Then there was a little bustle of bowing and hand-shaking, and in another minute, of leave-taking all round, and Roma Eyrecourt had reason to congratulate herself on the successful result of her sisterly warning when she saw Eugenia, bright with smiles and girlish gratification, disappear from the scene on her father's arm, closely attended on the other side by Captain Chancellor, looking as if the world contained for him no other human being than this white-robed maiden with the scarlet ribbon in her pretty brown hair. "Poor child," thought Roma. Then her reflections took a different turn. "Silly Beauchamp," she murmured to herself, and for a minute or two she remained silent. Then, with a slight shrug of her white shoulders, she restored herself to her ordinary state of comfortable equanimity. Some little time elapsed before Captain Chancellor re-entered the drawing-room. When he did so, it was in company with his host, who had been doing duty outside, seeing the last of his departing guests. Mrs Dalrymple and Roma were alone. "A terrible night," said Mr Dalrymple, cheerily, rubbing his hands as he briskly approached the fire. "Mary, my dear, I am trying to persuade our friend Chancellor to stay where he is for the night, for upon my word I don't see how he is to find his way home. The fog is as thick as pea-soup." "But how will every one else get home, then? Captain Chancellor is not less likely to find his way than other people, is he?" said Roma. The remark sounded a little ungracious. "Other people came mostly in their own carriages, and brought one or two extra men with them," replied Mr Dalrymple, who was matter-of-fact in the extreme. "Besides, no other of our friends came from such a distance; the barracks must be nearly three miles from here." "Do stay, Captain Chancellor. It would be far more comfortable, and you can see Roma off for Brighton at twelve o'clock. If you write a note now we can send it to your servant the very first thing to-morrow morning for whatever you want. Do stay," said Mrs Dalrymple, cordially. Captain Chancellor demurred a little; Roma said nothing. A servant was despatched on another fruitless search for the fly, which had not yet been heard of, and, after receiving his report, the guest at last gave in, and resigned himself, with suitable expressions of gratitude to his hosts, to passing the night at Barnwood Terrace. This point settled, the little party drew round the fire more closely, in the sociable, familiar way people do for the last few minutes before bed-time, when the house feels snug and self-contained, all outside communication being at an end for the night. Miss Eyrecourt was, perhaps, a trifle graver than usual, but roused up on her cousin's inquiring if she were tired.