caution, and did not give the young lady any reason to suspect the state of the case yet awhile.  Marian was perfectly devoid of coquetry, and had no idea that this gentleman’s constant presence at the cottage could have any reference to herself.  He liked her uncle; what more natural than that he should like that gallant soldier, whom Marian adored as the first of mankind?  And it was out of his liking for the Captain that he came so often.

The Captain, however, had not been slow to discover the real state of affairs, and the discovery had given him unqualified satisfaction.  For a long time his quiet contentment in this pleasant, simple, easy-going life had been clouded by anxious thoughts about Marian’s future.  His death—­should that event happen before she married—­must needs leave her utterly destitute.  The little property from which his income was derived was not within his power to bequeath.  It would pass, upon his death, to one of his nephews.  The furniture of the cottage might realize a few hundreds, which would most likely be, for the greater part, absorbed by the debts of the year and the expenses of his funeral.  Altogether, the outlook was a dreary one, and the Captain had suffered many a sharp pang in brooding over it.  Lovely and attractive as Marian was, the chances of an advantageous marriage were not many for her in such a place as Lidford.  It was natural, therefore, that Captain Sedgewick should welcome the advent of such a man as Gilbert Fenton—­a man of good position and ample means; a thoroughly unaffected and agreeable fellow into the bargain, and quite handsome enough to win any woman’s heart, the Captain thought.  He watched the two young people together, after the notion of this thing came into his mind, and about the sentiments of one of them he felt no shadow of doubt.  He was not quite so clear about the feelings of the other.  There was a perfect frankness and ease about Marian that seemed scarcely compatible with the growth of that tender passion which generally reveals itself by a certain amount of reserve, and is more eloquent in silence than in speech.  Marian seemed always pleased to see Gilbert, always interested in his society; but she did not seem more than this, and the Captain was sorely perplexed.

There was a dinner-party at Lidford House during the second week of Gilbert’s acquaintance with these new friends, and Captain Sedgewick and his adopted niece were invited.

“They are pleasant people to have at a dinner-party,” Mrs. Lister said, when she discussed the invitation with her husband and brother; “so I suppose they may as well come,—­though I don’t want to encourage your folly, Gilbert.”

“My folly, as you are kind enough to call it, is not dependent on your encouragement, Belle.”

“Then it is really a serious case, I suppose,” said Martin.

“I really admire Miss Nowell—­more than I ever admired any one before, if that is what you call a serious case, Martin.”