But there was a doubt on her own mind whether it would not be dispelled without any effort on her part. It would vanish at once if he were to greet her as the Lovels had greeted her on her first coming. She could partly understand that the manner of their meeting in London had thrust upon him a necessity for flattering tenderness with which he might well dispense when he met her among his family. Had he really loved her,--had he meant to love her,--he would hardly have been absent so long after her coming. She had been glad that he had been absent,--so she assured herself,--because there could never be any love between them. Daniel Thwaite had told her that the brotherly love which had been offered was false love,--must be false,--was no love at all. Do brothers marry sisters; and had not this man already told her that he wished to make her his wife? And then there must never be another kiss. Daniel Thwaite had told her that; and he was, not only her lover, but her master also. This was the rule by which she would certainly hold. She would be true to Daniel Thwaite. And yet she looked for the lord's coming, as one looks for the rising of the sun of an early morning,--watching for that which shall make all the day beautiful. And he came. The rector and his wife, and Aunt Julia and Minnie, all went out into the hall to meet him, and Anna was left alone in the library, where they were wont to congregate before dinner. It was already past seven, and every one was dressed. A quarter of an hour was to be allowed to the lord, and he was to be hurried up at once to his bedroom. She would not see him till he came down ready, and all hurried, to lead his aunt to the dining-room. She heard the scuffle in the hall. There were kisses;--and a big kiss from Minnie to her much-prized Cousin Fred; and a loud welcome from the full-mouthed rector. "And where is Anna?"--the lord asked. They were the first words he spoke, and she heard them, ah! so plainly. It was the same voice,--sweet, genial, and manly; sweet to her beyond all sweetness that she could conceive. "You shall see her when you come down from dressing," said Mrs. Lovel,--in a low voice, but still audible to the solitary girl. "I will see her before I go up to dress," said the lord, walking through them, and in through the open door to the library. "So, here you are. I am so glad to see you! I had sworn to go into Scotland before the time was fixed for your coming,--before I had met you,--and I could not escape. Have you thought ill of me because I have not been here to welcome you sooner?" "No,--my lord." "There are horrible penalties for anybody who calls me lord in this house;--are there not, Aunt Jane? But I see my uncle wants his dinner." "I'll take you up-stairs, Fred," said Minnie, who was still holding her cousin's hand. "I am coming. I will only say that I would sooner see you here than in any house in England."