Robert Vavasour leant over Amy as she arranged the music and commenced playing.
"You misjudge me, Miss Neville; but I hope a time will come when you will think better of me."
"I do not think badly of you," replied Amy as he turned away.
"Thoroughly snubbed! old fellow, eh?" said Alfred Strickland, as Vavasour passed the sofa where he still sat, "never mind, cheer up! and better luck next time!"
"Did you speak, sir?" exclaimed Vavasour fiercely.
"No, no, nothing of any consequence. It's chilly, don't you find it so?"
"Very," replied Robert, as he passed on.
Had Mr. Linchmore, as Mrs. Hopkins said, anything on his mind, or was he blind to all that was passing around him? Partly so; he had seen Vavasour's flirtation with his wife with uneasiness and displeasure, determined in his own mind to put a stop to it; but the scene suddenly changed. Miss Neville appeared, and he immediately transferred his attentions to her, or certainly a great part of them.
For a short time Mr. Linchmore was puzzled, but ere long he set him down as that most selfish of human beings, one who systematically storms a woman's heart until it succumbs to him, and is all his own, when gradually and quietly he releases himself from his victim, and leaves her heart to break or recover as best it can.