From that day Ellen observed Lilla regained her usual animation, her eye sparkled, and her cheek often flushed, as if from some secret thought; her spirits only fell at the hour of parting, and Ellen felt assured they would quickly rise again, and the first packet she received from Llangwillan confirmed the supposition.  Mrs. Hamilton was surprised, but Ellen was not.

Preparations were now actively making for Herbert’s visit to France, thence to bring home his betrothed.  His father and Percy had both resolved on accompanying him, and Mrs. Hamilton and Emmeline and Arthur anxiously anticipated the return of their long-absent friends.

A longer time than usual had elapsed between Mary’s letters, and Herbert’s anxiety was becoming more and more intense.  Two or three of his letters had remained unanswered; there were no tidings of either herself or her mother.  St. Eval had determined on not visiting Paris till his return from Switzerland, as his solicitude to arrive at his journey’s end, and commence the prescribed remedies for Caroline would, he was quite sure, destroy all his pleasure.  In vain his wife laughed at his hurry and his fears; much as he wished to see Mary, he was determined, and Caroline no farther opposed him.  Through them, then, Herbert could receive no tidings; he had not heard since that event, which he believed would have been as much joy to Mary as to himself—­his ordination.  He struggled with his own anxiety that the intervening obstacles to his journey should not deprive him of serenity and trust, but the inward fever was ravaging within.  Only one short week, and then he departed; ere, however, that time came, he received a letter, and with a sickening feeling of indefinable dread recognised the handwriting of his Mary.  He left the breakfast-parlour to peruse it alone, and it was long before he returned to his family.  They felt anxious, they knew not why; even Arthur and Emmeline were silent, and the ever-restless Percy remained leaning over a newspaper, as if determined not to move till his brother returned.  A similar feeling appeared to detain his father, who did not seek the library as usual.  Ellen appeared earnestly engaged in some communications from Lady Florence Lyle, and Mrs. Hamilton was perusing a letter from Caroline, which the same post had brought.

With a sudden spring Percy started from his seat, exclaiming, in a tone that betrayed unconsciously much internal anxiety—­

“What in the world is Herbert about?  He cannot have gone out without bringing us some intelligence.  Robert, has Mr. Herbert gone out?” he called loudly to the servant, who was passing the open window.

“No, sir,” was the reply; “he is still in his room.”

“Then there will I seek him,” he added, impetuously; but he was prevented by the entrance of Herbert himself, and Percy started from him in astonishment and alarm.

There was not a particle of colour on his cheek or lips; his eyes burned as with fever, and his lips quivered as in some unutterable anguish.