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He and Helen exchanged but few words. There was but one occasion in which they could have spoken apart, and Helen herself contrived to elude it. His face brightened at Lady Lansmere's cordial invitation, and he glanced at Helen as he accepted it; but her eye did not meet his own. "And now," said Harley, whistling to Nero, whom his ward was silently caressing, "I must take Leonard away.
Then said Randal, gravely, "If one whom you honour with a tender thought visits at Lord Lansmere's house, you have, indeed, cause to fear for yourself, to hope for your brother's success in the object which has brought him to England; for a girl of surpassing beauty is a guest in Lord Lansmere's house, and I will now tell you that that girl is she whom Count Peschiera would make his bride."
Helen, by the way, have you mentioned to Violante the bond between us?" "No; that is, I fear I may have unguardedly betrayed it, against Lady Lansmere's commands too but but " "So, Lady Lansmere forbade you to name it to Violante? This should not be. I will answer for her permission to revoke that interdict. It is due to Violante and to you. Tell your young friend all.
"It is but a temporary difficulty, royal mourning, such nonsense; panic in trade, lest these precious ministers go out. I shall soon float over the troubled waters." "By the help of a paper boat," said the baron, laughing; and the two gentlemen shook hands and parted. Meanwhile Audley Egerton's carriage had deposited him at the door of Lord Lansmere's house, at Knightsbridge.
Lady Lansmere's very interest in Harley's choice, her attempts to draw Helen out of her reserve, her watchful eyes whenever Helen shyly spoke or shyly moved, frightened the poor child, and made her unjust to herself.
And the next day he sent Giacomo to Lady Lansmere's with a very kind letter to Violante and a note to the hostess, praying the latter to bring his daughter to Norwood for a few hours, as he much wished to converse with both. It was on Giacomo's arrival at Knightsbridge that Violante's absence was discovered.
"Yet his vagrant son has received such gifts from nature, his youth was so rich in promise, his boyhood so glowed at the dream of glory!" "Ay," said Harley, very softly, "it is possible, and all to be buried in a single grave!" The countess started, and withdrew her hand from Harley's shoulder. Lady Lansmere's countenance was not one that much varied in expression.
Dale was fully convinced; the young lord's admiration, Lady Lansmere's fears, had been too evident to one who had often visited at the Park; Harley's abrupt departure just before Nora's return home; Egerton's sudden resignation of the borough before even opposition was declared, in order to rejoin his friend, the very day of Nora's death, all confirmed his ideas that Harley was the betrayer or the husband.
"But, diavolo! you say the man has seen her where she is now, in spite of all Lady Lansmere's promises and Harley's precautions." "True. Of this Peschiera boasted to me. He effected it not, of course, openly, but in some disguise. I am sufficiently, however, in his confidence any man may be that with so audacious a braggart to deter him from renewing his attempt for some days.
"Who is there?" he cried peevishly. A low voice from without answered, "Hush, it is I; dress quick; let me see you." Egerton recognized Lady Lansmere's voice. Alarmed and surprised, he rose, dressed in haste, and went to the door. Lady Lansmere was standing without, extremely pale. She put her finger to her lip, and beckoned him to follow her. He obeyed mechanically.
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