Mr. Middleton had no idea how painfully his words affected her who sat by his side, and looked up so imploringly in his face, as if begging him to stop.  There was an embarrassing silence, which Julia presently broke, by saying, “While Dr. Lacey was here, he and Fanny got up a flirtation; but nothing serious will result from it, I reckon.”

“It’s Fanny’s own fault, then, I imagine,” said Mr. Middleton, laying his hand on the head which had drooped lower and lower, until at last it rested heavily on his knee.

Fanny made no reply; but when she lifted up her head there was something so sad in the expression of her face that Mr. Middleton immediately surmised that there was, or had been, something between Dr. Lacey and Fanny more serious than a mere flirtation; so he very kindly changed the conversation, which now turned upon indifferent subjects, until the supper bell rang out its summons, when they all repaired to the dining room.

At the supper table Mr. Middleton and Frank were introduced to Mrs. Carrington, Mr. Stanton and Raymond.  Mrs. Carrington acknowledged her introduction to Mr. Cameron merely by a haughty, disdainful bow.  She had learned from Kate that he was not married; and feeling indignant at the deception he attempted to practice upon her, she resolved to treat him with contempt.  Accordingly, although seated opposite him, she deigned him neither look nor word, but divided her time between laughing and coquetting with Raymond, and trying the power of her charms upon Mr. Middleton, who, she had been told, was a bachelor, and possessed of unbounded wealth.  With the old Indian, however, she made but little headway; and Frank was right when he thought, “You’ll get tired of that play, madam; the game is too old to be caught with chaff.”  With Raymond she succeeded better.  He was delighted with her unusually flattering notice; and ere supper was over he had, in Frank’s estimation, made a perfect fool of himself.

Frank’s attention was, however, soon diverted toward Mr. Middleton, who said, speaking to Stanton, “Were it not for your name and glasses, I would address you as Dr. Lacey.  Are you related to him?”

Stanton replied, “Yes, sir; he is my cousin.  I think I must resemble him, as I have been told so frequently.”

Mr. Middleton then spoke of Dr. Lacey in the highest terms of commendation, and concluded his remarks by saying, “I have recently purchased a residence, near Lake Pontchartrain, and am beating up recruits to spend the summer there with me.  I am sure of Dr. Lacey, Miss Woodburn, and her cousin, Miss Mortimer.  My nieces I shall take back with me, any way, and shall be happy to prevail on you, Mr. Stanton, to accompany me also.”

Stanton thanked him for his kind invitation, but at the same time declined it, saying that business would call him to New York in the autumn.  The deep blush which accompanied these words caused Raymond to burst into a laugh.  Mr. Middleton looked inquiringly at him and he said, “Pardon me for laughing; I was thinking of the important business which calls Bob to New York.”