that this was his mother's latent thought; nevertheless, he was girded up in his well-considered resolution.
'Pierre, Pierre! shall I touch the bell?'
'Mother, stay!—yes, do, sister.'
The bell was rung; and at the summons Dates entered; and looking with some significance at Mrs. Glendinning, said, 'His Reverence has come, my mistress, and is now in the west parlour.'
'Show Mr. Falsgrave in here immediately; and bring up the coffee; did I not tell you I expected him to breakfast this morning?'
'Yes, my mistress; but I thought that—that—just then'—glancing alarmedly from mother to son.
'Oh, my good Dates, nothing has happened,' cried Mrs. Glendinning, lightly, and with a bitter smile, looking toward her son,—'show Mr. Falsgrave in. Pierre, I did not see thee, to tell thee, last night; but Mr. Falsgrave breakfasts with us by invitation. I was at the parsonage yesterday, to see him about that wretched affair of Delly, and we are finally to settle upon what is to be done this morning. But my mind is made up concerning Ned; no such profligate shall pollute this place; nor shall the disgraceful Delly.'
Fortunately, the abrupt entrance of the clergyman here turned away attention from the sudden pallor of Pierre's countenance, and afforded him time to rally.
'Good morning, madam; good morning, sir,' said Mr. Falsgrave, in a singularly mild, flute-like voice, turning to Mrs. Glendinning and her son; the lady receiving him with answering cordiality, but Pierre too embarrassed just then to be equally polite. As for one brief moment Mr. Falsgrave stood before the pair, ere taking the offered chair from Dates, his aspect was eminently attractive.
There are certain ever-to-be-cherished moments in the life of almost any man, when a variety of little foregoing
