"And think me a fool for my pains. No, Frances, what needs--must. I shall not draw back now, it is not my way, as you know; I am sorry for you, if any one is going you particularly care about. I'd have my eye on him if I knew who he was, but I don't." This to her? Frances could have wept with vexation. Was it possible he did not see it was for himself she was anxious? Perhaps she did look a little reproachfully as she replied, somewhat sorrowfully, "No one is going I care about. Only take care of _yourself_, Charles." At another moment the words might have struck him, and perhaps sent conviction into his heart; but now?-- "Then do as I told my brother's wife just now," he replied; "have supper ready for us by the time we come back; I'll answer for our doing justice to it." "Can you think of nothing but eating and drinking?" she asked, bitterly and yet could have thrown herself on her knees, and implored and besought him to stay. Ah! if only in days gone by she could have allowed her warmer nature to have had play, have crushed out her pride and stubbornness, things might have been different between them, and she have been dearer to him; now she was his cousin, nothing more, and with no thought of what she was suffering, he turned away without any reply, rather annoyed at her words than otherwise. A few moments later he joined Amy. "I trust you do not give me credit for being such a sinner as the rest of your sex do? or throw all the onus of this expedition on me, Miss Neville?" "Every one seems to think it originated with you." "Perhaps it did; but then every one need not follow in my footsteps. Surely I am not answerable for any one but myself?" "It seems," replied Amy, evading his question, "to have thrown a damp on every one's spirits. I suppose it must be undertaken now?" "If you had said the last words to me to-day, Miss Neville, it might have been different." Then, as she made no reply, he added, "You do not ask me to stay." "I would do so, if I thought you could retreat honourably." "And you do not think so? You do not blame me for going?" "Certainly not. Things have proceeded too far. You must go. I am only sorry to see so many sad faces." "Thank you, Miss Neville, those are my own feelings entirely. I am in no way to blame for the actions of others, and should have gone myself, whether or no. Good-bye.--God bless you!" he added, softly, as he held her hand in his. It was only for a moment; even Frances could not have found fault with the length of time he held it, and Amy scarcely felt the pressure of his fingers; yet she felt and saw the mark his ring had made as his hand clasped hers so tightly; felt and thought of it for many days after that. Nearly all the gentlemen passed out after Charles. Robert Vavasour hesitated as he drew near the spot where Amy sat; but she did not look up from the book she held in her hand; and, after a moment's delay, he, too, went out, and most of the ladies followed.