from London; but the deeper feeling underneath the lightness of her
manner was very evident to Gilbert.

"I suppose you will be running away from town again directly," she said,
"without giving any one the faintest notice of your intention. I can't
think what charm it is that you find in country life. I have so often
heard you profess your indifference to shooting, and the ordinary routine
of rustic existence. Perhaps the secret is, that you fear your reputation
as a man of fashion would suffer were you to be seen in London at such a
barbarous season as this."

"I have never rejoiced in a reputation for fashion," Mr. Saltram
answered, with his quiet smile--a smile that gave a wonderful brightness
to his face; "and I think I like London in the autumn better than at any
other time. One has room to move about. I have been in the country of
late because I really do appreciate rural surroundings, and have found
myself able to write better in the perfect quiet of rural life."

"It is rather hard upon your friends that you should devote all your days
to literature."

"And still harder upon the reading public, perhaps. But, my dear Mrs.
Branston, remember, I must write to live."

Adela gave a little impatient sigh. She was thinking how gladly she would
have made this man master of her ample fortune; wondering whether he
would ever claim from her the allegiance she was so ready to give.

Mr. Pallinson did his best to engage his cousin's attention during the
rest of the evening. He brought her her tea-cup, and hovered about her