For three weeks now had the General been watching the affair between Roger and Daphne Floyd.

It had gone with such a rush at first, such a swing and fervour, that the General had felt that any day might bring the _denouement_.

It was really impossible to desert the lad at such a crisis, especially as Laura was so excitable and anxious, and so sure to make her brother pay for it if he failed to support her views and ambitions at the right moment.

The General moreover felt the absolute necessity of getting to know something more about Miss Floyd, her character, the details of her fortune and antecedents, so that when the great moment came he might be prepared.
But the astonishing thing was that of late the whole affair seemed to have come to some stupid hitch! Roger had been behaving like a very cool hand--too cool by half in the General's opinion.

What the deuce did he mean by hanging about these Boston ladies, if his affections were really fixed on Miss Daphne ?--or his ambitions, which to the uncle seemed nearer the truth.
"Well, where is the nephew ?" said Cecilia Boyson's voice in his ear.
The General turned.