On this Isabel, smiling graciously, observed that she thought papa was thinking of Mr. Duncan’s captain, not himself; to which Mr. Barham observed, with his usual majesty, that it was by no means improbable: who might his captain be? Hilary gave an imploring look at Isabel, but for some occult reason she did not choose to speak. Mrs. Paine’s attention at the moment was not directed that way, nor, indeed, had she been disengaged, instead of listening to a remark of Mr. Ufford’s, could she have interposed without awkwardness. Dora’s eyes were on her china plate, which she was minutely examining, and Mr. Barham was looking at Miss Duncan for an answer. How she wished her father had been present to have answered for her, but he did not dine with them, as he had a nervous dread of being troublesome or unpleasant from his infirmity. She felt she must reply; indeed, it was but a moment that she hesitated; a moment was enough to feel a great deal of embarrassment; another, to resolve to brave it all; and although conscious that Charles Huyton’s eyes were reading her countenance with a deliberate intentness, which she thought quite cruel, she answered her host’s question with sufficient distinctness, that his captain’s name was Hepburn. “Hepburn! Hepburn! that’s a good name, an old family name, Miss Duncan, one long distinguished in Scotch history,” observed Mr. Barham. “Did we not meet somebody of that name in Scotland, Isabel? You who are such a genealogist and historian, you must remember, I am sure.” Isabel did remember accurately the whole genealogical table of the gentleman in question; and while she was relating some interesting historical anecdotes connected with the family, Hilary’s cheeks had time to cool, and she trusted the name of her lover would not again be forced from her. But when Isabel had finished her graceful little narrations, her father again turned to Miss Duncan with a question as to whether she knew if her brother’s captain belonged to this ancient house. It was important, perhaps, for Mr. Barham’s comfort, since he had done Captain Hepburn the honor of recollecting him, that he should be proved worthy of so great a compliment, by possessing the lineage of a gentleman. Hilary replied briefly, that she believed so. To her very great astonishment, Charles Huyton spoke. “Whether Captain Hepburn can prove his descent from honorable ancestors or not by genealogical records, he certainly does by his chivalrous conduct and noble bearing, if honor and courage are the attributes of high birth. He is as brave and gallant a man as I have ever seen.” Hilary gave one quick, grateful glance at her _vis-à-vis_, as he spoke these words, which was not thrown away. She knew better than any one else the effort it must cost him.