All was tranquil health and untamed spirits in Clara's beautiful face. Christobelle persuaded herself she could not have seen her sister in the avenue, and that she was yet ignorant of Sir Foster's intention to accompany them to Brierly, and bid high for the blood-mare. When the family separated for the night, Lady Wetheral coolly wished her youngest daughter a happy meeting with her friends at Brierly: she should not be up, and begged Christobelle would not rattle at her door with her awkward fingers, under pretence of leave-taking. She was to give her love to Mrs. Boscawen, and bid her remember the baize-door for the nursery.
Clara advanced and kissed her sister: she spoke laughingly.
"You need not visit my room, Bell, to-morrow, because I shall be very busy; but I wish you lots of happiness, if there is such material at Brierly. How long do you remain?"
"Papa says, till you are all at Fairlee."
"Oh, well, a happy meeting to us all at Fairlee; but, Bell, before we meet again,
"'I'm o'er the border, and awa'
Wi' Jock o' Hasledean!'
"You don't understand me? Never mind—I don't think I shall like Fairlee. How you stare, Miss Bell!"
Christobelle did look surprised: she could not understand Clara's gaiety upon her lover's dismissal. She retired to her room, however, and lost all recollections, in deep and sweet slumber, both of the past and present.