He had come to Scroope for only three days, but, in spite of some watchfulness on the part of the Countess, he found his opportunity for speaking before he left the house.

"Miss Mellerby," he said, "I don't know whether I ought to thank Fortune or to upbraid her for having again brought me face to face with you." "I hope the evil is not so oppressive as to make you very loud in your upbraidings." "They shall not at any rate be heard.

I don't know whether there was any spice of malice about my brother when he asked me to come here, and told me in the same letter that you were at Scroope." "He must have meant it for malice, I should think," said the young lady, endeavouring, but not quite successfully, to imitate the manner of the man who loved her.
"Of course I came." "Not on my behalf, I hope, Mr.Neville." "Altogether on your behalf.

Fred's need to see me was not very great, and, as my uncle had not asked me, and as my aunt, I fancy, does not altogether approve of me, I certainly should not have come,--were it not that I might find it difficult to get any other opportunity of seeing you." "That is hardly fair to Lady Scroope, Mr.Neville." "Quite fair, I think.

I did not come clandestinely.