While listening to these agreeable remarks, D’Almayne had kept his eyes steadily fixed upon an amalgamated catalogue, desirous not to add to Kate’s embarrassment; but at length, surprised at her silence and immobility, he ventured to glance towards her, and was alarmed to perceive that she had turned pale to her very lips, while she grasped the brass rail, which was placed to protect the pictures, convulsively, in order to save herself from falling. Any one with less tact than D’Almayne would, in officious eagerness to assist her, have made a fuss, and caused her to become the subject of general attention; but Horace knew better how to turn the situation to account; handing her a chair, he said quietly-- “The heat has made you feel faint; sit down for a moment, and perhaps the feeling may pass off.” As Kate hastened to follow his suggestion, she glanced towards him, to read in his features whether he also had overheard the conversation which had affected her. Whether his subtle intellect had led him to divine her intention, and he was enacting the character he considered most likely to tell with Kate, or whether he was merely obeying a natural impulse, we do not attempt to decide; suffice it to state that, when she looked at him, he was scowling after the amiable family, whose conversation had caused the embarrassment, with so angry an expression of countenance, that a fear seized his companion lest he should be about to do something indignant and foolish, which might attract attention to her, and produce the scene she dreaded. A moment’s reflection on his cautious, prudent character, would have proved to her the unreasonableness of such a fear; but she spoke without allowing herself this-- “What are you going to do?” she said, in a hurried whisper: “you _can_ take no notice of--of----;” and unable to find words to express her meaning, she paused in confusion. D’Almayne finished her sentence for her:-- “----Of those people’s ignorance of the usages of society? No, I am not so inconsiderate; pardon me that I allowed you to see my just indignation, but for the moment I was completely carried away by feeling. Now,” he continued, “if you can make the effort, let us join the others; no one has, as yet, observed your indisposition.” By way of reply, Kate rose and took his proffered arm. “Get them away from this place,” she said, hurriedly; “I shall suffocate if I remain here longer.” Horace bowed assent, and after exchanging a few indifferent remarks with Alice and Lord Alfred Courtland, turned to Mr. Crane, observing-- “Will you forgive me for pleading the cause of one of your new carriage-horses? The coachman tells me it has a slight cough; and it will scarcely tend to get rid of the ailment to wait too long in this piercing east wind.”