60
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
as Mr. 'Wylder's friend, you seem to take an interest?"
she said.
"There can hardly be a second opinion. Miss Brandon -
I think it a very wise measure," I replied, much sur-
prised.
"Very wise — exactly. But don't these very wise
things sometimes turn out very foolishly? Do you really
think your friend, Mr. Wylder, cares about me?"
"I take that for granted: in the nature of things it
can hardly be otherwise," I replied, startled and per-
plexed by the curious audacity of her interrogatory.
"It was very foolish of me to expect from Mr. Wylder's
friend any other answer; you are very loyal, Mr. De
Cresseron."
And without awaiting my reply she made some remark
which I forgot to Lady Chelford, who sat at a little dis-
tance; and, appearing quite absorbed in her new subject,
she placed herself close beside the dowager, and contin-
ued to chat in a low tone.
I was vexed with myself for having managed with so
little skill a conversation which, opened so oddly and
frankly, might have placed me on relations so nearly con-
fidential, with that singular and beautiful girl. I ought
to have rejoiced — but we don't always see what most
concerns our peace.
By this time Lord Chelford and Wylder returned; and,
disgusted rather with myself, I ruminated on my want of
generalship.
In the meantime, Miss Lake, with her hand on her
brother's arm, was walking swiftly under the trees of the
back avenue towards that footpath which, through wild
copse and broken clumps near the park, emerges upon the
still darker road which passes along the wooded glen by
the mills, and skirts the little paling of the recluse lady's