Though not a frequent visitor at the Rectory: for he could not go there much, in the teeth of discouragement so evident as had latterly been shown to him by Mr. Hastings, and depended mostly upon chance meetings in the street for keeping in exercise his love-vows to Maria: George resolved to go boldly down that evening. Down he accordingly went. And was shown into an empty room. The Rector and Mrs. Hastings were out, the servant said, and the young ladies were in the study with the boys. She would tell them. Maria came to him. There was no mistaking her start of surprise when she saw him, or the rush of emotion which overspread her face. "Who did you think it was?" asked George. "I thought it was your brother. She said 'Mr. Godolphin.' Grace will be down in an instant." "Will she?" returned George. "You had better go and tell her it's Mr. George, and not Mr. Godolphin, and then she won't hurry herself. I am not a favourite with Miss Grace, I fancy." Maria coloured. She had no excuse to offer for the fact, and she could not say that it was untrue. George stood with his elbow on the mantel-piece, looking down at her. "Maria, I hear that Mrs. Hastings has declined to go to the Folly on Thursday. What's that for?" "I don't know," replied Maria. "We do not go very much amidst those unusually grand scenes," she added, laughing. "Mamma says she always feels as much out of place in them as a fish does out of water. And I think, if papa had his own wish, we should never go within a mile of anything of the sort. He likes quiet social visiting, but not such entertainments as the Verralls give. He and mamma were consulting for a few minutes over the invitation, and then she directed Grace to write and decline it." "It is an awful shame!" responded George. "I thought I should have had you with me for a few hours that day, at any rate, Maria." Maria lifted her eyes. "It had nothing to do with me, George. I was not invited." "Not invited!" repeated George Godolphin. "Only Grace. 'Mrs. and Miss Hastings.'" "What was that for?" he exclaimed. "Why were you left out?" "I do not know," replied Maria, bending her eyelids and speaking with involuntary hesitation. In her heart of hearts, Maria believed that she did know: but the last person she would have hinted it to, was George Godolphin. "Perhaps," she added, "it may have been an omission, an oversight? Or, they may have so many to invite that they can only dispense their cards charily." "Moonshine!" cried George. "I shall take upon myself to ask Mrs. Verrall why you were left out." "Oh, George! pray don't," she uttered, feeling an invincible repugnance to have her name brought up in any such way. "Why should you? Had the invitation been sent to me, I should not have gone." "It is a slight," he persisted. "A little later, and let any dare to show slight to you. They shall be taught better. A slight to you will be a slight to me."