Whatever might be the source of this change, whether displeasure, anxiety, or weariness, it somewhat awed and chilled her; she looked up to him with such reverence, and thought so humbly of herself that she did not venture to seek an explanation. She fancied that either he was secretly tired of her society, or that she had said or done something which had appeared to him silly or wrong; and she felt ashamed of her imaginary fault, although quite unable to attach any definite name to her misdemeanor. She walked on silently, and so did he by her side, casting now and then a longing, sorrowful look at her face, which, had she ventured to meet it, would have told her it was neither anger nor contempt then occupying his mind. At length he spoke. “That Miss Fielding! what is she to the owner of ‘the Ferns,’ Miss Duncan?” “Cousin,” replied Hilary; she hesitated whether she should add more, but thought it best not to explain what she believed their relative position to be. “And this Mr. Huyton, of whom she speaks so much; is he married?” said he, fixing an anxious look on her face as he spoke. “No, not yet,” said Hilary, almost unconsciously betraying a little of the amusement at the question, which she could not effectually suppress. “And you know them all very well, I suppose?” was his next observation. “I have not known Miss Fielding very long, but she is so kind and friendly, that I look forward with pleasure to――” she checked herself with a blush, that she was so nearly owning her expectations. He saw it; and the momentary glow which colored his face gave way to a deeper shade and a paler hue than before. “Mr. Huyton we have known nearly three years,” added Hilary, looking up; “I think you will like him, perhaps; and yet I am not sure; there is a great difference between you.” “Very great,” observed he, with assumed philosophy; “he has recommendations to which I can not aspire――wealth and station are great advantages; and three years allow time for all good qualities to become apparent; so lengthened a friendship is enough of itself to speak for him.” Hilary was silent for some minutes, and then raising her eyes timidly, she said―― “There is always a debtor and creditor side in all accounts, Captain Hepburn!” “True, as a principle; to what do you refer, Miss Duncan?” “To what you just said,” blushing deeply as she spoke; “I only wish to remind you, that even Mr. Huyton may not have all the advantages of life within his reach; and there may be grievances to be endured even by him, of which we know nothing.” “True. I acknowledge we are more ready to reckon our troubles than our blessings,” replied he, in a tone of self-correction; “and as we see the bright parts of our neighbors’ life, and not those which are in shadow, we are apt to forget how much may be concealed.”