bowed respectfully and departed.

Sir Everard was in little humor, as he went slowly and moodily
homeward, for his mother's lecture.

"There is some secret in Captain Hunsden's life," he thought, "and his
daughter shares it. Some secret, perhaps, of shame and disgrace--some
bar sinister in their shield; and, good heavens! I am mad enough to
love her--I, a Kingsland, of Kingsland, whose name and escutcheon are
without a blot! What do I know of her antecedents or his? My mother
spoke of some mystery in his past life; and there is a look of settled
gloom in his face that nothing seems able to remove. Lord Ernest
Strathmore, too--he must come to complicate matters. She is the most
glorious creature the sun shines on; and if I don't ask her to be my
wife, she will be my Lady Strathmore before the moon wanes!"




CHAPTER XII.

MISS HUNSDEN SAYS "NO."

Sir Everard found his mother primed and loaded; but she nursed her
wrath throughout dinner, and it was not until they were in the
drawing-room alone that she went off. He was so moodily _distrait_ all
through the meal that he never saw the volcano smoldering, and the
Vesuvian eruption took him altogether by surprise.

"Your conduct has been disgraceful!" Lady Kingsland passionately