448 THE BARONET'S DAUGHTER. 



of incredulous surprize which the priest evinced ; " I say he has been 

 judged fairly. You know not all, although, perhaps, the whole may 

 be known shortly, not only to you but to the world. I will not be 

 hasty. He shall be heard. By heaven! he is arrived," and the 

 baronet started to his feet, as the sound of carriage-wheels driving up 

 the avenue became distinctly audible ; " now, Courtenay, you shall 

 see whether I cannot command myself." 



A servant opened the door, "Mr. Willoughby, Sir 'Robert, is 

 below." 



" Show him up, by all means," exclaimed the baronet, and he 

 turned to the priest with a smile, "observe," said he, " how politely 

 I can receive my friends." 



Mr. Willoughby at this moment entered the apartment and ad- 

 vanced towards the baronet. " I am very happy to meet you once 

 more," he said, as he extended his hand, " you were no doubt ex- 

 pecting me, agreeably to my letter from Paris. With respect to 

 yours we will talk about it hereafter." 



The baronet stept back a pace. " I am very glad to see you here, 

 Mr. Willoughby," he said emphatically, "but my hand is not in at 

 present for mere shows of friendship. I am very glad to see you here." 



A slight flush overspread the face of the young man. " Well, you 

 decline my hand," said he with affected unconcern, " I expected as 

 much," and he turned towards the priest, " you, Mr. Courtenay, will, 

 perhaps, suffer me to exchange a show of friendship with you." 



" You do me honour, with much pleasure," stammered the priest, 

 as he cast a half-imploring glance towards the baronet. " You look 

 well, Mr. Willoughby, remarkably well. Paris, I suppose " 



" Yes, Paris is the place to enjoy life and to prolong it," returned the 

 other, and having retired to the window, an inaudible conversation 

 ensued between the two gentlemen, which from the manner in which 

 it was carried on would seem to have been confined to general topics 



During this colloquy the baronet walked up and down the room 

 humming an air, and playing impatiently with his watch-chain. He 

 paused, at length, and with an earnest and measured glance surveyed 

 from head to foot the person of his son-in-law. 



" I am sorry, gentlemen, to interrupt your conversation," he said 

 suddenly, [" but you know, Courtenay, that I have some particular 

 and urgent business to transact with Mr. Willoughby ; will you favour 

 me, Sir," he continued, turning towards the latter, " by accompanying 

 me to the gallery ?" 



" With pleasure," returned Willoughby, " I follow you." 



The priest laid his hand upon the arm of the baronet, and directed 

 a deprecating look towards him, "Be calm, I implore you," he 

 whispered. 



" Fear me not, fear me not," answered the other, " Come, Sir, I 

 attend you," and he led the way from the apartment. 



" Will you permit me to hope that you have been well, since I last 

 had the pleasure of seeing you ?" said Willoughby, as they ascended 

 the staircase. 



" I have been very well, Sir," replied the baronet, " nothing has 

 occurred, you see, to disturb my tranquillity ; the death of a daughter 



