possession, either neglects or seems incapable of valuing the better part of the treasure he has won. Honor, in the dearth of mental companionship, turned as instinctively as the flower to the sun to the “mind” capable (it is the old story) of understanding her. She was motherless, poor girl!--the child of no tender prayers, no eager, anxious hopes. Should she pass safely through her trial it will be well with her; but if she fall, God help her! for the world will not judge her less harshly because of the “extenuating circumstances” which may, let us humbly hope, recommend her to mercy in the day of doom. CHAPTER XVIII. NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM. After the departure from the neighbourhood of Arthur Vavasour, there seemed at first to be a great gap in Honor’s life. He had told her that he was going to remain a fortnight or more in London previous to his marriage, which was to take place there in great form and state on the last day of August. Arthur had no intention, as he assured Mrs. Beacham, of being present at the Danescourt festivities. His mother--that was his avowed reason--did not view those festivities, in so far as they regarded _him_, with a favourable eye; and it was “better taste” (so Arthur assured his intimate acquaintances, his brother and his sisters included) to keep away, during Lady Guernsey’s well-intended hospitalities, from his home at Gillingham. His real motive for absenting himself was, however, a widely different one. He was well aware that not only would his intended bride be present, to expect, and with good right and reason, that he should devote himself to her service, but also that the woman whom it was his fate to love (men are very apt to account for the indulgence of their evil propensities in some such irrational manner) with a passion hitherto by him undreamt of would be a guest though a humble one, within the walls of Danescourt Park; and those glorious eyes of hers--Honor’s eyes were haunting ones, and followed or rather _led_ Arthur to what he was pleased to call his “doom,” when he was far away--would look their wonder if he kept aloof; an evidence of self-controlling powers, by the way, which Mr. Vavasour, to do him justice, greatly doubted his own ability on that occasion to display.