of the two might be looked for and it was the knowledge of this which made all the time spent by mrs in considering the question and pointing out the errors of s one of trial to her daughter in every gust of wind she fancied she heard her sisters footsteps at the door and once admitted to the deliberation their influence was everything with their mother by she knew what scale it would weigh down in the present instance and that her chance might go to the winds once raised her voice or her eyebrows � but the note was written and the man gone joy joy no one could now recall him the were coming from an opposite direction and by the time they knew anything of the matter the answer the history of an evening would be in her aunt s hands and she might snap her fingers at all interference but she must calm the flutter in her breath arid shade the light within her eye none must suspect what she would hide even from herself if she could at all would be easy she was not afraid of once in s presence � the very thought that he was near was enough to silence and to � but beforehand an speech a look of happiness might attract fatal attention mrs however was still alone when returned to the my tea i am so thirsty child she began your sisters really need not have stayed so long it is past five now and getting quite dark i don t like their being out at this hour it is only dark in this room mamma it is quite light outside will not have been able to match my wool i am sure i she will it is not a difficult blue to get more difficult than you think there are so many shades nowadays i wish i had told her to bring another case of needles if i should lose this needle to night i should not know what to do it is my last i have not another anywhere dear how stupid of me not to think of that before when she was actually going to the needle shop now i shall have a whole evening doing nothing ttie you must just not lose your needle mamma said gaily poor child she could not but be gay do what she would everything was now in her eyes as bright as in her mother s all was sombre and her conviction of the daylight s having lasted and of her sisters successful would have extended itself to further cheerfulness on any other subject started she could not up needles but she could say you 