It was not until the next morning that Mr. Egerton's name was mentioned, although it had been in my thoughts, and I cannot doubt in Milly's, ever since Mr. Darrell's arrival. We were in the drawing-room after breakfast, not quite decided what to do with the day, when Mr. Darrell came into the room dressed for a ride with his wife. He went over to the window by which Milly was standing. 'You have quite given up riding, Ellis tells me, my dear,' he said. 'I have not cared to ride while you were away, papa, as Mary does not ride.' 'Miss Crofton might have learnt to ride; there would always be a horse at her disposal.' 'We like walking better,' Milly said, blushing a little, and fidgeting nervously with one of the buttons on her father's coat. 'I used to feel in the way, you know, when I rode with you and Mrs. Darrell.' 'That was your own fault, Milly,' he answered, with a displeased look. 'I suppose it was. But I think Augusta felt it too. O, by the bye, papa, I did not tell you quite all the news when we were out together yesterday.' 'Indeed!' 'No; I forgot to mention that Mr. Egerton has come back.' 'Angus Egerton?' 'Yes; he came back last winter.' 'You never said so in your letters.' 'Didn't I? I suppose that was because I knew you were rather prejudiced against him; and one can't explain away that kind of thing in a letter.' 'You would find it very difficult to explain away my dislike of Angus Egerton, either in or out of a letter. Have you seen much of him?' 'A good deal. He has been at the Rectory very often when Mary and I have been invited there. The Collingwoods are very fond of him. I am sure--I think--you will like him, papa, when you come to see a little of him. He is going to call upon you.' 'He can come if he pleases,' Mr. Darrell answered with an indifferent air; 'I shall not be uncivil to him. But I am rather sorry that he has made such a favourable impression upon you, Milly.' She was still playing with the buttons of his coat, looking downward, her dark eyes quite veiled by their long lashes. 'I did not say that, papa,' she murmured shyly. 'But I am sure of it from your manner. Has he done anything towards the improvement of Cumber?' 'O yes; he has put new roofs to some part of the stables; and the land is in better order, they say; and the gardens are kept nicely now.' 'Does he live alone at the Priory?' 'Quite alone, papa.' 'He must find it rather a dull business, I should think.' 'Mr. Collingwood says he is very fond of study, and that he has a wonderful collection of old books. He is a great smoker too, I believe; he walks a good deal; and he hunted all last winter. They say he is a tremendous rider.'