Rex was at first quite put out of countenance by this unfortunate _contretemps_, as he could not help thinking it; it would undo all the good impression Fairy had made upon his father; for not knowing Jack, Rex supposed he was like the rest of his family, and trembled for the consequences if his father now discovered Fairy was the foster-daughter of a shepherd. How he wished he had not called Fairy’s attention to the young man, and how pleased they were to see each other again. There really was no occasion for that very long handshaking. But here Mr. Leslie, seeing Rex looked very crestfallen, went up to him and whispered it was all right; Mr. de Courcy would only suppose the truth, that Jack was masquerading. Moreover, he added, he is an excellent young fellow—very superior, too, to his family; he might pass very well in a crowd. Rex was somewhat reassured; and when Fairy drew him to Jack, whispering that this was her _fiancé_, he tried to be as pleased as Fairy could wish to make his acquaintance, but somehow both young men felt instinctively they were rivals, and their intercourse was constrained on both sides. Indeed, Jack was anxious to get away as quickly as possible, although he had come all the way from America to see Fairy, and judge for himself if the stories he had heard in his mother’s last letter were true. It did not require long to see that they were, and his errand accomplished, he felt his only safety was in flight. That demon of jealousy which, two years ago, had changed the whole course of his life, and so nearly caused him to be guilty of a terrible crime, was again rising in his bosom, as he watched the tender protecting air which Rex assumed over Fairy. Though he had learnt a severe lesson in self-control, and had so far profited by it that he was able to subdue the feeling of envy towards his rival, and to mask from Fairy the bitter sense of disappointment he felt on seeing her the betrothed bride of another, he felt the strain he was putting upon himself would not last long, and so he hastened to find an excuse in order to be gone, inwardly resolving that when he left the room he would never of his own free will set eyes on Fairy again.