Still let me preserve my privilege of guardian, of adviser,--a privilege dearer to me than all the wealth of the Indies!" Lord Vargrave had some faint suspicion that Legard had created an undue interest in Evelyn's heart; and on this point he delicately and indirectly sought to sound her.

Her replies convinced him that if Evelyn had conceived any prepossession for Legard, there had not been time or opportunity to ripen it into deep attachment.

Of Maltravers he had no fear.

The habitual self-control of that reserved personage deceived him partly; and his low opinion of mankind deceived him still more.

For if there had been any love between Maltravers and Evelyn, why should the former not have stood his ground, and declared his suit?
Lumley would have "bah'd" and "pish'd" at the thought of any punctilious regard for engagements so easily broken having power either to check passion for beauty, or to restrain self-interest in the chase of an heiress.