"I saw him, many years ago, at Baden. How wild, how sullen he was--unlike his present self! for then there was a violence and a savageness in his gloom, which has vanished." "Poor boy!" said Lady Cecil; "I remember well--and it is a pleasure to think that I am, to a great degree, the cause of the change. He had no friend at that time--none to love--to listen to him, and foster hopes which, however vain, diminish his torments, and are all the cure he can obtain, till he forgets them. But what can this mean?" she continued, starting up; "what can bring him back? It is Gerard returned!" She threw open the glass door, and went out to meet him as he rode up the avenue--he threw himself from his horse, and advanced, exclaiming, "Is my father here?" "Sir Boyvill? No; is he coming?" "Oh yes! we shall see him soon. I met a servant with a letter sent express--the post was too slow--he will be here soon; he left London last night--you know with what speed he travels." "But why this sudden visit?" "Can you not guess? He received a letter from the same person--containing the same account; he knew I was here--he comes to balk my purpose, to forbid, to storm, to reproach; to do all that he has done a thousand times before, with the same success." Neville looked flushed and disturbed; his face, usually "more in sorrow than in anger," now expressed the latter emotion, mingled with scorn and resolution; he gave the letter he had received to Lady Cecil. "I am wrong, perhaps, in returning at his bidding, since I do not mean ultimately to obey--yet he charges me on my duty to hear him once again; so I am come to hear--to listen to the old war of his vanity with what he calls my pride--his vindictiveness with my sense of duty--his vituperation of her I worship--and I must bear this!" Lady Cecil read the letter, and Neville pressed Elizabeth's hand, and besought her excuse, while she, much bewildered, was desirous to leave the room. At this moment the noise of a carriage was heard on the gravel. "He is here," said Neville; "see him first, Sophia, tell him how resolved I am--how right in my resolves. Try to prevent a struggle, as disgraceful as vain; and most so to my father, since he must suffer defeat."