sure of this, that if the chance were offered to her, she would not mar his greatness by accepting the priceless boon of his love. But why,--why had he been so tender to her? Then she thought of what were the ways of men, and of what she had heard of them. It had been bad for her to go abroad thus with her poor foolish softness, with her girl's untried tenderness,--that thus she should be affected by the first chance smile that had been thrown to her by one of those petted darlings of Fortune! And then she was brought round to that same resolution which was at the moment forming itself in her father's mind;--that it would have been better for her had she not allowed herself to be taken to Hendon Hall. Then they were in Paradise Row, and were put down at their separate doors with but few words of farewell to each other. "They have just come home," said Clara Demijohn, rushing into her mother's bedroom. "You'll find it is quite true. They have been dining with the lord!" CHAPTER XXII. AGAIN AT TRAFFORD. The meeting between Hampstead and his sister was affectionate and, upon the whole, satisfactory, though it was necessary that a few words should be spoken which could hardly be pleasant in themselves. "I had a dinner-party here last night," he said laughing, desirous of telling her something of George Roden,--and something also of Marion Fay. "Who were the guests?" "Roden was here." Then there was silence. She was glad that her lover had been one of the guests, but she was not as yet moved to say anything respecting him. "And his mother." "I am sure I shall like his mother," said Lady Frances. "I have mentioned it," continued her brother, speaking with unusual care, "because, in compliance with the agreement I made at Trafford, I cannot ask him here again at present." "I am sorry that I should be in your way, John." "You are not in my way, as I think you know. Let us say no more than that at present. Then I had a singular old Quaker, named Zachary Fay, an earnest, honest, but humble man, who blew me up instantly for talking slang." "Where did you pick him up?" "He comes out of the City," he said, not wishing to refer again to Paradise Row and the neighbourhood of the Rodens,--"and he brought his daughter." "A young lady?" "Certainly a young lady." "Ah, but young,--and beautiful?" "Young,--and beautiful." "Now you are laughing. I suppose she is some strong-minded, rather repulsive, middle-aged woman." "As to the strength of her mind, I have not seen enough to constitute myself a judge," said Hampstead, almost with a tone of offence. "Why you should imagine her to be repulsive because she is a Quaker, or why middle-aged, I do not understand. She is not repulsive to me." "Oh, John, I am so sorry! Now I know that you have found some divine beauty." "We sometimes entertain angels unawares. I thought that I had done so when she took her departure." "Are you in earnest?"