WYLDER'S HAJVD.
117
ladies of the Brandon line than I, and may have discover-
ed some signs of a coming storm in the oracular questions
which had fallen so harmoniously from those beautiful lips.
As for me, I was puzzled.
Lake's late smoking with Wylder must have disagreed
with him very much indeed, for he seemed more out of
sorts as night approached. He stole away from Mr. Lar-
kin's trellised porch, in the dusk. He marched into the
town rather quickly, like a man who has business on his
hands; but he had none — for he walked by the " Bran-
don Arms," and halted, and stared at the post-office, as
if he fancied he had something to say there. But no —
there was no need to tap at the window-pane. Some idle
boys were observing the dandy Captain, and he turned
down the short lane that opened on the common, and
Bauntered upon the short grass.
Two or three groups, and an invalid visitor or two —
for Gylingden boasts a "spa"— were lounging away the
twilight half-hours there. He seated himself on one of
the rustic seats, and his yellow eyes wandered restlessly
and vaguely along the outline of the beautiful hills. Then
for nearly ten minutes he smoked — an odd recreation
for a man suffering from the cigars of last night — and
after that, for nearly as long again, he seemed lost in deep
thought, his eyes upon the misty grass before him, and
his small French boot beating time to the music of his
thoughts.
Several groups passed close by him, in their pleasant
circuit. Some wondered what might be the disease of
that pale, peevish-looking gentleman, who sat there so
still, languid, and dejected. Others set him down as a
gentleman in difficulties of some sort, who was using Gyl-
ingden for a temporary refuge.
When Lake, with a little shudder, for it was growing