On the ensuing morning, they returned to Castle Delaval. Previous to their departure, Admiral Buchanan had a long interview with Lady Margaret, during which time Lord Glenarvon walked along the beach with Calantha and Sophia. “Shall you be at Belfont again this year?” said Miss Seymour. “I shall be at Castle Delaval in a few days,” he answered, smiling rather archly at Calantha, she knew not wherefore. But she turned coldly from him, as if fearing to meet his eyes. Yet not so was it her custom to behave towards those whom she sought to please, and what woman upon earth exists, who had not wished to please Glenarvon? Possibly she felt offended at what he had said when giving her the rose in Donallan’s gardens; or it may be that her mind, hitherto so enthusiastic, so readily attracted, was grown callous and indifferent, and felt not those charms and the splendour of those talents which dazzled and misled every other heart. Yet is it unflattering to fly, to feel embarrassed, to scarcely dare to look upon the person who addresses us? Is this so very marked a sign of indifference? It is not probable that Lord Glenarvon thought so. He appeared not to hate the being who was thus confused in his presence, but to think that he felt what he inspired were presumption. With all the wild eagerness of enthusiasm, her infatuated spirit felt what, with all the art of well dissembled vanity, he feigned. She quitted him with a strong feeling of interest. She, however, first heard him accept her father’s invitation, and agree to accompany Sir George Buchanan in his promised visit to Castle Delaval. CHAPTER XII. On their return thither, they found the guests they had left in a lamentable state of dullness. Lord Glenarvon was the first subject of enquiry. Is he arrived?—have you seen him?—do you like him?—were repeated on all sides. “Who?—who?” “There can be but one—Lord Glenarvon!” “We all like him quite sufficiently be assured of that,” said Sophia, glancing her eye somewhat sarcastically upon Calantha. “He is a very strange personage,” said Lady Margaret. “My curiosity to see him had been highly excited: I am now perfectly satisfied. He certainly has a slight resemblance to his mother.” “He has the same winning smile,” said Gondimar; “but there all comparison ceases.” “What says my Calantha?” said Lady Mandeville, “does her silence denote praise?” “Oh! the greatest,” she replied in haste, “I hope, my dear girls,” said Mrs. Seymour, rather seriously addressing her daughters, “that you will neither of you form any very marked intimacy with a person of so singular a character as is this young lord. I was rather sorry when, by your letter, I found he was invited here.” “Oh, there is no need of caution for us!” replied Lady Trelawny, laughing: “perhaps others may need these counsels, but not we: we are safe enough; are we not, Sophia?”