CHAPTER XII.

NEARLY ten days after this catastrophe, and within a week of the long-settled wedding-day, Edgar rode over to Denny Cross; whose cheerful home circle was extended by the arrival of the Farmers.

"I told you, my boy, we should be here with the crocuses," said the old lawyer, heartily welcoming his young friend." Just in time to witness the signing of the settlements.—I have treated myself to a patent pen and pair of spectacles on new and scientific principles, for the purpose.'

"At all events, I'm glad to find you here,"

was the reply. "Your arrival will leave less leisure for Aunt Bessy to fret over the news I have to communicate."

Miss Pennington looked anxious. The soft dimples had already vanished from her mouth.

"Don't look so frightened.-You are only asked to resign his company for a day," said Edgar, cheerfully.

"Whose ?-Dinton's ?"-demanded Farmer, a little surprised. "When I heard your horse just now, I hoped it was him. I have not seen him these three months."

"Nor Aunt Bessy these twenty hours: which is the reason she looks so savage at finding herself put off till to-morrow."

"But why put off?" mildly inquired Sophia.

66

ster:

'Inquire of one Elizabeth Pennington, spin-as usual, the cause of the mischief." But Aunt Bessy, instead of looking savage, looked so sorrowful, that Edgar had not the heart to pursue his vein of bantering.

"The fact is," said he, in a more rational tone," my uncle is labouring under a cold and sore-throat, which the family imagine is about to turn to influenza. And as he was much the worse for being detained here yesterday till the raw of the evening, by one who I am happy to see look penitent for her fault, they have persuaded him to stay at home, this rainy day, to make much of his fireside."

"Quite right,-quite right," replied Farmer. "Dinton and I have left the age of rashness far behind us.-But what news do you bring from Harrals, Edgar?"

"How do you know I have been at Harrals ?" was the brisk rejoinder."

"By inference.

Because it is quite out of your road; and you look too fagged and heated to have come direct from the Castle."

Edgar looked more than fagged ;-he looked harassed and worried. Besides, he hated being what he called " placed in the witness-box," by Roger Farmer.

"When is Netta coming to see her sister?" persisted the old man.

"I don't know.-Not to-day, certainly.'

"Why not to-day? She was fully prepared for our arrival," added Mrs. Farmer.

we have not seen her so long!"

And

"She has other engagements, I believe ;perhaps previous engagements,"-replied young Molyneux, carelessly. My Uncle Wraysbury,

too, is away; he is he is gone into Dorsetshire. He had some business to hurry through at Lynchcombe, in order to be back in time for the wedding."

"What is all this about Dinton's illness ?" cried Hugh Pennington,-bursting into the room without so much as removing his wide-awake, -but shaking hands cordially with his sister and Farmer while he spoke, for he had been

from home at the moment of their arrival, an hour or two before.

Only that he has got the influenza, and that

they are coddling him at the Castle," replied

Farmer, answering for Edgar, who seemed in far from the best of humours.

"Is that all?-Thank GOD!-One of Lord Marington's men told me, just now, on the road, that Dr. Gardiner was prevented going to the Grange to-day, because detained at the Castle by Lord Dinton's serious illness."

"To which you of course answered, that his lordship was under your roof yesterday, till it was more than time that he should be under his own."

Ay, ay!—I told him 'twas some blunder -and that the Earl was the last man in the county likely to call in a doctor for a sneeze or two. And now, how are you, Farmer?-And how are you, Sophy?—I could scarcely see your face till I was put out of my pain about this absurd report."

"I am just going up to see my father," replied Mrs. Farmer, taking her sister's arm, as a pretext for leading Bessy from the room."While we are away, my husband shall answer

VOL. II.

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