his master was awake. They went in together and sat with him for the
rest of the afternoon, until it was time for Lady Dighton to go. When
she did, it was with a promise from Maurice, not to wait for a visit
from Sir John, who was always busy, but to go over and dine at Dighton
very soon; a promise Mr. Beresford confirmed, being in his heart very
glad to see such friendly relations springing up between his two
grandchildren. Maurice, on his side, was equally glad, for not only did
his new friendship promise pleasure to himself, but he had a secret
satisfaction in thinking how well his cousin and Lucia would get on
together if--

But then the recollection that he had left Cacouna in possession of Mr.
Percy came to interrupt the very commencement of a day dream.




CHAPTER VII.


Maurice paid his visit to Dighton--paid two or three visits, indeed--and
his cousin came to Hunsdon still oftener, so that in the course of a few
weeks, a considerable degree of intimacy grew up between them. Sir John
was, as his wife said, always busy; he was hospitable and friendly to
his new connection, but in all family or social matters he was content,
and more than content, to drop into the shade, and let Lady Dighton act
for both; so that Maurice, like the rest of the world (always excepting
his constituents and tenants), very soon began to consider him merely as
an appendage, useful, certainly, but not of much importance to anybody.