dancing,
and had to learn to like him before she ceased to pray that she might never be
the victim of it as his partner. He walked heroically, his pedestrian vigour
being famous, but that means one who walks away from the sex, not excelling in
the recreations where men and women join hands. He was not much of a horseman
either. Sir Willoughby enjoyed seeing him on horseback. And he could scarcely be
said to shine in a drawing-room, unless when seated beside a person ready for
real talk. Even more than his merits, his demerits pointed him out as a man to
be a friend to a young woman who wanted one. His way of life pictured to her
troubled spirit an enviable smoothness: and his having achieved that smooth way
she considered a sign of strength; and she wished to lean in idea upon some
friendly strength. His reputation for indifference to the frivolous charms of
girls clothed him with a noble coldness, and gave him the distinction of a
far-seen solitary iceberg in Southern waters. The popular notion of hereditary
titled aristocracy resembles her sentiment for a man that would not flatter and
could not be flattered by her sex: he appeared superior almost to awfulness. She
was young, but she had received much flattery in her ears, and by it she had
been snared; and he, disdaining to practise the fowler's arts or to cast a
thought on small fowls, appeared to her to have a pride founded on natural
loftiness.
    They had not spoken for a while, when Vernon said abruptly: »The boy's
future rather depends on you, Miss Middleton. I mean to leave as soon as
possible, and I do not like his being here without me, though you will look
after him, I have no doubt. But you may not at first see where the spoiling
hurts him. He should be packed off at once to the crammer, before you are Lady
Patterne. Use your influence. Willoughby will support the lad at your request.
The cost cannot be great. There are strong grounds against my having him in
London, even if I could manage it. May I count on you?«
    »I will mention it: I will do my best,« said Miss Middleton, strangely
dejected.
    They were now on the lawn, where Sir Willoughby was walking with the ladies
Eleanor and Isabel, his maiden aunts.
    »You seem to have coursed the hare and captured the hart,« he said to his
bride.
    »Started the truant and run down the pædagogue,« said Vernon.
    »Ay,