What could it be?
Why did he turn aside, after bowing to her, and address himself to Horace, with an absent look in his face, as if his thoughts were far away from his words?
A complete change had come over him; and it dated from the moment when his aunt had pronounced the name that was not _her_ name---the name that she had stolen! Lady Janet claimed Julian's attention, and left Horace free to return to Mercy.

"Your room is ready for you," she said.

"You will stay here, of course ?" Julian accepted the invitation---still with the air of a man whose mind was preoccupied.

Instead of looking at his aunt when he made his reply, he looked round at Mercy with a troubled curiosity in his face, very strange to see.

Lady Janet tapped him impatiently on the shoulder.