"Yes; he only left this morning."
"He seems a very good sort of fellow," said Lyster generously, for he didn't quite like the tone of Beresford's voice, and did not at all like the manner in which the Commissioner was paying quiet attention to Miss Townshend. "He's made himself a general favourite in a very short time."
"Yes, that he has," said Miss Townshend; "he's very clever, and not at all conceited, and--oh! he's so nice."
Barbara said nothing.
"I had a few words with him about the money-article yesterday," said Mr. Townshend; "but I must say his views were scarcely so defined as I could have wished."
Beresford had listened attentively to these remarks. He thought he perceived a certain tendresse in Miss Townshend's manner of speaking of Churchill, which did not at all accord with his present views. So he said,
"No, Mr. Townshend; that's not Churchill's peculiar line. He's a poor man, though, as you say, Miss Townshend, a clever one. And he has some object in working hard, for he's going to be married."
"To be married?" exclaimed Miss Townshend, looking across at Barbara.
"To be married?" exclaimed Barbara, flushing scarlet. The next instant she turned deadly cold, and could have bitten her tongue out for having spoken.
"Well, well!" said old Miss Lexden, who up to this time had been engaged in a confidential culinary chat with Mrs. Vincent; "that's always the way. Poor thing: I pity the young woman. These sort of persons always stay out all night, and ill-treat their wives, and all that kind of thing."