Younglady,Iamdisposedtariousandunicativeto-night.”

    Withthisannouherosefromhischair,andstood,leaninghisarmonthemarblemantelpiethatattitudehisshapewasseenplainlyaswellashisface;hisunusualbreadthofchest,disproportionatealmosttohislengthoflimb.Iamsuremostpeoplewouldhavethoughthimanuglymaherewassomusciousprideinhisport;somucheaseinhisdemeanour;suchalookofpleteindiffereohisowernalappearance;sohaughtyareliahepowerofotherqualities,intrinsicoradventitious,toatohelaerepersonalattractivehat,inlookingathim,oablysharedtheindifferend,eveninablind,imperfese,putfaithinthefidence.

    “Iamdisposedtariousandunicativeto-night,”herepeated,“andthatiswhyIsentforyou:thefireandthedelierwerenotsuffitpanyforme;norwouldPilothavebeen,forhesetalk.Adèleisadegreebetter,butstillfarbelowthemark;Mrs.Fairfaxditto;you,Iampersuaded,suitmeifyouwill:youpuzzledmethefirsteveningIinvitedyoudownhere.Ihavealmostfottenyousiherideashavedrivenyoursfrommyhead;butto-nightIamresolvedtobeatease;todismissortunes,andrecallleases.Itwouldpleasemenowtodrawyouout—tolearnmoreofyou—thereforespeak.”

    Insteadofspeaking,Ismiled;andnotaveryplatorsubmissivesmileeither.

    “Speak,”heurged.

    “Whatabout,sir?”

    “Whateveryoulike.Ileaveboththechoiceofsubjedthemareatiirelytoyourself.”

    AcclyIsatandsaidnothing:“Ifheexpectsmetotalkforthemeresakeoftalkingandshowingoff,hewillfindhehasaddressedhimselftothewrongperson,”Ithought.

    “Youaredumb,MissEyre.”

    Iwasdumbstill.Hebenthisheadalittletowardsme,andwi