Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

62 RAVENSHOE.
doubt the correctness of her calculations; but he put it to her as
a woman of the world, whether or no such an occurrence as
she described would not be in the last degree awkward and
disconcerting?
Adelaide said she didn't believe a word of it, and nothing
should induce her to do so until it took place. This brought the
old lady's wrath down upon'her, and helped the flagging conversation on a little. But, after dinner, it got so dull in spite of
every one's efforts, that Lord Saltire confided to his young friend,
as they went up stairs, that he had an idea that something was
wrong; but, at all events, that the house was getting so insufferably dull that he must rat, pardieu, for he could n't stand it. He
should rat into Devon to his friend Lord Segur.
Welter took occasion to tell Charles that Lord Ascot had sent
for him, and told him that he knew all about what had happened,
and his debts. That he did not wish the subject mentioned (as
if I were likely to talk about it!) that his debts should, if possible, be paid. That he had then gone on to say, that he did not
wish to say anything harsh to Welter on the subject; that he
doubted whether he retained the right of reproving his son;
that they both needed forgiveness one from the other, and that
he hoped in what was to follow they would display that courtesy
and mutual forbearance to one another which gentlemen should.
"And what the deuce does he mean, eh? He never spoke like
this before. Is he going to marry again? Ay, that's what it is,
depend upon it," said this penetrating young gentleman; "that
will be rather a shame of him, you know, particularly if' he has
two or three cubs to cut into my fortune"; and so from that time
Lord Welter began to treat his father with a slight coolness, and
an air of injured innocence most amusing, though painful, to
Charles and Adelaide, who knew the truth.
As for Adelaide, she seemed to treat Charles like a brother
once more. She kept no secret from him; she walked with him,
rode with him, just as of old. She did not seem to like Lord
Welter's society, though she was very kind to him; and he
seemed too much taken up with his dogs and horses to care much
for her. So Charles and she were thrown together, and Charles's
love for her grew stronger day by day, until that studied indiffe —
ent air which he had assumed on his arrival became almost
impossible to sustain. He sustained it, nevertheless, treating
Adelaide almost with rudeness, and flinging about his words so
carelessly that sometimes she would look suddenly up indignant,
and make some passionate reply, and sometimes she would rise
and leave the room, - for aught I know, in tears.
It was a sad house to stay in; and his heart began to yearn
for his western home, in spite of Adelaide. After a short time,