snatches of pensive melody, now taking up a book, only to throw it
down again with a little weary sigh. She seated herself at a table
presently, and began to arrange the sketches in her portfolio. While
she was doing this a servant announced Mr. Egerton. She rose
hurriedly, blushing as I had rarely seen her blush before, and
looking towards the open window near her, almost as if she would
have liked to make her escape from the room. It was the first time
Angus Egerton had been at Thornleigh Manor since she was a little
child.

'Tell papa that Mr. Egerton is here, Filby,' she said to the
servant. 'I think you will find him in the library.'

She had recovered her self-possession in some measure by the time
she came forward to shake hands with the visitor; and in a few
minutes we were talking in the usual easy friendly way.

'You see, I have lost no time in calling upon your papa, Miss
Darrell,' he said presently. 'I am not too proud to show him how
anxious I am to regain his friendship, if, indeed, I ever possessed
it.'

Mr. Darrell came into the room as he was speaking; and however
coldly he might have intended to receive the master of Cumber
Priory, his manner soon softened and grew more cordial. There was a
certain kind of charm about Angus Egerton, not very easily to be
described, which I think had a potent influence upon all who knew
him.

I fancied that Mr. Darrell felt this, and struggled against it, and