"Ah, Marius," said the Countess wistfully, "I do not look to keep you long." "Rose and I must talk of that," he answered youthfully, and joyously important. "I shall take you and Susannah to London, my lady. I have been thinking you must be over quiet here." "We go to stay with Rose in the season," answered Lady Lyndwood; then she became rather abruptly silent, since what she had been about to add could not be said before the servants. Miss Chressham, sensitive to the reason of the pause, covered it. She spoke of little home affairs, and drew out Marius to relate again those incidents of his travels that had so entertained them in his letters. He talked with animation, with gaiety, his listeners were interested and loving; but whenever he touched on the future, on his bright plans, on his young unconscious hopes for it, Susannah Chressham winced. After dinner they went into the great withdrawing-room that looked on to the hidden fragrance of the terrace and the park, and Marius sat beside the Countess on the long Spanish leather couch; his laughing voice made the old room ring with youth, and his mother's face flushed as she looked at him. Miss Chressham moved to the writing-table and observed both of them; she felt curiously averse to speech to-night; in her heart she was sorry--sorry for all of them, and--afraid. Idly she picked a quill and stared at Marius. His young English face, fair and bright, with rounded features, grey eyes, and rebellious brown hair under the powder, wore a proud air of distinction given by the beautiful mouth and arrogant cleft chin, common to the Lyndwoods; when he smiled, which was not seldom, he showed a charming dimple. As Miss Chressham gazed at him, in a half-troubled manner, he looked round, and she glanced away and began addressing the letter she held in her hand. Marius Lyndwood rose and crossed to her. "How quiet you are, Susannah!" She kept her face turned from him as she answered; lightly and hurriedly her quill glided over the smooth paper. "I am finishing my letter to Selina--interrupted because of your return, Marius! You would not remember her, 'twas after you left that she was here." He scrutinised her clear writing. "Miss Selina Boyle!" he said. "Is she a friend of yours?" Susannah's glittering brown hair was blown across her brow by the little breeze from the terrace as she turned to glance up at him. "We were at school together--yes, a dear friend of mine; you do not know her?" "I heard of her but now at Dover--Miss Selina Boyle----" "Heard of her?" Marius laughed. "Mr. Hardinge met a friend who was lately from the Wells," he explained, "and Rose was mentioned; this gentleman had seen him at the Wells; he had a rake-helly reputation, he declared...." "Marius!" protested the Countess, rising delicately; "that is not fair to Rose." "But about Selina?" cried Miss Chressham, and her white brow was wrinkled.