WYLDER'S HAJVD.
195
much! but I am not very well, and a very dull companion
to-day."
"You think I am going to bore you with visits. No
such thing, I assure you. I have taken a fancy to walk
on the common, that is all — a kind of longing; and you
must come with me; quite to ourselves, you and I. You
won't refuse me, darling; I know you'll come."
Well, Rachel did go. And away they drove through
the quiet town of Gylingden together, and through the
short street on the right, and so upon the still quieter
common. This plain of green turf broke gradually into a
heath; and an irregular screen of timber and underwood
'divided the common of Gylingden in sylvan fashion from
the moor. The wood passed, Dorcas stopped the carriage,
and the two young ladies descended. It was a sunny day,
and the air still; and the open heath contrasted pleasantly
with the somber and confined scenery of Redman's Dell.
"It was good of you to come, Rachel," said Miss Bran-
don; "and you look tired! but you shan't speak more
than you like; and I'll tell you all the news. Chelford
is just returned from Brighton; he arrived this morning;
and he and Lady Chelford will stay for the Hunt Ball. I
made it a point. And he called at Hockley, on his way
back, to see Sir Julius. Do you know him?"
"Sir Julius Hockley? No — I've heard of him
only."
"Well, they say he is wasting his property very fast;
and I think him every way very nearly a fool; but Chel-
ford wanted to see him about Mr. Wylder. Mark Wylder,
you know, of course, has turned up again in England.
His letter to Chelford, six weeks ago, was from Boulogne;
but his last was from Brighton; and Sir Julius Hockley
witnessed — I think they call it — that letter of attorney
which Mark sent about a week since to Mr. Larkin; and