He could scarcely himself have said what now opened his eyes in some measure to the nature of Miss Osborne's regard for him; for never before had it occurred to him that she entertained anything beyond an ordinary friendship--the very fact of her occasional efforts to flirt with him only confirming his confidence in her indifference and merely contributing to his amusement. He had been but little pleased by her incursion into his dinner party; but had attributed it to her lack of variety in a dull neighbourhood and to the influence of Miss Carr, of whom he entertained but a slight opinion. The jealousy of Emma, which she had betrayed at the ball, he believed to be entirely owing to her brother's admiration of her--the connection being such as she could scarcely be expected to advocate. The knowledge of her feelings occasioned him so much regret, that he would fain have left Italy then and there; but in view of the urgent invitations he had received from Lady Osborne and her son, this was scarcely possible. For the moment at least, he must remain where he was. He began at once, however, to cast about for some excuse to shorten his stay; and presently urged his desire to prosecute his travels in Spain and Portugal. He had long desired to journey there, and there was now no impediment to his doing so, as his cousin, whose bedside he had attended, had bequeathed him a large fortune, independently of the handsome property to which he had succeeded as heir-presumptive; but, to his surprise, Lady Osborne withstood him, with flushed cheeks and tears in her eyes. "Do not desert us the moment you have come," she said; "Osborne has seemed so much more composed since you joined us--I never before knew him to be so disquieted as he has been. I cannot but admire Miss Watson's conduct--had she chosen to accept him, nothing could have prevented the marriage. I had scarcely realised how serious his passion was until the night of the ball--after she had left us. He was quite in despair." "I understand she is shortly to be married." "Have you told Osborne?" "No. He has not mentioned her name to me." "Am I at liberty to tell him?" "Certainly, madam; what object could be served in concealing it? Osborne could scarcely conceive the idea of rushing home to present a pistol at her lover's head!" Later on in the evening, Lord Osborne entered the private sitting-room of his late tutor, and said abruptly-- "My mother has informed me of Miss Watson's engagement. To whom is she to be married?" "That I cannot tell you." "How came you to know?" "Musgrave told me.' "_Musgrave!_ I would place monstrous little faith in anything he said!" "He was certainly never _my_ friend, but I understood him to be _yours_," replied Mr. Howard, coldly. "What can a man do in that delectable neighbourhood?--He helps one to get through the time. I dare swear he made the whole thing up!" So saying, Lord Osborne swung out of the room.