Emily was not vain, and least of all addicted to a display of any of her acquirements; very few even of her friends knew she ever held a pencil in her hand; yet did she now unaccountably throw open her portfolio, and offer its contents to the examination of her companion.  It was done almost instantaneously, and with great freedom, though not without certain flushings of the face and heavings of the bosom, that would have eclipsed Grace Chatterton in her happiest moments of natural flattery.  Whatever might have been the wishes of Mr. Denbigh to pursue a subject which had begun to grow extremely interesting, both from its import and the feelings’ of the parties, it would have been rude to decline viewing the contents of a lady’s portfolio.  The drawings were, many of them, interesting, and the exhibitor of them now appeared as anxious to remove them in haste, as she had but the moment before been to direct his attention to her performances.  Denbigh would have given much to dare to ask for the paper so carefully secreted in the private drawer; but neither the principal agency he had himself in the scene, nor delicacy to his companion’s wish for concealment, would allow of the request.

“Doctor Ives! how happy I am to see you,” said Emily, hastily closing her portfolio, and before Denbigh had gone half through its contents; “you have become almost a stranger to us since Clara left us.”

“No, no, my little friend, never a stranger, I hope, at Moseley Hall,” cried the doctor, pleasantly; “George, I am happy to see you look so well—­you have even a color—­there is a letter for you, from Marian.”

Denbigh took the letter eagerly, and retired to a window to peruse it.  His hand shook as he broke the seal, and his interest in the writer, or its contents, could not have escaped the notice of any observer, however indifferent.

“Now, Miss Emily, if you will have the goodness to order me a glass of wine and water after my ride, believe me, you will do a very charitable act,” cried the doctor, as he took his seat on the sofa.

Emily was standing by the little table, deeply musing on the contents of her portfolio; for her eyes were intently fixed on the outside, as if she expected to see through the leather covering their merits and faults.

“Miss Emily Moseley,” continued the doctor, gravely, “am I to die of thirst or not, this warm day?”

“Do you wish anything, Doctor Ives?”

“A servant to get me a glass of wine and water.”

“Why did you not ask me, my dear sir?” said Emily, as she threw open a cellaret, and handed him what he wanted.

“There, my dear, there is a great plenty,” said the doctor, with an arch expression; “I really thought I had asked you thrice—­but I believe you were studying something in that portfolio.”

Emily blushed, and endeavored to laugh at her own absence of mind; but she would have given the world to know who Marian was.