As to the ladies," he added, with a faint smile, half in melancholy, half in scorn, "I am not one whom they could miss;--forgive me if I seem unceremonious.

Adieu." Lester at first felt a little offended, but when he recalled the peculiar habits of the Scholar, he saw that the only way to hope for a continuance of that society which had so pleased him, was to indulge Aram at first in his unsocial inclinations, rather than annoy him by a troublesome hospitality; he therefore, without further discourse, shook hands with him, and they parted.
When Lester regained the little parlour, he found his nephew sitting, silent and discontented, by the window.

Madeline had taken up a book, and Ellinor, in an opposite corner, was plying her needle with an air of earnestness and quiet, very unlike her usual playful and cheerful vivacity.

There was evidently a cloud over the groupe; the good Lester regarded them with a searching, yet kindly eye.
"And what has happened ?" said he, "something of mighty import, I am sure, or I should have heard my pretty Ellinor's merry laugh long before I crossed the threshold." Ellinor coloured and sighed, and worked faster than ever.

Walter threw open the window, and whistled a favourite air quite out of tune.