And Peggy hastened upstairs after Susan, who, gazing from one to another for a moment of bewildered and doubtful delight, had at last burst from the room, seeing that nobody opposed the extraordinary, delightful suggestion, to get ready for her drive. When the old woman disappeared following her, the Colonel turned to Horace, who had listened with a good deal of discomfiture, resentment, and contempt, unable to comprehend the bad taste which could contrive pleasures for Susan, to the neglect of himself. It gave Horace a worse opinion of his uncle than he had yet entertained. He could scarcely help sneering at him, and calling him an old woman to his face. "Will you walk over to Tillington and meet us, Horace?" said Colonel Sutherland, who, for his part, exhilarated by the sight of Susan's delight and wonder, was now full of smiles and satisfaction; "I have ordered some luncheon between two and three, which will leave you time to bring your sister home. You will come?--you look a little pale, my boy--you have been thinking too much over-night!" "It is possible--I have not slept since I saw you, uncle," said the young man. "Too much--too much," said Colonel Sutherland, resting his hand kindly upon his nephew's shoulder. "Important as the question is, I am sorry you lost your sleep--it is only old people who can do that with safety. And you have come to a good conclusion, Horace?--that is right! Already, I am sure you feel the pleasure of decision. But I will not ask you what you have resolved on now. Eh, Susan?--what, not dressed yet, you fairy?--what is it now?" "Oh, uncle!--I only wanted to ask, if you won't be angry," cried Susan, out of breath, "whether I should be too grand if I wore my shawl?" The old man's face brightened, and expanded all over with the simplest pleasure. "Too grand!--you don't drive with me every day, do you?" he said with a laugh, as he patted her cheek. "No--I should be quite mortified if I did not see you in your shawl; but make haste--think of the mare, and in a winter's day remember there is no daylight to lose." Susan ran off again with flying feet, and the Colonel turned once more to his nephew. He could not help recognizing then something of the amazement, contempt, and derision which filled the mind of Horace. Uncle Edward was a little struck by his look--perhaps, even a little offended. He paused unconsciously to defend himself. "You think that very trivial--eh, Horace?" said the Colonel. "Ah, my boy! one is heroical when one is young--one feels it grand to be superior, and despise the smaller matters of life; but at my age one learns that happiness itself is made up of trivial things." Horace's eyes fell under his uncle's look; he was half ashamed--not of his sentiments, but of having betrayed them. "I am sure it is very good of you to take so much trouble for Susan," he said, with his uncomprehending, half-resentful voice.