"You remain here some days, do you not?" asked Mr. Haveloc. "Yes, until after the races and the ball, and the early flower show at S----." "You mean to see a great deal of the world then before you come back to Ashdale." "Yes," said Margaret, "I shall have so much to tell my uncle about." Mr. Haveloc gave her one of those softened smiles, which changed so entirely the expression of his features. "You look forward with pleasure," he said, "to giving Mr. Grey an account of your adventures." "I do indeed," said Margaret. "And so do I." "You, Mr. Haveloc!" "Yes, I shall come in for the narrative. Perhaps you do not know that I shall return to Ashdale before you do." "Yes, my uncle told me so," said Margaret, with something like a sigh. Now, nothing in general so much offends a man as not appearing extremely delighted with his society; but Mr. Haveloc, perhaps from the novelty of the thing, seemed rather pleased than otherwise. "You don't look so glad as you ought," he said, with a smile, "which is rather ungrateful on your part; for to me Ashdale would lose very much of its attraction if you were absent." It was enough to make her blush, such a marked compliment, and from such a person; and, to heighten her confusion, there was George Gage still staring at her on the other side of the table, as only a military man can stare. "I suppose," said Mr. Haveloc, "the truth is, that you think you cannot tell Mr. Grey your little secrets when I am present; that is why you wish me away." Margaret had not said she wished him away, but she did not contradict him. "Of course I should not tell my uncle many things before you," she said, "because little circumstances, which are new to me and strange to him, now that he never goes out, would seem very trifling to a third person." "Don't you know," said Mr. Haveloc, "that first impressions are always interesting? You must not therefore prevent my hearing yours." Miss Gage was rising at this moment, and Margaret availed herself of the move to avoid giving a reply. When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, they gathered round the fire, and began to discuss the amusements of the next day. Margaret, who was standing by Elizabeth Gage, looked earnestly in her face to see whether she could really enter into conversation of so trifling a nature as that which was going on among the ladies. Yes,--Elizabeth patiently heard Miss Lawson Smith's complaints of her crape ball dress, which had not been trimmed with roses of the proper tint, and gave as much comfort as she could under the circumstances; and she endeavoured to decide upon a bonnet for Miss Conway, when that young lady professed to be unable to bring the matter to a conclusion for herself.