He held out his hand, and involuntarily, unknowingly, she clasped it, as if to detain him till she could summon words to reply. Suddenly he heard Lord Vargrave's voice behind. The spell was broken; the next moment Evelyn was alone, and the throng swept into the room towards the banquet, and laughter and gay voices were heard, and Lord Vargrave was again by Evelyn's side! CHAPTER IV. To you This journey is devoted. _Lover's Progress_, Act iv. sc. 1. AS Cleveland and Maltravers returned homeward, the latter abruptly checked the cheerful garrulity of his friend. "I have a favour, a great favour to ask of you." "And what is that?" "Let us leave Burleigh tomorrow; I care not at what hour; we need go but two or three stages if you are fatigued." "Most hospitable host! and why?" "It is torture, it is agony to me, to breathe the air of Burleigh," cried Maltravers, wildly. "Can you not guess my secret? Have I then concealed it so well? I love, I adore Evelyn Cameron, and she is betrothed to--she loves--another!" Mr. Cleveland was breathless with amaze; Maltravers had indeed so well concealed his secret, and now his emotion was so impetuous, that it startled and alarmed the old man, who had never himself experienced a passion, though he had indulged a sentiment. He sought to console and soothe; but after the first burst of agony, Maltravers recovered himself, and said gently,-- "Let us never return to this subject again: it is right that I should conquer this madness, and conquer it I will! Now you know my weakness, you will indulge it. My cure, cannot commence until I can no longer see from my casements the very roof that shelters the affianced bride of another." "Certainly, then, we will set off to-morrow: my friend! is it indeed--" "Ah, cease," interrupted the proud man; "no compassion, I implore: give me but time and silence,--they are the only remedies." Before noon the next day, Burleigh was once more deserted by its lord. As the carriage drove through the village, Mrs. Elton saw it from her open window; but her patron, too absorbed at that hour even for benevolence, forgot her existence and yet so complicated are the webs of fate, that in the breast of that lowly stranger was locked a secret of the most vital moment to Maltravers. "Where is he going; where is the squire going?" asked Mrs. Elton, anxiously. "Dear heart!" said the cottager, "they do say he be going for a short time to foren parts. But he will be back at Christmas." "And at Christmas I may be gone hence forever," muttered the invalid; "but what will that matter to him--to any one?"