Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

90 RAVENSHOE.
obtained, he had selected Ravenshoe, as being the most eligible;
that he should wish his. room to have a south aspect; and that
his man would arrive with his things three days after date. To
this Densil had written an appropriate reply, begging his kind
old friend to come and make his house his home; and Lord Saltire had arrived one evening, when every one was out of the way
but Mary, who received him in the hall.
She was in some little trepidation. She had read and heard
enough of "the wild prince and Poyns," and of Lord Saltire's
powers of sarcasm, to be thoroughly fi'ightened at her awful position. She had pictured to herself a terrible old man, with overhanging eyebrows, and cruel, gleaming eyes beneath them.
Therefore she was astonished to see a gentleman, old it is true,
but upright as a young oak, of such remarkable personal beauty,
and such a pleasant expression of countenance as she had never
seen before.
She was astonished, I said; but, mind you, MIary was too much
of a lady to show too much of it. She sailed towards him through
the gloom of the old hall with a frank smile; and just that amount
of admiration in her sweet eyes, which paid Lord Saltire the
truest compliment he had had for many a day.
"Mr. Ravenshoe will be sorry to have missed receiving you,
my lord," she said.
" If Mr. Ravenshoe is sorry," he said, " I certainly am not.
Mr. Ravenshoe has done me the honor to show me the most
beautiful thing in his house first. I rather think that is a pretty
compliment, Miss Corby, unless I am getting out of practice."
"That is a very pretty compliment, indeed," she answered,
laughing. "I most heartily thank you for it. I know nothing in
life so pleasant as being flattered. May I introduce Father Mackworth?"
Lord Saltire would be delighted. Father Mackworth came
forward, and Mary saw them look at one another. She saw at a
glance that either they had met before, or there was some secret
which both of them knew. She never forgot Mackworth's defiant look, or Lord Saltire's calm, considerate glance, which said,
as plain as words, " This fellow knows it."
This fellow knew it, - had known it for years. The footman
who had left MIackworth at the lodge of the French Lycee, the
nameless domestic, who formed the last link with his former life,
— this man had worn Lord Saltire's livery, and he remembered
it.
"I see," said Lord Saltire, " that Miss Corby is preparing for
walking. I guess that she is going to meet Mr. Ravenshoe;
and, if my surmise is correct, I beg to be allowed to accompany her."