“‘Yes, I often hear when we are away that you collegians destroy all papa’s game; but he only smiles, and says, “Let ’em blaze away, there’s plenty for everybody.’”
“From where they stood, they distinctly saw, twinkling in the cloudless twilight, numberless Chinese lanterns hanging in the trees round the house; rockets of many colours were ascending and bursting in varied showers in the calm, breathless air; while strains of music broke upon the ear in delicious dreamy waltzes, and flags on the house-top lazily flapped with every passing gust.
“‘How pretty!’ both exclaimed, as they stood on the brook bridge gazing, while the ozier banks were rippling with passing waters.
“‘Yes, ’tis pretty and pleasant, Clare; I shall never forget this day, this pleasant walk; and all I regret is that I have not courage to present myself there this evening,’ he added, with difficult articulation; ‘you know that Lord Stoner has ever displayed antipathy to me.’
“‘Lord Stoner an antipathy to you? What can be the cause?’ asked Clare.
“‘I know not, Clare, but I cannot go. You will excuse me; I shall be here in waiting precisely at twelve o’clock, and I dare say the colonel will take this path homewards.’
“Miss Temple here became unusually animated and colour came and went as her companion occasionally looked in her face with pleasure. A hound, which had followed her footsteps, suddenly darted into the forest and growled.
“But no one was visible, and now they had passed through the wood and were at the edge of the meadow-land which intervened between them and Lord Stoner’s estate.
“While gaiety reigned at Lord Stoner’s, and all thoughts of care were banished by old and young, a strange scene occurred within gun-shot of the house.
“Lawrence had returned to Colonel Temple’s and spent several hours there, and leisurely strolled back to the brook bridge to meet Lady Bray and Clare with her father.