thing happens as Guy has not intended; he dines with Milly, and the next day they go down to Wentworth together.

all

Heronmere and Dolores are watching together from one of the windows in the picture-gallery; both are intensely nervous and constrained-Heronmere in an agony as to the effect Guy's return will produce upon his idol, and Dolores herself doubtful and perplexed. Presently the

phaeton comes in sight amongst the trees, and a moment later they recognize Guy and his sister-in-law. If Dolores has lost her love for Guy, he has not lost the power of wounding her, and when she sees him. laughing and talking with Milly, as they draw near the house, a hot thrill of anger rushes through her heart.

"I suppose you are going down to meet him ?" says Heronmere, nervously, looking very white and sick.

For answer she turns away, flies to her

own room, and locks herself in.

Heron

mere, not feeling particularly anxious to

meet his cousin, does the same.

269

CHAPTER XIII.

GUY RETURNS.

HEN the travellers arrive there is no

WHE

one to greet them but Lady Wentworth, and she is so delighted at seeing Adrian again that she fails to perceive Dolores' absence. Guy is on thorns. He feels he must speak to his mother on the subject that fills him with so much trouble; he cannot before an audience, and he does not like doing anything so pointed as to ask immediately for a private interview. At any moment Dolores may come in, though her absence looks extremely suspicious, and he will not know how to meet her.

Presently Milly goes to take off her hat, but Adrian remains. Guy feels the plunge must be taken.

"Adrian," he asks, nervously,

"would

you mind leaving me alone with our mother for a few minutes ?-I have something very particular to say to her."

Lady Wentworth looks a little surprised, and Adrian answers lazily:

66 I suppose I must, if you insist. But, my dear fellow, why are you not off looking for Dolores, whom you must be so anxious to see ?"

However, he goes; and the instant the door has closed behind him, Guy says sternly,

"Mother, what is this I hear about Dolores and Heronmere ?"

Lady Wentworth looks at him in surprise.

"I do not understand you, my dear. What have you heard?"

"That he has been here nearly ever

since I left, making the most impassioned love to her under your very eyes."

"Absurd!" answers his mother.

"Who

has presumed to tell you such a thing? As if Dolores would, for one instant, give a thought to a boy like Regy, when she is not only engaged to marry you, but is entirely devoted to you!"

"May have been" (bitterly); "but women soon change. And I am assured, on the authority of a member of the household whom I can trust, that Heronmere is madly in love with her, and that they have been together, morning, noon, and night, for nearly two months."

"I do not know who your authority may be," replies Lady Wentworth, with some warmth, "but it must be some very foolish and officious person. You surely give me credit for being able to see what is going on before me; and I have no hesitation in saying that there is nothing but friendship between the two. They seem to take