It must not be supposed that these two young people allowed anything of what was passing in their minds to appear in their conversation: by no means! They talked of anything rather than that. The Captain gave an interesting account of his adventures abroad, and described the American Indians, and General Lafayette, and General Washington, and General Arnold, and unfortunate Major André, who was so cruelly hanged. Captain Bramston was of opinion that Arnold was much more deserving of hanging than André. To all this Hilda listened and replied and questioned; and then, being questioned in turn, she attempted to give some account of her own life at Kildhurm; whom she saw, what she did, what she wanted to do: but it all struck her as being profoundly uninteresting and empty, and she was sure that Captain Bramston must share her opinion, though he very politely made believe that he liked to hear her. So the hours passed away and the sun reached the hills, and Hilda expected every moment to hear Captain Bramston say that now he must be going. But he stayed on in the most unaccountable way. It was strange, too, how well acquainted with each other they seemed to have become, though they had been but so short a time together, and had talked about such external matters. It almost seemed as if they must have known what was passing, unuttered, in each other's hearts. Could it be that those things that can never be spoken manage to get themselves expressed, somehow, in the tones of the voice and the glances of the eyes, and effect more in a few hours than words can tell in as many months? 'You have not yet told me, Captain Bramston,' Hilda said at last, 'the reason why you came here.' 'I did not know why I came till after I got here,' said the Captain. Hilda gazed at him inquiringly. 'I knew as soon as I saw you,' the intrepid gentleman pursued. 'Oh! then it was not anything worth knowing!' 'I care more about it than about anything else in the world!' 'Then what did you care most about before this?' 'About--myself, I suppose!' 'You should have left somebody else to do that!' 'Somebody else? Who?' 'Oh--anybody!' Captain Bramston took hold of her hand, and his eyes were ardent. 'Miss Kildhurm, I--may I tell you something?' She made an effort to draw her hand away. 'I think I would rather you didn't--at least with that voice, and----' 'Don't turn away from me!' exclaimed this impetuous warrior; and he kissed her hand passionately. 'I cannot help it! Hilda, I----' An imperative voice here interrupted the young people, and brought Captain Bramston to his feet. 'Stop, sir!' it said. 'Whoever you are, this conduct is inadmissible. Stand back, sir!' It was Sir Philip; and old Lady Kildhurm was with him. Sir Philip was looking as stern--and, indeed, fierce--as it was in his nature to do. Hilda, rising also, said appealingly, 'Don't, father! It wasn't his fault!'