The other two ladies, pale, trembling, half-fainting with terror, hailed him gratefully as their deliverer; but Nell had recovered from her fright in the very instant of uttering the shriek called forth by the sudden apparition. Was there not something familiar in the face, the form, the stride with which he crossed the room? She looked Lyttleton keenly in the eye, then returned his whisper with another. "Did it require any great stretch of courage to order your valet out of the house?" She had drawn her bow at a venture and was surprised to see by his air of overwhelming confusion and chagrin, that her arrow had sped straight to the mark. "Your Hessian as sure as I stand here, sir!" cried Captain Bernard, recovering himself and clapping the major on the shoulder. "Well, well, I'll believe in ghosts hereafter. I never was more astonished or taken aback in my life. Lyttleton, you showed yourself the most quick-witted and self-possessed of any of us. Allow me to congratulate you on the laurels you have won." "I--I--" stammered Lyttleton with a deprecating glance at Nell, whose lips were curling with scorn. "We will spare your modesty," said the major, grasping the Englishman's hand warmly, "but let me tender you the thanks of the company." Lyttleton was strangely confused and embarrassed; the ease and perfect self-possession on which he so prided himself, had on a sudden entirely forsaken him; he darted a quick, imploring glance at Nell, and half in pity, half in contempt she returned an answering look that told him his secret was safe. The others saw this by-play with varied feelings of wonder, curiosity and surprise, but no one understood it. Captain Bernard was the first to speak. "Well, gentlemen, it is growing very late and no prospect of abatement of the storm. I move that we adjourn _sine die_. Mr. Lyttleton, shall I have the pleasure of your good company to our hotel?" CHAPTER XXI. Never had scheme more signal failure than that of Lyttleton for convincing pretty Nell Lamar of his dauntless bravery; he went away from the major's that night crestfallen and angry, cursing his ill-luck and her quickness of perception. Nor was fair Nell herself in a much more enviable state of mind; there was a sad, reproachful look in Kenneth's eyes as he bade her a courteous good-night, which haunted her for days and weeks like a nightmare. She purposely avoided him when he called the next morning to enquire about Bertie, and when the weather permitted her to resume her walks and rides, was careful to select those in which she was least likely to meet him. He was not slow to perceive this and it wounded him deeply; particularly as Lyttleton was very frequently her companion and his society seemed not unpleasant to her, if one might judge from her bright looks and smiles. Yet Nell despised Lyttleton heartily, and at times herself scarcely less.