The Captain confessed it, calmly blushing, and that he was in communication with Miss Georgiana Ford, Mr.Powys's half-sister; about whom Adela was curious, until the Captain ejaculated, "A saint!"-- whereat she was satisfied, knowing by instinct that the preference is for sinners.

Their meetings usually referred to Emilia; and it was astonishing how willingly the Captain would talk of her.
Adela repeated to herself, "This is our mask," and thus she made it the Captain's; for it must be said that the conquering Captain had never felt so full of pity to any girl or woman to whom he fancied he had done damage, as to Emilia.

He enjoyed a most thorough belief that she was growing up to perplex him with her love, and he had not consequently attempted to precipitate the measure; but her flight had prematurely perplexed him.

In grave debate with the ends of his moustache for a term, he concluded by accusing Merthyr Powys; and with a little feeling of spite not unknown to masculine dignity, he wrote to Merthyr's half-sister--"merely to inquire, being aware that whatever he does you have been consulted on, and the friends of this Miss Belloni are distressed by her absence." The ladies of Brookfield were accustomed to their father's occasional unpremeditated absences, and neither of them had felt an apprehension which she could not dismiss, until one morning Mr.Powys sent up his card to Arabella, requesting permission to speak with her alone..