Then the rector trembled and turned pale, and he endeavoured to fix his eyes sternly and reproachfully on his son, but the agitation of his mind was too great to leave him any power or command over his muscles, or even to suffer him to speak. And instead of fixing a look of sternness on his son, he looked at him wildly and unmeaningly, and his lips moved, but they uttered no articulate sound. And the young man was grieved and terrified at these hideous symptoms of ungovernable and overwhelming anger. He rose therefore hastily from his seat and again grasped his father’s hand, not gently and persuasively as before, but with an agitation almost as great as that which he was desirous of subduing. The movement a little recalled the consciousness of the agitated parent, and when Robert Darnley was just about to speak, his father hastily and loudly exclaimed; “Peace, boy, peace! not another word, unless you wish to break your father’s heart!” The young man was wise enough to keep his lips closed. But he was painfully distressed at the visible effect which had been produced upon his father. He therefore sat down again watching the countenance of his angry parent, and almost wishing that he had not been so positive. After a few minutes had elapsed the elder Darnley regained his self-possession, and expressed to his son a wish to be left alone. Robert Darnley obeyed the intimation and retired. He did not dare say a word more on the subject of their interview, and he was greatly perplexed as to what steps he should take. For it had been his decided intention to go over to Smatterton on this very morning, for the purpose of making a final arrangement. He had never before seen his father, or indeed any one else, under the influence of such powerful feelings. He thought that if he should go to Smatterton now, such an overt act of rebellion would be too much for his father’s agitated nerves to bear, and might be productive of serious consequences. Instead therefore of going to Smatterton, he sought his mother and sisters, and gratified their curiosity by informing them of all the particulars of his interview with his father. Now, though the ladies of the family were not most amicably disposed towards Miss Primrose, they more easily yielded to the logic and eloquence of Robert Darnley than his father had done. They were pleased that their lips were set at liberty to speak on the subject; for it is very unpleasant when in a family there is a forced silence, or a prohibition to speak on any particular subject. They listened very attentively to the history which the young gentleman gave them of the treachery of the letter-carrier, and they one and all lifted up their hands and eyes in mute astonishment at the wickedness of Lord Spoonbill.