'Nevil is not here?' the colonel asked. 'No, I suspect he's gruelling and plastering a doctor of his acquaintance,' Mr. Romfrey said, with his nasal laugh composed of scorn and resignation. 'Yes, yes, I've heard,' said Colonel Halkett hastily. He would have liked to be informed of Dr. Shrapnel's particular offence: he mentioned the execrable letter. Mr. Romfrey complacently interjected: 'Drug-vomit!' and after an interval: 'Gallows!' 'That man has done Nevil Beauchamp a world of mischief, Romfrey.' 'We'll hope for a cure, colonel.' 'Did the man come across you?' 'He did.' Mr. Romfrey was mute on the subject. Colonel Halkett abstained from pushing his inquiries. Cecilia could only tell her father when they were alone in the drawing- room a few minutes before dinner that Mrs. Culling was entirely ignorant of any cause to which Nevil's absence might be attributed. 'Mr. Romfrey had good cause,' the colonel said, emphatically. He repeated it next day, without being a bit wiser of the cause. Cecilia's happiness or hope was too sensitive to allow of a beloved father's deceiving her in his opposition to it. She saw clearly now that he had fastened on this miserable incident, expecting an imbroglio that would divide Nevil and his uncle, and be an excuse for dividing her and Nevil. O for the passionate will to make head against what appeared as a fate in this matter! She had it not. Mr. and Mrs. Wardour-Devereux, Sir John and Lady Baskelett, and the Countess of Welshpool, another sister of Mr. Romfrey's, arrived at Steynham for a day and a night. Lady Baskelett and Lady Welshpool came to see their brother, not to countenance his household; and Mr. Wardour- Devereux could not stay longer than a certain number of hours under a roof where tobacco was in evil odour. From her friend Louise, his wife, Cecilia learnt that Mr. Lydiard had been summoned to Dr. Shrapnel's bedside, as Mrs. Devereux knew by a letter she had received from Mr. Lydiard, who was no political devotee of that man, she assured Cecilia, but had an extraordinary admiration for the Miss Denham living with him. This was kindly intended to imply that Beauchamp was released from his attendance on Dr. Shrapnel, and also that it was not he whom the Miss Denham attracted. 'She is in Switzerland,' said Cecilia. 'She is better there,' said Mrs. Devereux. Mr. Stukely Culbrett succeeded to these visitors. He heard of the case of Dr. Shrapnel from Colonel Halkett, and of Beauchamp's missing of his chance with the heiress from Mr. Romfrey.