. WYLDER'S HAJVD.
59
And Wylder chuckled angrily, as his eye glanced on the
graceful Captain, who was entertaining the ladies, nc
doubt, very agreeably in the distance.
CHAPTER XI.
IN WHICH LAKE UNDER THE TREES OF BRANDON, AND
I IN MY CHAMBER, SMOKE OUR NOCTURNAL CIGARS.
Miss Lake declined the carriage to-night. Her brother
was to see her home, and there was a leave-taking, and the
young ladies whispered a word or two, and kissed, after
the maimer of their kind. To Captain Lake, Miss Bran-
don's adieux were as cold and haughty as her greeting.
"Did you see that?" said Wylder in my ear, with a
chuckle; and, wagging his head, he added, rather loftily
for him, "Miss Brandon, I reckon, has taken your measure,
Master Stanley, as well as I. I wonder what the deuce
the old dowager sees in him. Old women always like ras-
cals."
I suppose the balance of attraction and repulsion was
overcome by Miss Lake, much as he disliked Stanley, for
Wylder followed them out with Lord Chelford, to help the
young lady into her cloak and galoshes, and I found my-
self near Miss Brandon for the first time that evening, and to
my surprise she was first to speak, and that rather strangely.
'' You seem to be very sensible, Mr. De Cresseron; pray
tell me, frankly, what do you think of all this?"
"lam not quite sure, Miss Brandon, that I under-
stand your question," I replied.
"I mean of the — the family arrangements, in which,