Mildred thought he looked younger and happier to-night, with all those young aspirants for his notice pressing round him. She was startled to hear a soft laugh from Olive once, though it was checked immediately, as though duty put a force on inclination. Mr. Lambert retired to his study after supper, and Olive, at Dr. Heriot's request, went to the piano. Mildred had heard she had no taste for music; but to her surprise she played some hymns with accuracy and feeling, the others joining in as they pleased. Richard pleaded fatigue and a headache, and sat in the farthest corner, looking over the dark fells, and shading his eyes from the lamplight; but Dr. Heriot sang in a rich, full voice, Polly sitting at his feet and sharing his hymn-book, while Chrissy looked over his shoulder. Mildred was enjoying the harmony, and wondering over Roy's beautiful tenor, when she was startled to see him turn suddenly very pale, and leave off singing; and a moment afterwards, as though unable to contain himself, he abruptly left the room. Olive glanced uneasily round, and then, under cover of the singing, whispered to Mildred-- 'I forgot. Oh, how careless!--how wrong of me! Aunt Milly, will you please go after him?' Mildred obeyed. She found him leaning against the open garden door--white, and almost gasping. 'My dear boy, you are ill. Shall I call Dr. Heriot to you?' but he shook his head impatiently. 'Nonsense--I am all right; at least, I shall be in a moment. Don't stay, Aunt Milly. I would not have Cardie see me for worlds; he would be blaming Olive, and I know she forgot.' 'The hymn we were singing, do you mean?' 'Yes; she--mamma--was so fond of it. We used to have it every night in her room. She asked for it almost at the last. _Sun of my soul;_ the hymn of hymns, she called it. It was just like Livy to forget. I can stand any but that one--it beats me. Ah, Aunt Milly!' his boyish tones suddenly breaking beyond control. 'Dear Rex, don't mind; these feelings do you honour. I love you the better for them;' pressing the fair head tenderly to her shoulder, as she had done Chrissy's. She was half afraid he might resent the action, but for the moment his manhood was helpless. 'That is just what she used to do,' he said, with a half sob. 'You remind me of her somehow, Aunt Milly. There's some one coming after us. Please--please let me go,'--the petulant dignity of seventeen years asserting itself again,--but he seemed still so white and shaken that she ventured to detain him. 'Roy, dear, it is only Olive. There is nothing of which to be ashamed.' 'Livy, oh, I don't mind her. I thought it was Dick or Heriot. Livy, how could you play that thing when you know--you know----' but the rest of the speech was choked somehow. 'Oh, Rex, I am so sorry.' 'Well, never mind; it can't be helped now. Only Aunt Milly has seen me make an ass of myself.'