pleasure in baffling her, with cool, quiet answers, especially when
she came to the question whether Miss Dynevor had not a brother, and
why he was not present. It appeared that Oliver had made almost as
if his mother had been buried and dug up again; involving the thirty-
four years of her exile in such utter mystery, that people had begun
to make all sorts of wild stories to account for her proceedings; and
Lord Fitzjocelyn's explanation that she had lived in her own house in
Northwold, and taught him the Latin grammar, seemed quite a
disappointment from the simplicity and want of romance.

The weary banquet had arrived at ices, and Clara hoped the end was
near, when the worse trial of speeches began. Mr. Henderson was
declaring how strongly he felt the honour which had been devolved on
him, of expressing the universal joy in having so excellent and much-
beloved a neighbour restored by the noble exertions of her son. He
said all that the rest of the world ought to have felt, and so
heartily and sincerely as to make every one imagine the whole the
general sentiment, and the welcoming hurrah was cordial and joyous.
Mrs. Frost was deeply touched and gratified, and Lord Ormersfield
congratulated himself on having instigated Oliver to give this toast
to Mr. Henderson. If Clara could have driven James from her mind,
she would have been delighted, but there could be no triumph for her
where he was excluded.

The Earl returned thanks on behalf of his aunt, and said a great deal
that could have come from the mouth of no one 'unaccustomed to public
speaking,' ending by proposing the health of 'Mr. Oliver Frost
Dynevor.' In the midst of 'the fine old English gentleman,' while
Louis was suppressing a smile at the incongruity, a note was brought
to him, which he tossed to Clara, purporting that he was to return