Colonel Albert became domiciled at Hainault. The rooms which were occupied by him when there were always reserved for him. He had a general invitation, and might leave his luggage and books and papers behind him. It was evident that the family pleased him. Between Mr. Neuchatel and himself there were obviously affairs of great interest; but it was equally clear that he liked the female members of the family--all of them; and all liked him. And yet it cannot be said that he was entertaining, but there are some silent people who are more interesting than the best talkers. And when he did speak he always said the right thing. His manners were tender and gentle; he had an unobtrusive sympathy with all they said or did, except, indeed, and that was not rarely, when he was lost in profound abstraction. “I delight in your friend the colonel, Adrian,” said Mrs. Neuchatel, “but I must say he is very absent.” “He has a good deal to think about,” said Mr. Neuchatel. “I wonder what it can be,” thought Myra. “He has a claim to a great estate,” said Mr. Neuchatel, “and he has to think of the best mode of establishing it; and he has been deprived of great honours, and he believes unjustly, and he wishes to regain them.” “No wonder, then, he is absent,” said Mrs. Neuchatel. “If he only knew what a burthen great wealth is, I am sure he would not wish to possess it, and as for honours I never could make out why having a title or a ribbon could make any difference in a human being.” “Nonsense, my dear Emily,” said Mr. Neuchatel. “Great wealth is a blessing to a man who knows what to do with it, and as for honours, they are inestimable to the honourable.” “Well, I ardently hope Colonel Albert may succeed,” said Myra, “because he was so kind to my brother at Eton. He must have a good heart.” “They say he is the most unscrupulous of living men,” said Mr. Neuchatel, with his peculiar smile. “Good heavens!” exclaimed Mrs. Neuchatel. “How terrible!” said Adriana. “It cannot be true.” “Perhaps he is the most determined,” said Myra. “Moral courage is the rarest of qualities, and often maligned.” “Well, he has got a champion,” said Mr. Neuchatel. “I ardently wish him success,” said Myra, “in all his undertakings. I only wish I knew what they were.” “Has not he told your brother, Miss Ferrars?” asked Mr. Neuchatel, with laughing eyes. “He never speaks of himself to Endymion,” said Myra. “He speaks a good deal of himself to me,” said Mr. Neuchatel; “and he is going to bring a friend here to-morrow who knows more about his affairs even than I do. So you will have a very good opportunity, Miss Ferrars, of making yourself acquainted with them, particularly if you sit next to him at dinner, and are very winning.”