"Well, I didn't say he disliked him. He, only looking at the thing in a careless, superficial, way, does not seem to think any blame could be attached to this man if--oh, how I hate these vulgar expressions!--if he simply does go away without, as it is called, `coming to the point' at all. Frank cannot see that he pays Eugenia any particular attentions. He only thinks her very likely to deceive herself in this sort of thing." Sydney looked dreadfully startled. If Frank thought so, must there not be some ground for this new anxiety? But if so, how despicably false Captain Chancellor must be! How false and how hatefully worldly-wise to have thus, as it were, screened himself beforehand by securing Frank's favourable opinion! For that he had _not_ deliberately set himself to gain Eugenia's affections from the first, Sydney could not for an instant allow. What on Eugenia would be the effect of the discovery of such treachery, poor Sydney dared not allow herself to imagine. But no, it could not be. After all, no man could be so coldblooded, so selfish, so wicked, as to crush the happiness out of a fair young life for the sake of a few weeks' amusement. Sydney had read of such things, but was loth to believe in them. Gerald's troubles had made him morbidly suspicious. Frank had spoken hastily, and, after all, Frank was far from being in a position to judge. So she endeavoured to reassure herself, and fancied she had done so. She was unusually quiet, however, for the rest of the afternoon. The others--Frank and the boys, Eugenia and Captain Chancellor, that is to say--were in the highest spirits. Only Sydney and Mr Thurston seemed uninfluenced by the fresh keen air, the exhilarating amusement. "I thought your sister could skate too--at least, that she was learning, like you," said Beauchamp to Eugenia, who was just beginning to feel a little at home on the ice. "Doesn't she like it?" "She skates better than I, a good deal," replied the girl. "I don't know what has come over her this afternoon. She looks so tired and out of spirits!" And as she spoke, she looked anxiously in Sydney's direction. Captain Chancellor noticed the quick change of expression that came over her face. Five minutes before, he had thought nothing could be lovelier than Eugenia, laughing and merry; now it seemed to him this tenderly anxious expression showed the sweetness of her eyes to greater advantage. What a fascinating face the child had!--never two minutes the same, and each change bringing out some new beauty. He stood watching her, till he almost forgot where he was. She turned suddenly, and caught his gaze; blushed a little, and looked away again. Something in his face puzzled her--a perplexed, uneasy look, that she had never seen there before. Suddenly Bob Dalrymple wheeled up to where they were standing, and came to a halt.