Margaret noticed the proud admiring glance that Hubert Gage threw on his father as he spoke; but at that moment dinner was announced. Captain Gage came up to her and offered his arm; Hubert Gage whispered something in her ear about his father cutting him out, which did not lessen the tints on her cheek, and then fell back and led his sister from the room. At dinner, Margaret sat with perfect tranquillity listening to the conversation, and replying quietly to everything said to her. Hubert was exactly opposite to her, and though she seldom lifted her eyes to him, she felt that he was looking at her much more constantly than he ought. She was a rapid observer of character, a faculty common to shy people; for the very sensitiveness which occasions that feeling, quickens their perception of the qualities of others. She detected that Hubert Gage, with a great deal of candour and good-nature, had but little enthusiasm--his father had tenfold more ardour in his composition, even at his age. He was anxious that no one should be able to discover that he was a sailor by his language or appearance; took the greatest pains that his dress should not betray the secret; never used a technical term; affected not to know which way the wind was; and prided himself with some reason upon his horsemanship; and this not because he had the least dislike to his profession, but from an idea that it was vulgar to display any traces of it. Elizabeth was talking to Margaret about some book she was reading, when she caught something her brother was saying to her father, and paused to listen. "What did you say, Hubert, about Sir Philip?" she asked. "That he is to undertake this survey," he replied; "he has scarcely returned before he will go out again. Before I landed, he was on his road to London for his instructions, and he will be off I dare say in a few days. Just the thing for him, Bessy." "Very unwise in his state of health," said Captain Gage. "Oh, Sir! pray let him kill himself his own way," said Hubert, laughing; "he enjoys it amazingly." "I wonder at you, Hubert," said Miss Gage, "such an honour as you ought to feel it to have sailed under such a Captain." "It is an honour I am very willing to resign," said her brother, laughing still more, "we were always on the best of terms, but I don't much like him."