Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

MARSTON'S DISAPPOINTMENT. 115
chirruped away like a lark; but he didn't refer the two similar
phenomena to a common cause, and so he arrived at no conclusion.
When Lord Saltire went to bed that night, he dismissed
Charles from attendance, and took Marston's arm; and, when
they were alone together, he thus began: "Does your shrewdness connect my abrupt departure with the arrival of Lord Welter?"
" I was inclined to, my lord; but I did not see how you were
to have known of it."
"I heard yesterday from Lady Ascot."
"I am sorry he is coming," said Marston.
So am I. I can't stay in the house with him. The contrast
of his loud, coarse voice and stable slang to the sort of quiet conversation we have had lately would be intolerable; besides, he is
an atrocious young ruffian, and will ruin our boy if he can."
"Charles won't let him, now, Lord Saltire."
"Charles is young and foolish. I am glad, however, that
Welter does not go back to Oxford with him. But there will be
Welter's set in their glory, I suppose, unless some of them have
got hung. I would sooner see him at home. He is naturally
quiet and domestic. I suppose he was in a sad set up there."
" He was in a very good set, and a very bad one. He was a
favorite everywhere."
" He had made some acquaintances he ought to be proud of, at
least," said Lord Saltire, in a way which made honest Marston
blush. "I wish he was n't going to Ranford."
"Report says," said Marston, "that affairs are getting somewhat shaky there: Welter's tradesmen can't get any money."
Lord Saltire shook his head significantly, and then said: " Now
I want to speak to you about yourself. Did not you have a disappointment to-day!"
"Yes, my lord."
"Ha!"
They both sat silent for a moment.
"How did you guess that, Lord Saltire?"
" I saw what was going on; and, by your manner and hers today, I guessed something had taken place. Is there no hope for
you?"
" None."
"I feared not; but what right had I to tell you so?"
"Perhaps,. my lord, I should not have believed you if you
had," said Marston, smiling.
"What manll would have? You are not angry?"
"How could I be? The world is out of joint, that is all."
"You are a true gentleman. I swear to you," said the old