"Apparently you don't like Mr. Thorn?" said Mr. Rossitur, speaking for the first time.
"I don't know who does, Sir, much except his mother."
"What is he?"
"A man not wanting in parts, Sir, and with considerable force of character but I am afraid more for ill than good. I should be very sorry to trust him with anything dear to me."
"How long were you in forming that opinion?" said Charlton, looking at her curiously.
"It was formed, substantially, the first evening I saw him, and I have never seen cause to alter it since."
The several members of the family therewith fell into a general muse, with the single exception of Hugh, whose eyes and thoughts seemed to be occupied with Fleda's living presence. Mr. Rossitur then requested that breakfast might be ready very early at six o'clock.
"Six o'clock!" exclaimed Mrs. Rossitur.
"I have to take a long ride, on business, which must be done early in the day."
"When will you be back?"