Venetia

his acquaintance with his old friend, 'I hope you have not fo

simpering. 'Well to be sure, how your lordship has surpris

uld return; and now I mean

lord,' said Mistress Paunc

ttle, regularly to se

urc

ord,' said Mistress Pau

nquired Lord Cad

dship must marry sooner or later, and the sooner the better, say I: and to be sure he is very young, but what of that? f

and laughing, 'I have left off growing, P

rst?' said Lord Cadurcis to Venetia, as the comfort

ow what it is to forget. My life has been so uneventful that every past inci

strawberries and crea

greeable,' he fancied Venetia o

ng my pony to-day? I wish to bring back old times with the utmost possible co

Annabel in a cheerful voice, 'for it is very agree

ncies Lord Cadurcis

staken?' inquired his lordship in a tone of affected carelessness,

here exactly as you

e quickness, yet

med Lord Cadurcis. 'May

uted Lady Annabel and Venetia with his accustomed cordiality, and

friend, my dear Doc

lordship had by this time dismounted and

a alone, though cheerful, was calmer than pleased Cadurcis. Time, he sorrowfully observed, had occasioned a greater change in her manner than he could have expected. Youthful as she still was, indeed but on the threshold of womanhood, and exempted, as it seemed she had been, from anything to disturb the clearness of her mind, that enchanting play of fancy which had once characterised he

er that in the space of five years the voracious otter had not yet contrived to devour its prey. Then they refreshed themselves after their ride with a stroll in the Doctor's garden; Cadurcis persisted in attaching himself to

the Doctor; 'he is vastly improved; he is

n a good school; he does his guardian great credit. He is quite loyal and orthodox in all his opinions; ready to risk his life for our blessed constitut

durcis and Venetia

Lady Annabel; it seems to me your mother is more youthful and beautiful than ever. There is a spell in our air,' continued his lordship, with a laughing eye; 'f

ed,' said Ven

ou a woman,' said Lord Cadurcis,

a child again,

a thoughtful tone; and then in an inquir

shook

u be un

ked,' said Venetia; 'but my

even me gloomy. I am happy, positively happ

elty of return that animates you. It will wear off; you will grow weary

go to the universi

ou that you were goi

d Cadurcis; 'I do not inten

reached them, 'I shall trouble you with a letter to an ol

his thanks, and muttered something about

subjects. When they returned to Cherbury, Cadurcis remained with them as a matter of course. An invitation was neither expected nor given. Not an allusion was made to the sports of the field, to enjoy which was the original purpose of his visit to the abbey; and he spoke of to-morrow as of a period which, as usual, was to be spent entirely in their society. He remained with them, as on the previous night, to the latest possible moment. Although reserved in society, no one co