Arthur, I had scarcely known what it was to have a companion." There was a slight falter in her voice as she uttered the last words, and she looked at her visitor wistfully. His eyes, half veiled by their lashes, were fixed on the glowing embers, and he remained silent. Once again Emma's soft hand trembled in his own, and he was conscious of the beating of her heart. Why had he not taken her into his arms, then and there, to shelter in his breast for ever? "Arthur, you are not listening to me!" There was a note of reproach in the gentle voice at his side. "I assure you, Lady Osborne, that I am deeply concerned and distressed to hear of all that you have suffered. Perhaps in view of my office it is scarcely orthodox for me to say how very unfair it has all seemed--but from the point of view of a simple human being, it is impossible to think otherwise." Nothing could have been kinder than the tone in which he pronounced these words; but that she had expected something altogether different was quite evident by the expression of disappointment which overspread her countenance, as she shrank into the shadow. After a moment's silence he continued: "The want of sympathy between parents and children is only too common, but there must have been a total absence of all natural feeling on the part of your brother, with regard to Lady Foulke, when he could act in such a manner towards her. The counterpart of it, however, I witnessed at the bedside of my cousin. His son, as you know, broke his neck in the hunting field, as his father lay dying. I was deputed to tell him, and did so in fear and trembling as to the possible effect it might have on him, but he just looked round at me and said: 'And a good thing, too!' Although I had been aware that the relations between them were very unfortunate, I had not believed it possible that there could be such an estrangement between father and son." After a pause Mr. Howard then announced that he had written to his agent to expect him on the following Saturday. "Oh, surely not!" exclaimed his hostess, leaning forward in expostulation. "Cumberland will be quite intolerable in this weather--I have heard that the cold there is beyond everything!" "I have yet to learn that I am in a galloping consumption. I assure you there is no country more delightful and wonderful than Cumberland in the grasp of winter!" "I am well aware a Northman will swear _anything_ with respect to his country!" "Madam! I protest!" "Oh, protest away! you are all of you alike! I had hoped that you might have been prevailed upon to remain with us until Easter--in which case Osborne would have come back at once." "Do not you think he had much better remain where he is? In the gay world of Paris he will have everything to distract him, and may possibly find someone to replace Miss Watson?" "I do not think so." "Surely you do not believe that Osborne will remain inconsolable for ever?"