Was it in any way relating to this propensity in Eugene Trevor, against which Louis de Burgh originally warned her--and did it in reality--more than the reason which Eugene had brought forth to her brother, tend to interfere in any way with her happiness? So strongly did this idea suddenly possess her, that she could not refrain from asking Mrs. de Burgh whether she thought this was the case. Her cousin's evasive answer did not tend much to the removal of her suspicions. Eugene certainly did play--did bet a little on the turf. She thought Mary had always been aware of that--men must have some pursuit, some excitement. If it were not one thing it was another--equally--perhaps one might call it--"not quite right;" however, all the best men in London were on the turf. Eugene was only like the rest, but with married men, it was quite different. "Indeed, Mary," the fair lady continued, "Eugene always assures me, he means to give up everything of the sort when he marries, and I am quite sure he will do so. I only wish you were married, dear." Mary only sighed. "You are not getting weary of your engagement, Mary?" Mrs. de Burgh inquired. "Weary!--oh, no, Olivia. I was sighing for Eugene's sake." "You may well do so, for he is, I assure you, very unhappy at all this delay." Mary shook her head, and her lip curled a little disdainfully. The gesture seemed to say, "Whose fault is it now?" Mrs. de Burgh seemed to understand it as such, for she said-- "It is all that miserly old father's fault. He could set everything right at once, if he chose." "But," said Mary, in a low tone, "I see no end of all this." "No," hesitated Mrs. de Burgh, "not I suppose till the brother turns up; unless, indeed--" she murmured. "What?" inquired Mary, anxiously. "You had better come and stay with me at Silverton," was Mrs. de Burgh's indirect reply. Mary smiled dejectedly. "That would never do," she replied, "they would not consent to my doing so, under present circumstances." "They--who are they? I am sure, Mary, I should not allow any brother or sister to interfere with my proceedings. You are of age, and quite at liberty, I should imagine, to act as you please on any subject." Mary shook her head. She did not feel quite so independent-spirited as all that--and besides, she did not herself see that such a step would be quite expedient at present. She did not, however, say this aloud, and Mrs. de Burgh attributed her silence to yielding consent. "Eugene wishes it very much I can assure you." Mary looked up as if the tempter himself had murmured the insinuating observation in her ear, for there was something significant in the way Mrs. de Burgh had spoken, which she could not but understand, and still more in the words which followed. "If you were only married to Eugene, Mary, you might rely on his giving up all objectionable and hurtful things." "But as that cannot be," sighed Mary, despondingly.