'Skene!' he muttered; 'was my regard for Hester a passing infatuation, or an old revived fancy? Was it likely to have proved a lasting attachment if Annot had not come? And in Hester would I have but received the worn-out remnant of an attachment for another? Do not look so strange--so white, cousin,' said he in a low voice, as he touched her hand. 'White am I?' asked Hester with inexpressible annoyance; 'if so, it is caused by anxiety for papa--he is not strong, Roland.' 'Of course,' glad to affect or adopt any idea; 'but always trust to me----' 'To _you_!' 'Yes; we have ever been friends, and shall be so always, I hope, for I never forget that I am your cousin, though the privileges of such might turn a wiser head than mine,' he added, unwisely, awkwardly, and with a little laugh. A gleam came into Hester's eyes, which always looked nearly as black as night, and there was an angry curl on her red lip for a moment. Bewildered--besotted, in fact--though Roland had become, by the wiles, graces, and beauty of the brilliant Annot, it was impossible for him not to feel, we say, some compunction, and keenly too, for his treatment of the soft and gentle Hester. He could not and dared not in any fashion approach so delicate a subject with her--explanation or exculpation was not to be thought of; yet he felt reproach subtly in her manner; he could read it in her eyes, strive to conceal her emotions as she might; and confusion made him blunder again. 'Hester, we part but for a few days,' said he in a low voice, and with more _empressement_ of manner than he had adopted for some time past; 'we have ever been excellent friends, have we not, my dear girl? and now we shall be more so than ever.' Hester remained silent. 'Why now, more than ever?' thought she, while his half-apologetic tone irritated and cut her to the heart, and she knew that a much more tender leave-taking with Annot was over and had taken place unseen; and now, indulging in dreamy thoughts of her own, that young lady was idling over the keys of the piano. 'Will you miss me when I am gone?' he asked, with a little nervous smile. 'No doubt you will be missed--by papa especially.' 'Well, I hope so.' 'Why?' 'It is nice to feel one's self important to others,' said he. with another awkward attempt at a jest; adding, 'May I?' as he lighted a cigar. She grew paler still; for a moment he looked sorrowfully into her white-lidded and velvety dark blue eyes, and attempted to touch her hand, but she shrank back. 'I should like,' he began, 'to stay a little longer, of course, but I must go; the covert shooting is at hand, and Earlshaugh must wait me.' 'It is more than some do there, papa thinks.' 'The more reason for me to go, cousin,' said he, with darkening face. 'Go--and the sooner the better,' thought Hester bitterly; 'there is now no middle course for me--for us; we must be everything or nothing to each other--and nothing it is!'