“I like him very much,” said Evereld; “he is down here until to-morrow, so you will see him for yourself. Bride says that till he was married he never seemed to settle down to anything, that he was the sort of man everyone expected to do great things, and he never did them. But afterwards it was quite different; he began to work very hard, and now she says out in county Wicklow the peasants love him, and he makes such a good landlord. Bride says he’s almost as Irish as they are.” “And you are here with them for a fortnight? Where after that?” “With the Mactavishs in Switzerland. We shall be a party of six altogether. I am to go to keep Lady Mactavish company, for Minnie will be a good deal taken up you see with Major Gillot; they are engaged, the wedding is to be this autumn. Then there will be Sir Matthew and Mr. Bruce Wylie.” “The inevitable Wylie!” said Ralph impatiently. “I hate that man.” “And I like him very much,” said Evereld perversely. “You always had a most unfair prejudice against him. He will certainly be the life of the party. I was delighted to hear that he was going.” Ralph’s face grew grave, there was an expression in it which startled Evereld as he turned towards her. “Tell me in earnest,” he said anxiously. “Do you really like this man?” Her truthful eyes met his fully. “Only as I like an elderly man who used to give us chocolates and treats when we were children,” she said quietly. Ralph in his relief laughed aloud. “He wouldn’t be flattered if he knew that you called him elderly. He thinks himself just in his prime. How long shall you be abroad?” “Six weeks I think,” said Evereld. There was a silence. They had walked to the extreme end of the Parade and had wandered down to the sea itself. “Let us sit here by this boat,” she suggested. “It is so hot walking.” Ralph silently assented; she glanced at him in some perplexity. Why had he so suddenly become quiet and troubled. “Something has vexed you,” she said gently, yet with a smile. “A penny for your thoughts.” “I am thinking,” said Ralph, “how hard it is that every holiday-maker, every idle lounger in Switzerland will have the chance of being with you while I am altogether cut off from your set, and can only think how other men will be making love to you.” “They won’t,” she said in low tones. “A girl can always stop that if she chooses. I have heard Mrs. Hereford say so.” “If you were going to be with her it would be more bearable. But you will be with Sir Matthew, whose one idea is how to make other people and other people’s money serve his purposes. Don’t stop me Evereld--I can’t help it--I distrust him and with very good cause. He and his hateful speculations were the death of my father. I have proof of that, actual proof.” “Then I am surprised at nothing,” said Evereld, understanding now all the ill-concealed dislike and antagonism between Sir Matthew and Ralph which had often puzzled her in past times.