“Have n't you been over to ask after him, Mark?” “No. I was waiting till Reede came back: he's one of those men that can't bear being inquired after; and if it should turn out that he was not ill, he 'd not take the anxiety in good part.” “How he has contrived to play the tyrant to you all, I can't imagine,” said Alice; “but I can see that every whim and caprice he practises is studied as courtiers study the moods of their masters.” “To be sure, darling, naturally,” broke in Mrs. Maxwell, who always misunderstood everybody. “Of course, we are only too happy to indulge him in a whim or fancy; and if the doctor thinks turtle would suit him--turtle is so light; I took it for several weeks for luncheon--we can have it at once. Will you touch the bell, Mark, and I'll tell Raikes to telegraph? Who is it he gets it from?” Mark pulled the bell, but took no notice of her question. “I wish,” muttered he below his breath, “we had never come here. There 's Bella now, laid up, and here 's Maitland. I 'm certain he's going away, for I overheard Fenton ask about the distance to Dundalk.” “I suppose we might survive even that misfortune,” said she, haughtily. “And one thing I'll swear to,” said Mark, walking the room with impatience,--“it 's the last Ireland will see of him.” “Poor Ireland! the failure in the potato-crop was bad enough, but this is more than can be endured.” “That's all very fine, Alice, but I 'm much mistaken if you are as indifferent as you pretend.” “Mark! what do you mean?” said she, angrily. “Here's Raikes now; and will some one tell him what it is we want?” said Mrs. Maxwell; but the others were far too deeply engaged in their own whispered controversy now to mind her. “Captain Lyle will tell you by and by, Raikes,” said she, gathering up the mass of loose _impedimenta_ with which she usually moved from one room to the other, and by which, as they fell at every step, her course could always be tracked. “He'll tell you,” added she, moving away. “I think it was caviare, and you are to telegraph for it to Swan and Edgar's--but my head is confused to-day; I'll just go and lie down.” As Mrs. Maxwell left by one door, Alice passed out by another; while Mark, whose temper evinced itself in a flushed cheek and a contracted brow, stood at a window, fretfully tapping the ground with his foot. “Have you any orders, sir?” asked Raikes. “Orders! No--stay a moment Have many gone away this morning?” “Nearly all, sir. Except your family and Mr. Maitland, there's nobody left but Major Clough, and he 's going, I believe, with Dr. Reede.” “You 've heard nothing of Mr. Maitland going, have you?” “Oh, yes, sir! his man sent for post-horses about an hour ago.”