NEVER FORGOTTEN.
PART THE FIRST.
CHAPTER XIII. THE FAMILY FERMENT.

AFTER Fermor had gone off the stage with
such effect at Raglan-terrace, Violet fled
away to her room. But when she came down
again later, in the half light—which, perhaps, she
was waiting for—she found a silent and gloomy
council sitting. The young girl, with sparkling
eyes, looked from one to the other with a sort of
triumph, as much as to say, "Is he not charming?
And his generous declaration going out, all to
clear John Hanbury!" But they said nothing,
and her brother walked over to the window, and,
drumming on the pane, looked out.

"Well," she said, a little embarrassed, "so he
has gone after all! Such a curious thing as it
has been altogether—his coming, and his being
brought to our house."

"I wonder," said her brother, turning round
suddenly, "how you mean this to end? It is
all very well as an amusement, but this is a
serious business, I can tell you. How do you
mean to behave to John Hanbury?"

"To John Hanbury?"

"Yes, dear," said her sister, with a sort of
"humouring," coaxing manner, "you know we
must think of him. Louis is right, indeed, and
I am not sorry we have got rid of our sick man."

"Sick man," said her brother, sorrowfully,
"sick actor, if you like. He knows how to do
the thing with effect. He is eaten up with
vanity. I saw what he was at the whole time."

Violet looked at them both wistfully. Her
lip was trembling. "No, no," she said, "he was
really ill; he really suffered. The doctor said so,
and they all said so."

"That may be," said her brother. "But, my
dear good child, it is time that we should try and
grow sensible, and steady, and leave off our
romances."

"Yes, dear," said Mrs. Manuel; "listen to
Louis, who is always very sensible in all he
says. You know it is for your good."

"Here you are fully committed to Hanbury,
and as good and honest a fellow as you could
pick out of the world. I have told him so. You
have told him so yourself—at least, gave him to
understand as much."

"No, indeed no," said the girl, eagerly; "he
was to wait—to wait as long as I pleased;
and I might change my mind, he said, so he
would not hurry me. He is very good, and
amiable, and I should not like to hurt his
feelings, indeed I should not; but—"

"What!" said the brother, turning on her
gravely. "Do you mean to tell us you have
changed your mind, after leading this man on
for nearly a year to believe you liked him, and
giving him what amounts to a consent—and that
you are going to go back, all for a childish
whim of this sort! I couldn't believe it. Ah,
Violet! I am astonished at you! You think
a good and faithful heart can be picked up like
any pebble on the roadside. If you throw it
away, you have only to look for another."

The voice of Mrs. Manuel was now heard.

"Hush! Don't, now! Violet has been
foolish, but she sees her foolishness. She is
very young; she has much to learn. She will
do better in future."

"Will she?" said the young man. "I don't
think so. At this very moment she is thinking
of that empty-headed conceited fellow that went
off so theatrically. A vain English fop! I know
the man thoroughly, and many more like him."

"No, no, Louis," said her mother, anxiously,
"she never said so. She does not dream of it."

"Of course not," said her sister, gaily. "We
are frightening the poor child with our lectures."

"I never said so," said Violet, a little
piteously. "I am sure I respect and like him,
and always did; only I don't want to be hurried
on so dreadfully."

"No, of course not," said her mother; "why
should you, darling? We were only alarmed
about that captain, who is so full of himself."

"I'm sure she has too much sense," said her
brother, "and I knew she had. I only wanted
to be on the safe side. You see, it is no trifling
matter, now, once a thing has gone so far. But
we have got him safe out of the house. It was
natural poor John should be alarmed. And I
shall take good care we shan't have that languid
mass of affectation here again, doing his antics
day and night."

Violet spoke with a forced calm: "But
why do you fix that friend of yours on me? I
have never sought him. It is you—it is he—that
—has pursued me—"