'Commands, Sir,' answered Crofts, somewhat alarmed by the tone in which this question was put--'I have no commands to be sure Sir--but, but, I came Sir, just to enquire after Miss Mowbray. I did not mean to intrude.' 'Then, Sir,' returned the Colonel, 'I beg you will leave us.' 'Oh! certainly, Sir,' cried Crofts, trying to regain his courage and assume an air of raillery--'certainly--I would not for the world interrupt you. My business indeed is not at all material--only a compliment to Miss Mowbray--your's,' added he sneeringly, 'is, I see, of more consequence.' 'Look ye, Mr. Crofts,' sharply answered Fitz-Edward--'You are to make no impertinent comments. Miss Mowbray is mistress of her actions. She is in my particular protection on behalf of my friend Delamere, and I shall consider the slightest failure of respect to her as an insult to me. Sir, if you have nothing more to say you will be so good as to leave us.' There was something so hostile in the manner in which Fitz-Edward delivered this speech, that James Crofts, more at home in the cabinet than the field, thought he might as well avoid another injunction to depart; and quietly submit to the present, rather than provoke farther resentment from the formidable soldier. He therefore, looking most cadaverously, made one of his jerking bows, and said, with something he intended for a smile-- 'Well, well, good folks, I'll leave you to your _tête a tête_, and hasten back to my engagement. Every body regrets Miss Mowbray's absence from the ball; and the partner that was provided for her is ready to hang himself.' An impatient look, darted from Fitz-Edward, stopped farther effusion of impertinence, and he only added--'Servant! servant!' and walked away. Fitz-Edward, then turning towards Emmeline, saw her pale and faint. 'Why, my dear Miss Mowbray, do you suffer this man's folly to affect you? Your looks really terrify me!' 'Oh! he was sent on purpose,' cried Emmeline.--'Mrs. Ashwood has lately often hinted to me, that whatever are my engagements to Delamere I was much more partial to you. She has watched me for some time; and now, on my refusing to accompany them to the ball, concluded I had an appointment, and sent Crofts back to see.' 'If I thought so,' sternly answered Fitz-Edward, 'I would instantly overtake him, and I believe I could oblige him to secresy.' 'No, for heaven's sake don't!' said Emmeline--'for heaven's sake do not think of it! I care not what they conjecture--leave them to their malice--Crofts is not worth your anger. But Fitz-Edward, let us return to what we were talking of. Will you promise me to delay going to London--to delay seeing Mr. Godolphin until--in short, will you give me your honour to remain at Tylehurst a week, without taking any measures to inform Godolphin of what you have told me. I will, at the end of that time, either release you from your promise, or give you unanswerable reasons why you should relinquish the design of meeting him at all.'