And Lake turned round upon me, a little abruptly, his odd yellowish eyes,
a little like those of the sea-eagle, and the ghost of his smile that
flickered on his singularly pale face, with a stern and insidious look,
confronted me. There was something evil and shrinking in his aspect,
which I felt with a sort of chill, like the commencing fascination of a
serpent. I often thought since that he had expected to see Wylder before
him.

The church-yard meteor expired, there was nothing in a moment but his
ordinary smile of recognition.

'You're surprised to see me here,' he said in his very pleasing low
tones.

'I lighted on him in the village; and I knew Miss Brandon would not
forgive me if I allowed him to go away without coming here. (He had his
hand upon Lake's shoulder.) They are cousins, you know; we are all
cousins. I'm bad at genealogies. My mother could tell us all about
it--we, Brandons, Lakes; Wylders, and Chelfords.'

At this moment Miss Brandon entered, with her brilliant Cousin Rachel.
The blonde and the dark, it was a dazzling contrast.

So Chelford led Stanley Lake before the lady of the castle. I thought of
the 'Fair Brunnisende,' with the captive knight in the hands of her
seneschal before her, and I fancied he said something of having found him
trespassing in her town, and brought him up for judgment. Whatever Lord
Chelford said, Miss Brandon received it very graciously, and even with a
momentary smile. I wonder she did not smile oftener, it became her so.
But her greeting to Captain Lake was more than usually haughty and