Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/460

"No; her mother was with her."

"Then I don't know at all. But come; let's be off. We shall keep them waiting; I know we shall!"

"Oh! we have plenty of time. Shall I drive?"

"If you please! Yes, do."

"Very well. Is there any exhibition about ten miles off?"

"Not that I'm aware of! Why?"

"If there had been, we might as well have seen that first!"

"But really we have no time to spare! we haven't indeed."

"Well! then we'll be off."

They then took leave of Aunt Eleanor—who made them promise to be home by ten—and while she prayed for their success, they started.

On reaching the avenue which led to the Hall, Sylvester suddenly stopped, and exclaimed—

"Why! we passed this wilderness this morning! Are you going in here?"

"Oh yes! Go on!"

"Are you sure that you can find your way out again?"

"I have not the smallest fear of that."

"Oh! Well, then we'll explore! Are we going to dine with the proprietor of this den?"

"We shall dine with the gentleman who lives at the Hall!"

"He's a natural curiosity, is he not?"

"A natural curiosity!"

"Yes; the man of whom I inquired this morning in the road said that he didn't know him, that nobody knew him, and that he never was known!"

"He certainly leads a life of seclusion, but you will find him a most perfect gentleman, notwithstanding."

They now reached the circular lawn before the house, and as they drove round two servants appeared at the door, and immediately afterwards Howard came forth, and proceeded to welcome them warmly.

This ceremony ended, he led them into a spacious and most elegantly furnished room, and at once introduced them to Henriette.

Sylvester recognised her in an instant. It was the sweet girl whom he had that morning seen. And there was the lady whom he had conceived to be her mother, but who was introduced to him as Miss Duprez.

Having been presented, Henriette retired to one of the windows—gracefully, but with a timidity which proved that she had not been much accustomed to society—and, while Howard was conversing with the reverend gentleman, and glancing at Sylvester—who was an object of peculiar interest to him—Sylvester and Henriette were glancing at each other, for he was equally, although with far different feelings, an object of interest to her. And thus they were engaged until dinner was announced, when Howard gave Henriette to the reverend gentleman, and—as Miss Duprez had left the room—took Sylvester's arm himself.

Miss Duprez, however, joined them in the dining-room, and they sat down to a most delicious dinner—a dinner which the reverend gentle-