The crimson grew deeper. Dr. Davenal did not seem to observe that there was no answer. "How the idea came to arise, I do not understand. Heaven knows I should be the last man in the world to scheme and plan out marriages--for Caroline or for anybody else. Such matters are best left to come about of themselves. But, Sara, I wish one thing--that it had been Mr. Oswald Cray, instead of Mark." "Do you, papa?" with the blushing face still turned from him. "Ay, I do. I could have _trusted_ her to Oswald. _How_ could she choose the other in preference to him?" Sara lifted her face. Eager words were on her lips--to the effect that perhaps Mr. Oswald Cray might not have chosen Caroline. But they died away unspoken. "I wish you would go and tell her I want her here, Sara." Sara slipped by the doctor, passed over the cool lawn to the distant sunny paths, and met her cousin. "Papa wants you, Carine." Caroline recoiled in her self-conscious timidity. "What about?" she whispered. "Did he say what about?" "I think," said Sara slowly, scarcely knowing whether she was doing right to speak or not, "that it is something about Mr. Cray." For a moment Caroline made no rejoinder. She walked on and had nearly gained the lawn when she turned her head again. Sara had lingered behind. "Sara! Sara! Did he seem angry?" she whispered. "Not exactly angry. Vexed, I thought." Dr. Davenal stood at the glass doors still. He put out his hand as she approached him. "Did you want me, Uncle Richard?" "Mr. Cray has been making an application to me concerning you. Caroline, were you cognisant of it?" "Now, Uncle Richard! If you are going to be cross, I--I shall be so unhappy." "When did you ever know me cross?" he gravely rejoined, and Caroline Davenal burst into tears. "Caroline, my dear, we must put away this childishness. You are but affecting it, and this is a serious moment. I must talk to you very earnestly. Come in, Sara. It is cooler indoors than out." Sara, who in her delicacy of feeling would have remained outside, went within the room and sat down to the table with her book. Caroline had dried her passing tears, and was stealing a glance at Dr. Davenal. "You _are_ angry, Uncle Richard." "If I am, Caroline, it is for your sake; a loving anger. My chief emotion, I believe, is surprise. I never gave a thought to this; not a suspicion of it crossed me." "I fancied you must have guessed it," was the murmured answer. "Guessed that! No, child. But the blindness was my own, I believe. When we ourselves place one view deliberately before us, it tends to shut out others. I had got it into my head, Carine, that it was to your score we were indebted for the frequent visits of Mr. Oswald Cray." Caroline lifted her face, and Dr. Davenal observed how genuine was the surprise depicted on it. "Uncle Richard!"