Without the slightest sign of embarrassment or surprise, without even interrupting her part in the duet, which was now drawn to a close, she allowed him to touch her hand, stooped her head a little, and then directed her glance steadily over Miss Markham's shoulder to the pages of the music book from which she was reading. Mr. Gage was not given to betray his feelings any more than herself--perhaps he had anticipated no kinder reception--he drew himself up, stared haughtily at the company, arranged his moustaches, looked at his watch, told Mr. Singleton he had not expected to arrive so soon; and then perceiving Margaret, advanced to her, believed--was _sure_ he had the pleasure of addressing Miss Capel; pressed her hand with remarkable earnestness, told her how rejoiced he was to meet her again so unexpectedly; hoped that her stay at Singleton Manor was likely to be a long one; and, in fact, tried very hard to make an impression. It was plain he had either forgotten, or forgiven her rejection of Hubert, and so far Margaret was pleased; for the rest, she knew what his extreme civility meant. This lasted until the company had done thanking and complimenting the singers; and then Margaret expected that Harriet would have addressed a few words to Mr. Gage, who was standing close beside her; but she perversely turned round and addressed Mr. Humphries. "Well," she said, "you and I, Mr. Humphries, have done something wonderful, according to all these good people. I think we _did_ get on very well." "Oh! I am glad of that, Miss Conway. Was I quite right in that last part?" "Quite; it never went better." "Oh! I was afraid of that E. It is such an awkward interval." "Very. A seventh always is; and it is more difficult to hit in concerted music than in a solo." "Yes. Shall you hunt to-morrow?" "I have not made up my mind; and you know even if I had, I might change it: women are not always to be depended upon." "Oh! I don't know. I like--I have not a bad opinion of women, do you know, Miss Conway." "I am sure all the women are much obliged to you for your good opinion, Mr. Humphries," said Harriet, fixing her brilliant eyes upon him, without the slightest appearance of irony in their expression; "it is a proof of your good sense not to follow in the common track of unmeaning abuse against our sex." "Yes; that is what I think--there is no sense in it: and people who have mothers--and that--" Mr. Humphries evidently thought his sentence complete; and Harriet, leaning over Margaret, whispered, "Mothers, _and that_:--to think that old Chaucer's delicate idea should have found its way into such a head, no wonder it comes out again rather garbled!" Still Mr. Gage stood fronting Harriet, with his eyes fixed full upon her; and still she perversely avoided meeting his glance. "We owe you a thousand thanks, Miss Markham," she said, turning graciously to that young lady, "for your accompaniment:--the second movement is no sinecure to play."