* I am very late — do not keep me !' replied
Lilias hurriedly, turning her face away as the
light flashed across the passage ; but not before
Marjory had seen that. her eyes were wet, and
that there were tears running down her face.
' Oh, Lilias !' she pleaded, * do stay a moment,
and let me speak to you.'

But Lilias shook her head and went into her
own room ; and Marjory, surprised and pained,
went back to Margaret.
VOL. II. 39



290 'I SAY, POOR WENT WORTH!'



She thought that Mrs. Carr looked a little
anxious when they went downstairs ; she was
sitting gazmg into the fire and taking no notice
of her guest, who with his usual tact was talk-
ing to Barry. Mr, Wentworth was standing
moodily by the mantelpiece ; he came forward
and shook hands with Margaret, and said a few
words to her very gravely. But Marjory was
shocked to see how pale and harassed he looked ;
all the light and animation seemed to have died
out of his face ; he looked heavy and sombre —
quite diflferent to the bright young squire who
had gone off whistling merrily to order his dog-
cart. There was plainly something very much
amiss, and it threw a gloom over the little
circle.
' Lilias is so late that I think we had better
begin dinner,' observed Mrs. Carr presently.
And then they all seated themselves round the
cheerful table, with its pink-shaded candles and
flowers ; and what must Mr. Frere do but start
one of his long harangues on the government of
India, which required nothing but monosyllabic
replies from the rest of the party.
