"I was very happy, I am sure, to be of any use," said Miss Markham, amiably. "Perhaps you will be able to induce Mr. Humphries to give us 'Di pescator ignobile.' I forget who was your singing master, Mr. Humphries?" "Oh! I learned when I was at Oxford of one of the choristers. I had three lessons a week all the time I was there; and glee meetings besides of an evening." "All you ever did learn there, I'll engage!" whispered Harriet, as Mr. Humphries went to the piano. Margaret looked anxiously at Harriet, and at Mr. Gage; she seemed so determined not to notice him, and he looked equally resolved to make her speak. "So it was you making all that noise," said Harriet, turning carelessly round; "I thought the dogs had gone mad!" "Donald recognised me, I believe," said Mr. Gage; "the noise was of his making, not mine." "Oh, do you hear him!" cried Harriet; "is not that good. I must tell Uncle Singleton that when I can catch him. Did any body give you any dinner, Mr. Gage, when you arrived?" "Thank you--no. I underwent that ceremony on the road." "I envy you. I like dining at an inn; don't you, Margaret?" "I have not yet had an opportunity of congratulating you on the marriage of your sister with _Lord Raymond_," said Mr. Gage, with emphasis. "Thank you very much," returned Harriet; "only the affair is almost a fortnight old, and one has nearly forgotten all about it. How long do you think, Mr. Gordon, one may offer congratulations after a wedding?" "I really have hardly considered the subject," said Mr. Gordon: "I should say, perhaps, during the honeymoon a very good distinction; so you see, Mr. Gage, you have still a fortnight left." "I was surprised, I own," said Mr. Gage; "I had not imagined Lord Raymond's selection would have fallen where it did." "Lord Raymond was a wise man, Mr. Gage," said Harriet, laughing; "and knew when he was well off." Mr. Gage looked earnestly at her for a few moments, and then moved away. "Hark you, ma mie," said Harriet, leaning towards Margaret, "you would hardly believe how I long for a good laugh at this moment. I know George so well!--Now, he has actually taken the trouble to get leave of absence as soon as ever he heard of this marriage, and to come over here to see how I bear the shock of Lord Raymond's marriage. He believes me a disappointed wretch; and that the very good spirits I am in to-night are merely forced, to conceal the anguish of a breaking heart;" and Harriet, unable any longer to restrain her laughter, fell back in her chair, and gave way to one burst of merriment after another. "Did you see, Margaret, how he fixed his eyes upon me to detect, if he could, the constraint I was putting on my feelings; how he watched for some trace of suffering in my voice; something to betray the anguish within; and the stress he laid on _Lord Raymond_, as if he would have asked how I liked parting with my especial property. I would not have missed this scene for any thing in life!"