'Dorcas, dear, you must not speak to Lady Chelford, or to Mark Wylder, to-night. It is too serious a step to be taken in haste.' 'There has been no haste, Rachel, and there can be no change.' 'And what reason can you give?' 'None; no reason,' said Dorcas, slowly. 'Wylder would have been suitable in point of wealth. Not so well, I am sure, as you _might_ have married; but neither would _he_ be a good husband, though not so bad as Stanley; and I do not think that Mark Wylder will quietly submit to his disappointment.' 'It was to have been simply a marriage of two estates. It was old Lady Chelford's plan. I have now formed mine, and all that's over. Let him do what he will--I believe a lawsuit is his worst revenge--I'm indifferent.' Just then a knock came to the chamber door. 'Come in,' said Miss Brandon: and her maid entered to say that the carriage, please Ma'am, was at the door to take Miss Lake home. 'I had no idea it was so late,' said Rachel. 'Stay, dear, don't go for a moment. Jones, bring Miss Lake's cloak and bonnet here. And now, dear,' she said, after a little pause, 'you'll remember your solemn promise?' 'I never broke my word, dear Dorcas; your secret is safe.' 'And, Rachel, try to like me.' 'I love you better, Dorcas, than I thought I ever could. Good-night, dear.' 'Good-night.' And the young ladies parted with a kiss, and then another. CHAPTER XVI. 'JENNY, PUT THE KETTLE ON.' Old Lady Chelford, having despatched a sharp and unceremonious message to her young kinswoman, absent without leave, warning her, in effect, that if she returned to the drawing-room it would be to preside, alone, over gentlemen, departed, somewhat to our secret relief. Upon this, on Lord Chelford's motion, in our forlorn condition, we went to the billiard-room, and there, under the bright lights, and the gay influence of that wonderful game, we forgot our cares, and became excellent friends apparently--'cuts,' 'canons,' 'screws,' 'misses,' 'flukes'--Lord Chelford joked, Wylder 'chaffed,' even Lake seemed to enjoy himself; and the game proceeded with animation and no lack of laughter, beguiling the watches of the night; and we were all amazed, at length, to find how very late it was. So we laid down our cues, with the customary ejaculations of surprise. We declined wine and water, and all other creature comforts. Wylder and Lake had a walk before them, and we bid Lord Chelford 'good-night' in the passage, and I walked with them through the deserted and nearly darkened rooms. Our talk grew slow, and our spirits subsided in this changed and tenebrose scenery. The void and the darkness brought back, I suppose, my recollection of the dubious terms on which these young men stood, and a feeling of the hollowness and delusion of the genial hours just passed under the brilliant lights, together with an unpleasant sense of apprehension. On coming out upon the door-steps we all grew silent.