Miss Lake declined the carriage to-night. Her brother was to see her
home, and there was a leave-taking, and the young ladies whispered a word
or two, and kissed, after the manner of their kind. To Captain Lake, Miss
Brandon's adieux were as cold and haughty as her greeting.

'Did you see that?' said Wylder in my ear, with a chuckle; and, wagging
his head, he added, rather loftily for him, 'Miss Brandon, I reckon, has
taken your measure, Master Stanley, as well as I. I wonder what the deuce
the old dowager sees in him. Old women always like rascals.'

And he added something still less complimentary.

I suppose the balance of attraction and repulsion was overcome by Miss
Lake, much as he disliked Stanley, for Wylder followed them out with Lord
Chelford, to help the young lady into her cloak and goloshes, and I found
myself near Miss Brandon for the first time that evening, and much to my
surprise she was first to speak, and that rather strangely.

'You seem to be very sensible, Mr. De Cresseron; pray tell me, frankly,
what do you think of all this?'

'I am not quite sure, Miss Brandon, that I understand your question,' I
replied, enquiringly.

'I mean of the--the family arrangements, in which, as Mr. Wylder's
friend, you seem to take an interest?' she said.

'There can hardly be a second opinion, Miss Brandon; I think it a very
wise measure,' I replied, much surprised.