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During this effort some correspondence had taken place between Egremont and Sybil, which he would willingly have encouraged and maintained; but it ceased nevertheless with its subject. Sybil, through the influential interference of Ursula Trafford, lived at the convent at York during the imprisonment of her father, and visited him daily.
All this time Egremont had retained her hand, which she had not attempted to withdraw. He had bent his head over it as she spoke it was touched with his tears. For some moments there was silence; then looking up and in a smothered voice Egremont made one more effort to induce Sybil to consider his suit.
It seemed to Egremont that, from the day he met these persons in the Abbey ruins, the horizon of his experience had insensibly expanded; more than that, there were streaks of light breaking in the distance, which already gave a new aspect to much that was known, and which perhaps was ultimately destined to reveal much that was now utterly obscure.
To Ursula it was altogether a strange time, full of the same kind of reckless swing and sense of intoxication that had possessed her at Bridgefield. Not that there was an excessive amount of actual gaiety. Hot rooms and late hours were soon found not to agree with Mrs. Egremont.
Apprised of Egremont's impending arrival, Lord Marney was careful to be detained late that day at petty sessions, and entered the room only a few minutes before dinner was announced, where he found Egremont not only with the countess and a young lady who was staying with her, but with additional bail against any ebullition of sentiment in the shape of the Vicar of Marney, and a certain Captain Grouse, who was a kind of aide-de-camp of the earl; killed birds and carved them; played billiards with him, and lost; had indeed every accomplishment that could please woman or ease man; could sing, dance, draw, make artificial flies, break horses, exercise a supervision over stewards and bailiffs, and make every body comfortable by taking everything on his own shoulders.
Come, dame," he said, "thou'lt bring us a cup of tea; 'tis a good evening beverage," he added, turning to Egremont. "and what I ever take at this time. And if you care to light a pipe, you will find a companion."
There is nothing under those circumstances like the advice of a cool-headed friend." "As valuable as the assistance of a cold-hearted one," thought Egremont, who did not fancy too much the tone of this conversation. "But there is one thing of which you must particularly beware," continued Lord Marney, "there is one thing worse even than getting into difficulties patching them up.
"You feel deeply for the people!" said Egremont looking at her earnestly. Sybil returned him a glance expressive of some astonishment, and then said, "And do not you? Your presence here assures me of it." "I humbly follow one who would comfort the unhappy." "The charity of Mr St Lys is known to all." "And you you too are a ministering angel."
He knew that it was impossible to meet Egremont with flat refusals, and the prospect of being driven into something he intensely disliked worked him into an inward fume. He gave a great scrape on the floor with one of his heels as if he would have ploughed a track in the boards. 'I'm sorry, he began, 'I've got no free time worth speaking of. I'm much obliged to the lady.
It is more fruitful of profit both to your hearers and to yourself. But Egremont had begun to doubt whether after Easter he should lecture at all. 'Mr. Bunce's little girl is coming to me again, she said, in the talk before dinner. 'You know the poor little thing has been in hospital for three weeks? 'I haven't heard of it, Egremont replied. 'I'm sorry that I haven't really come to know Bunce.
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