"The temper. Henry"--dropping his voice--"a victory over your own temper may be one of the few obligations laid upon you." "I wish I could live for an object," grumbled Henry. "Come round with me to East's, sometimes." "I--daresay!" retorted Henry, when he could recover from his amazement. "Thank you again, Mr. Halliburton." William laughed. But he soon resumed his seriousness. "I can understand that for you, the favoured son of Mr. Ashley, reared in refinement and exclusiveness----" "Enshrined in pride--the failing that Helstonleigh is pleased to call my besetting sin; sheltered under care and coddling so great that the very winds of heaven are not suffered to visit my face too roughly!" was the impetuous interruption of Henry Ashley. "Come! bring it all out. Don't, from motives of delicacy, keep in any of my faults, virtues, or advantages!" "I can understand, I say, why you are unwilling to break through the reserve of your home habits," William calmly continued. "But, if you did so, you might no longer have to complain of the want of an object in life." At this moment they came in view of William's house. Mrs. Halliburton happened to be at one of the windows. William nodded his greeting, and Henry raised his hat. Presently Henry began again. "Pray, do you join the town in its gratuitous opinion that Henry Ashley, of all in it, is the proudest amid the proud?" "I do not find you proud," said William. "You! As far as you and I are concerned, I think the boot might be on the other leg. You might set up for being proud over me." William could not help laughing. "Putting joking aside, my opinion is, Henry, that your shyness and sensitiveness are in fault; not your pride. It is your reserved manner alone which has caused Helstonleigh to take up the impression that you are unduly proud." "Right, old fellow!" returned Henry in emphatic tones. "If you knew how far I and pride stand apart--but let it pass." Arrived at the entrance to Mr. Ashley's, William threw open the gate for Henry, retreating himself. "I must go home first, Henry. I won't be a quarter of an hour." Henry looked cross. "Why on earth, then, did you not go in as we passed? What was the use of your coming up here to go back again?" "I thought my arm was helping you." "So it was. But--there! don't be an hour." As William walked rapidly back, he met Mrs. Ashley's carriage. She and Mary were in it. Mrs. Ashley nodded as he raised his hat, and Mary glanced at him with a smile and a heightened colour. She had grown up to excessive beauty. A few moments, and William met beauty of another style--Anna Lynn. Her cheeks were the flushed, dimpled cheeks of her childhood; the same sky-blue eyes gleaming from between their long dark lashes; the same profusion of silky, brown hair; the same gentle, sweetly modest manners. William stopped to shake hands with her. "Out alone, Anna?" "I am on my way to take tea with Mary Ashley." "Are you? We shall meet there, then."