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e； without due consideration。 It was surely his interestit might even be his dutyto go to Mr。 Wyvil's house； and judge for himself。 After some last wretched moments of hesitation； he had decided on effecting a compromise with his own better sense； by consulting Miss Ladd。 That excellent lady did exactly what he had expected her to do。 She made arrangements which granted him leave of absence； from the Saturday to the Tuesday following。 The excuse which had served him； in telegraphing to Mr。 Wyvil； must now be repeated； in accounting for his unexpected appearance to Emily。 〃I found a person to take charge of my class；〃 be said； 〃and I gladly availed myself of the opportunity of seeing you again。〃
After observing him attentively； while he was speaking to her； Emily owned； with her customary frankness； that she had noticed something in his manner which left her not quite at her ease。
〃I wonder；〃 she said； 〃if there is any foundation for a doubt that has troubled me？〃 To his unutterable relief； she at once explained what the doubt was。 〃I am afraid I offended you； in replying to your letter about Miss Jethro。〃
In this case； Alban could enjoy the luxury of speaking unreservedly。 He confessed that Emily's letter had disappointed him。
〃I expected you to answer me with less reserve；〃 he replied； 〃and I began to think I had acted rashly in writing to you at all。 When there is a better opportunity； I may have a word to say〃 He was apparently interrupted by something that he saw in the conservatory。 Looking that way； Emily perceived that Mirabel was the object which had attracted Alban's attention。 The vile anonymous letter was in his mind again。 Without a preliminary word to prepare Emily； he suddenly changed the subject。 〃How do you like the clergyman？〃 he asked。
〃Very much indeed；〃 she replied； without the slightest embarrassment。 〃Mr。 Mirabel is clever and agreeableand not at all spoiled by his success。 I am sure；〃 she said innocently； 〃you will like him too。〃
Alban's face answered her unmistakably in the negative sensebut Emily's attention was drawn the other way by Francine。 She joined them at the moment； on the lookout for any signs of an encouraging result which her treachery might already have produced。 Alban had been inclined to suspect her when he had received the letter。 He rose and bowed as she approached。 Somethinghe was unable to r ealize what it wastold him； in the moment when they looked at each other； that his suspicion had hit the mark。
In the conservatory the ever…amiable Mirabel had left his friends for a while in search of flowers for Cecilia。 She turned to her father when they were alone； and asked him which of the gentlemen was to take her in to dinnerMr。 Mirabel or Mr。 Morris？
〃Mr。 Morris； of course；〃 he answered。 〃He is the new guestand he turns out to be more than the equal； socially…speaking； of our other friend。 When I showed him his room； I asked if he was related to a man who bore the same namea fellow student of mine； years and years ago； at college。 He is my friend's younger son； one of a ruined familybut persons of high distinction in their day。〃
Mirabel returned with the flowers； just as dinner was announced。
〃You are to take Emily to…day；〃 Cecilia said to him； leading the way out of the conservatory。 As they entered the drawing…room； Alban was just offering his arm to Emily。 〃Papa gives you to me； Mr。 Morris；〃 Cecilia explained pleasantly。 Alban hesitated； apparently not understanding the allusion。 Mirabel interfered with his best grace： 〃Mr。 Wyvil offers you the honor of taking his daughter to the dining…room。〃 Alban's face darkened ominously； as the elegant little clergyman gave his arm to Emily； and followed Mr。 Wyvil and Francine out of the room。 Cecilia looked at her silent and surly companion； and almost envied her lazy sister； diningunder cover of a convenient headachein her own room。
Having already made up his mind that Alban Morris required careful handling； Mirabel waited a little before he led the conversation as usual。 Between the soup and the fish； he made an interesting confession； addressed to Emily in the strictest confidence。
〃I have taken a fancy to your friend Mr。 Morris；〃 he said。 〃First impressions； in my case； decide everything； I like people or dislike them on impulse。 That man appeals to my sympathies。 Is he a good talker？〃
〃I should say Yes；〃 Emily answered prettily； 〃if _you_ were not present。〃
Mirabel was not to be beaten； even by a woman； in the art of paying compliments。 He looked admiringly at Alban （sitting opposite to him）； and said： 〃Let us listen。〃
This flattering suggestion not only pleased Emilyit artfully served Mirabel's purpose。 That is to say； it secured him an opportunity for observation of what was going on at the other side of the table。
Alban's instincts as a gentleman had led him to control his irritation and to regret that he had suffered it to appear。 Anxious to please； he presented himself at his best。 Gentle Cecilia forgave and forgot the angry look which had startled her。 Mr。 Wyvil was delighted with the son of his old friend。 Emily felt secretly proud of the good opinions which her admirer was gathering； and Francine saw with pleasure that he was asserting his claim to Emily's preference； in the way of all others which would be most likely to discourage his rival。 These various impressionsproduced while Alban's enemy was ominously silentbegan to suffer an imperceptible change； from the moment when Mirabel decided that his time had come to take the lead。 A remark made by Alban offered him the chance for which he had been on the watch。 He agreed with the remark； he enlarged on the remark； he was brilliant and familiar； and instructive and amusingand still it was all due to the remark。 Alban's temper was once more severely tried。 Mirabel's mischievous object had not escaped his penetration。 He did his best to put obstacles in the adversary's wayand was baffled； time after time； with the readiest ingenuity。 If he interruptedthe sweet…tempered clergyman submitted； and went on。 If he differedmodest Mr。 Mirabel said； in the most amiable manner； 〃I daresay I am wrong；〃 and handled the topic from his opponent's point of view。 Never had such a perfect Christian sat before at Mr。 Wyvil's table： not a hard word； not an impatient look； escaped him。 The longer Alban resisted； the more surely he lost ground in the general estimation。 Cecilia was disappointed； Emily was grieved； Mr。 Wyvil's favorable opinion began to waver； Francine was disgusted。 When dinner was over； and the carriage was waiting to take the shepherd back to his flock by moonlight； Mirabel's triumph was complete。 He had made Alban the innocent means of publicly exhibiting his perfect temper and perfect politeness； under their best and brightest aspect。
So that day ended。 Sunday promised to pass quietly； in the absence of Mirabel。 The morning cameand it seemed doubtful whether the promise would be fulfilled。
Francine had passed an uneasy night。 No such encouraging result as she had anticipated had hitherto followed the appearance of Alban Morris at Monksmoor。 He had clumsily allowed Mirabel to improve his positionwhile he had himself lost groundin Emily