"My dear, I can assure you it never answers to neglect the inner man," said Mr Bennett, laughing weightily at his own jokes, on his way to the dining-room. "Come, Ada, it's all very well to live upon air, but when you are as old as your aunt and I, you'll find it'll not pay. Not it, indeed. No, no; keep up the system, that has always been my maxim. By the way, Miles, I haven't seen Mannering or his brother for the last ten days. Nothing wrong, I hope?" "I don't speak from personal knowledge," said Anthony, with the shade again on his face, "but some one in the village said that Mr Mannering was laid up with an attack of rheumatism." "Poor fellow, poor fellow, he has wretched health, and no wonder. Any one must suffer in the end who lives upon mutton six days out of the seven. Tell him, when you see him, that he must come and dine with us as soon as he can, and try a little variety. Or you might drive out there one afternoon, my dear, and see what really is the matter. I've the greatest regard for Mannering." "Yes, indeed," assented Mrs Bennett in the slow round voice that seemed hardly able to utter a contradiction. "And I will go with you, Aunt Henrietta," said Ada, cheerfully. "I want to see that darling Mr Robert, and to get him to show me his flowers. It will be very nice, and you will meet us there, Anthony, won't you?" "Mr Robert is a better showman when he is not interfered with," said Anthony, with a sharp pang of remembrance. "I'll meet you afterwards, and hear what you have seen." "Well, I think Adas plan is not a bad one," persisted Mr Bennett, "and, dear me, you must be as free of that house as if it were your own! Say to-morrow." "To-morrow I am engaged." "Well then, Wednesday." "It will not be possible for me to go to the Red House," said Anthony in an odd, unyielding tone. Mr Bennett gave a long "Whew!" Ada said with a pout, "O, but you must!" and Mrs Bennett came to the rescue with the unconsciousness which constituted a real charm in Anthony's eyes. "It will be too hot for us to drive there just yet. Ada and I must go some day when I am a little less overdone and the weather is cooler." Mr Bennett was sufficiently shrewd to be alive both to the jar and to a perception that the subject was one which had better be allowed to drop. "It is hot, as you say, my dear, and perhaps it would be as well to wait until Mannering is about again. Try a little of that Sauterne, Miles; capital stuff for this weather. Well, Ada, what have you been doing with yourself? Warren told me he had seen you at the station." It was Ada's turn to look discomposed. "The station? O yes, I remember. I walked across to see whether the Mannerses came by the four-o'clock train. I forgot that I had been out of the garden when you asked me," she said, with an elaboration of openness which was unnecessary, as Anthony had no suspicions to be allayed.