Mary did call, and found her with a young gentleman of short stature, who was devouring her with his eyes, but did not overflow in discourse, having a slight impediment in his speech.  This was Mr. Percy Fitzroy.  Julia introduced him.

“And where are you staying, Percy?” inquired she.

“At the D—­D—­Dun Cow.”

“What is that?”

Walter explained that it was a small hostelry, but one that was occasionally honored by distinguished visitors.  Miss Bartley staid there three days.

“I h—­hope to st—­ay more than that,” said little Percy, with an amorous glance at Julia.

Miss Clifford took Mary to her room, and soon asked her what she thought of him; then, anticipating criticism, she said there was not much of him, but he was such a duck.

“He dresses beautifully,” was Mary’s guarded remark.

However, when Walter rode home with her, being now relieved of his attendance on Julia, she was more communicative.  Said she:  “I never knew before that a man could look like fresh cambric.  Dear me! his head and his face and his little whiskers, his white scarf, his white waistcoat, and all his clothes, and himself, seem just washed and ironed and starched. I looked round for the bandbox.”

“Never mind,” said Walter.  “He is a great addition.  My duties devolve on him.  And I shall be free to—­How her eyes shone and her voice mellowed when she spoke to him!  Confess, now, love is a beautiful thing.”

“I can not say.  Not experienced in beautiful things.”  And Mary looked mighty demure.

“Of course not.  What am I thinking of?  You are only a child.”

“A little more than that, please.”

“At all events, love beautified her.”

“I saw no difference.  She was always a lovely girl.”

“Why, you said she was ‘a long black thing.’”

“Oh, that was before—­she looked engaged.”

After this young Fitzroy was generally Miss Clifford’s companion in her many walks, and Walter Clifford had a delightful time with Mary Bartley.

Her nurse discovered how matters were going.  But she said nothing.  From something Bartley let fall years ago she divined that Bartley was robbing Walter Clifford by substituting Hope’s child for his own, and she thought the mischief could be repaired and the sin atoned for if he and Mary became man and wife.  So she held her tongue and watched.

The servants at the Hall watched the whole game, and saw how the young people were pairing, and talked them over very freely.

The only person in the dark was Colonel Clifford.  He was nearly always confined to his room.  However, one day he came down, and found Julia and Percy together.  She introduced Percy to him.  The Colonel was curt, but grumpy, and Percy soon beat a retreat.

The Colonel sent for Walter to his room.  He did not come for some time, because he was wooing Mary Bartley.