"Trouble! what a word! when I owe you so much." "You over-rate your obligation, Mr. De Roos; I should have done the same for any." He bowed in a manner meant to say to others, he would appear to believe any thing to please her. All who had heard smiled as incredulously as Caroline had done before; whilst, as he passed her to join the others, he whispered: "Would you have done the same for any ?" The look, or the words, destroyed her calmness; burning blushes covered cheek, neck, and brow, she half rose, then sank down again, and shaded her face with the screen. When Helen, after some time, ventured a timid glance around, there appeared something in what she saw to interest, and another and another look was ventured; yet to other eyes there was nothing extraordinary. Some were playing cards, some admiring prints, some at the piano; Mr. Dalton was looking the churl, but that was nothing uncommon; Mr. De Roos was looking elegantly sentimental, that was natural; Alford was dull and cross, that certainly was not usual, but Helen was too distant to remark it; Elliott was too deeply absorbed in a book, which completely concealed his face, so absorbed indeed that he had not even looked up on her en trance; and the rest of the company were too much in cha racter to be worthy of remark. "I challenge you to a game of chess, Elliott," said Mr. Dalton, laying his hand on his shoulder. The person addressed started, stared, stammered out something about having had tea; and finding that was a wrong answer, complained of a head-ache; but Mr. Dalton would take no denial. "It will be better than study for your head. Study!" he repeated centemptuously, glancing at the book, "your last hour's deep attention has been bestowed on the Cook's Oracle. What fools the young men of the present day are! and read backwards too!" he added in an under tone, "Ha!" and he still looked steadfastly at him for a moment. Humph, what fools young men are!" he continued, as the other turned away. "Well, get the board, and play your best." แ Before many moves were made, Mr. Dalton lost all patience; nothing very remarkable. "You would drive Phillidor mad. Why you are going to take your own knight, man! but no wonder, it is impossible to play amid such a clatter. Here, come along!" and taking up the table, he put it down again close to our heroine. "One might as well play chess in Babel as out yonder; but we shall not disturb you, so lie still and be quiet;" and too intent on his game to think of any thing else, he placed himself and table so as to bar her moving, and insisted on Elliott's seating himself fronting her. "Now, man, leave your own knight in peace, and see what you can do." The game proceeded for some time with no further interruption than an occasional "psha" from Mr. Dalton; and an assertion that his adversary played so badly he should have no honour in a victory; but after a while, when Elliott was debating a move, a reply of Alford's reached Mr. Dalton's ears. "The accident brings no discredit on De Roos's horsemanship. He had just dismounted to change steeds with Elliott, for the purpose of settling a bet with Throgmorton about which horse could walk the fastest, when a kite, flown by a boy in the next field, frightened the horse as his foot was in the stirrup, and he could do no more, as he said, than hold on 'his hat." แ Changed horses!" muttered Mr. Dalton. "Humph!" then turning to Helen, without the slightest consideration for time, place, or circumstance, things never thought of by him when seeking to develope a mystery, he asked abruptly, "Were you aware they had changed horses?" So sudden and unexpected was the question, that, before she had time to consider what inference might be drawn, her natural frankness made her answer: "No." 66 Humph!" cried Mr. Dalton, in a triumphant tone," then I was right. But why do you let the puppy presume then? I tell you honesty is the best policy." Elliot had half started from his seat as her hasty "No" met his ear. The movement attracted her attention, she look. ed up their eyes met-no words were needed-hers were instantly withdrawn, and the screen again shaded her face. Mr. Dalton's remark produced no answer. Young folks are great fools now-a-days!" he muttered, resuming his game. "What have you been at, man! whilst I was looking away? Both your bishops walk the white, and your king has crossed the board, and got next to my castle." "I beg your pardon, I believe I moved the table just now.” "I believe something else was moved," muttered Mr. Dalton, as the impossibility of extricating his game from its confusion, gave him time to remark the agitation of his antago nist. "I was as great a fool as the rest of them, to expect you to play to-night. There, take away the table!" "Your aunt hopes you will not sit up to fatigue yourself," said De Roos approaching. "I shall follow my aunt's advice, and retire:" and taking Mr. Dalton's arm, she walked towards the others. "Admire my goodness, aunt! 'To each, to all a fair good night;' and remember my retiring is not to break up the party." De Roos in his parting wishes maintained the character he had assumed since the accident; but the lady's answers were cold, and many accused her of coquetry. But there were three who judged more correctly. CHAPTER VIII. My roots are earthed; and I, a desolate branch, MASSINGER. One moment gazed-as if to gaze no more, Kiss'd her cold forehead-turned-is Conrad gone? We breakfasted yesterday at Hurlestone; we will breakfast to-day at Colville. Not that we mean to describe the shape of the cups and ewers, the quantity and quality of the eatables, or any such mean and material matters; indeed the meal is nearly concluded before we introduce our readers into the apartment; we shall, therefore, content ourselves with saying, that every thing accorded well with the acknowledged taste and refinement of the elegant De Roos, who is sitting in an easy chair, occasionally sipping his last cup of tea, and occasionally, but very rarely, addressing a remark to his opposite and only companion Elliott, who, on his part, shows no inclination to keep up a regular conversation. "By the bye, Elliott, though I suppose it is a matter of indifference to you, I have been over to Hurlestone this morning, and the fair heiress suffers no inconvenience from her heroism of yesterday." "It must have been some powerful motive that could induce you to get up so early; particularly as you could not hope to see her." "Some powerful motive! Why, my dear fellow, can you really be so dull as not to see how matters stand? I was afraid I had shown too much last night. There are some motives that will urge and excuse any thing;" and he exhibited a slight confusion. "I see how matters stand as clearly as you can desire; but the broad assertion, that some motives will excuse any thing, is 'one to which a conscientious man would feel the necessity of putting strong limits." He met the quick and piercing look of De Roos with a steady calmness which told little more than self-possession, and it might be a little contempt. The conversation was not resumed. A servant entered with the letter bag. "Here, Elliott, is the newspaper, and you can see who is in and who is out, which of course decides the point as to who is right and who is wrong. I should not wonder if I turned my thoughts to politics now: every settled man should know something about them. Oh! and here is a letter for you, I see," and he handed it to him. Its first perusal appeared to give pleasure, and then the reader seemed absorbed in thoughts sometimes pleasant and sometimes otherwise. Whether he fancied himself watched, or whether he really felt an interest in politics, we will not say: but after a while he took up the paper and held it before him. "I have at last got news that will please you, Elliott," said De Roos, as if in great delight. "Indeed!" replied Elliott, throwing down the paper, and starting as from a reverie. "Is Mr. Stanton's claim allowed, then ?" "No, no! my dear fellow; none but yourself ever dream. ed of such a thing. We always knew that could not be; but my father feared you would run away from us, if we told you so, being by no means deficient in pride. No! but my father writes me word, that, with great difficulty and interest, he has a length obtained a cadetship, and begs you will join him in town immediately, to make the necessary preparations. I know you fancy I am not your friend, but I shall rejoice to hear of your being a rajah, or even a begum; for I know your mind indulges in no common aspirations. "This is folly," replied his companion, to whom the idea of the cadetship, rajahship, or begumship, brought neither pleasure nor merriment. "Had I been consulted, Lord Fitzallan's trouble might have been spared; or your own penetration should have told you that I would receive nothing at your hands but what I might claim as right." "Surely this is ungracious! I have heard you express a wish to carve out your own fortune: and whatever opinion you may hold of me, my father has always sought your good." "We will hope, in charity, he did, when he lured me to the gaming table, and gave your knowledge or imagination room to declare me a professed gambler, and participator in some discreditable broil." "You amaze me! I do not understand." "If I read your looks rightly you can guess; but it matters not. Tell your father, if he meant me well, I thank him, but can take nothing at his hands; if he meant me ill, that I forgive him. To you I owe no thanks, for your own heart will say I have received no courtesy without a view. Within an hour I shall have left your house for ever. Good morning!" For an instant De Roos looked thunder-struck; then his part was taken, and before the other could reach the door, he sprung forward, and stayed his departure, speaking in a kind tone: Come, come, Elliott! you must not leave me thus. Listen to me. "I have already stayed too long, for you know I am not the minion you have called me." "I have called you! What further accusation? But you are determined to misconstrue every kindness. The cadetship must not be rejected without a thought. My father will require no gratitude, and you may still hate me as much as ever." There was a frankness, almost a kindness, in this proposition, that, had the young men known less of each other, |