was the right cause or not. He was a kind elder brother at home, and
here he was ready to be pleased with the children of the house.

Lucy was a high-spirited talkative child, very little used to seeing
strangers, and perhaps hardly reined in enough, for her poor mother's
weak health had interfered with strict discipline; and as this
evening Walter and Rose were both grave and serious under their
anxieties, Lucy was less restrained even than usual.

She was a pretty creature, with bright blue eyes, and an arch
expression, all the droller under her prim round cap; and Sylvester
was a good deal amused with her pert bold little nods and airs. He
paid a good deal of attention to her, and she in return grew more
forward and chattering. It is what little girls will sometimes do
under the pleasure and excitement of the notice of gentlemen, and it
makes their friends very uneasy, since the only excuse they can have
is in being VERY LITTLE, and it shows a most undesirable want of
self-command and love of attention.

In addition to this feeling, Lady Woodley dreaded every word that was
spoken, lest it should lead to suspicion, for though she was sure Mr.
Enderby would not willingly apprehend her son, yet she could not tell
what he might consider his duty to his employers; besides, there were
the two soldiers to observe and report, and the discovery that Edmund
was at hand might lead to frightful consequences. She tried to
converse composedly with him on his family and the old neighbourhood
where they had both lived, often interrupting herself to send a look
or word of warning to the lower end of the table; but Lucy and
Charles were too wild to see or heed her, and grew more and more
unrestrained, till at last, to the dismay of her mother, brother, and