after her, a very different feeling rose in his
mind to what she imagined was there. She
was sure she had left some deep and romantic
image of herself, and was not discomfited
to think that she had shown a certain
jealousy, as of a rival. This nice epicure
in such matters was, alas! pondering over
the agreeable discovery made to him. He
was delighted to think that he had
conquered the parson's daughter, that nature
so proud and independent, and that would
not bend to any one. He was intensely
flattered by this conquest. And for the
first time it occurred to him suddenly, what
if he, once for all, cast anchor there, laid up
his little metaphorical vessel, and settled
down, as it is called, in a new life, with a
new mind beside his! Was he not weary of
wandering? Was not here something that
he might search the fashionable world over
and over, and never find something that
would add a power and lustre to his rank,
and great fortune, such as could not be
drawn from the files of poor-souled colourless
creatures of his own order, who had
been submitted to his choice. Lord Blank,
now so powerful in the Upper House, had
made just such an alliance; so had the
Marquis of Blank. Thus strengthened, had
those eminent peers forced their way to the
lead. Wealth he did not want. It seemed to
him a noble scheme, and he would wait and
watch, and see how it would be worked out.

CHAPTER XI. A STATE DINNER AT THE CASTLE.

WITHIN a day or two, the scouts of the
little town, walking as if by accident past
the gate of the castle, saw the dining
procession sweeping up the avenue. Some,
by special favour of Mrs. Silvertop, were
more advantageously posted. The various
figures were identified. Doctor Bailey,
sitting up in his open carriage, his daughter
beside him. (Mrs. Bailey of course was
not there, the doctor having disposed of the
matter thus: " Pooh! what an exhibition
you'd make of yourself up there! No.
Stay at home!") The fascinating Conway,
with his fine reflective dark eyes, excited a
just admiration; while, lastly, in a poor
sort of fly, came the Rev. Mr. and Mrs.
Mason. " Only my curate and his wife,"
said the rector, contemptuously.

The handsome drawing-room of the castle
ran along the ground floor, while a file of
long tall windows, seven or eight in number,
were all lit up, making a sort of vast
lantern. Mr. Conway was deeply interested
to see the two girls greeting each other
with the common forms of social politeness,
the courtesies of fencers before attack.

Only a nice observer, such as he was, would
have noticed a change in their manner to
each other, brought about of late by some
new cause. Miss Panton's hostility had
always been more a pettish peevish dislike,
conveying the idea of some one that was
crossed in a whim. Jessica's seemed a
calm contempt, supported by a basis of duty.
But this new element had the effect of an
almost chemical change in these bodies.
Both became intensified: one taking the
shape of a jealous and bitter anger, the other
that of scorn as bitter, with a sense of an
immense superiority. And on this evening
this change seemed to have suddenly taken
place, and the new combination, by the
infusion of the Conway charm, was to work
itself into a strong development.

Conway was in spirits, for strange plans
were floating in his head. He could not
shut out the image of the parson's daughter.
He had an instinct that the night might
prove momentous for his fate. Just before he
started, he met Dudley in his usual moody
humour. This seemed to have grown on
him lately, and Conway never liking this
"ill-conditioned" manner of men, who were
always certain to bring more trouble than
pleasure with them, had determined to keep
him at a distance.

"You are going out to this place," said
Dudley. " You go very often there?"

"Yes; they are very hospitable, and most
kind to a stranger."

"No doubt. But I'll tell you what
surprises me, Conway. That you, who are
what is called an aesthetic man, should
endure a place where there are no aesthetics.
We all know you have too high a soul for
vulgar money."

"I am proud of your good opinion," said
the other, laughing.

"Now that man Bailey's daughter is
exactly in your line. They all say she is madly
in love with you too. In fact, you are
rather compromising her."

"My dear Dudley, you and I are not the
people to discuss such subjects. I would not
dare to speak to you on such matters."

"Oh, it's merely a friendly caution, that's
all. Everything is known and gossiped
over in this place, even to the pairs of
gloves you buy, or the linen you send
to the wash. You would not like to be
set down as a fortune hunter, Conway,
as the ill-natured do. We'll all be watching
you to-night. Don't look so wicked at
me."

On that he walked away, leaving Conway
half indignant, half amused. " I understand
this poor moody hypochondriac's meaning,"