Herbert found pleasure in the society of the young Earl, for St. Eval had penetrated the secret of his and Mary’s love; though with innate delicacy he refrained from noticing it farther than constantly to make Mary his theme during his walks with Herbert, and speaking of her continually to the family, warming the heart of Emmeline yet more in his favour, by his sincere admiration of her friend.  He gave an excellent account of her health, which she had desired him to assure her friends the air of Italy had quite restored.  He spoke in warm admiration of her enthusiasm, her love of nature, of all which called forth the more exalting feelings; of her unaffected goodness, which had rendered her a favourite, spite of her being a foreigner and a Protestant, throughout the whole hamlet of Monte Rosa, and as he thus spoke, the anxious eye of Mrs. Hamilton ever rested on her Herbert, who could read in that glance how true and fond was the sympathy, which not once since he had confided in her his happiness, had he regretted that he had sought.

The remaining period of the Marquis of Malvern’s sojourn at Oakwood passed rapidly away without any event of sufficient importance to find a place in these pages.  They left Oakwood at the latter end of January for St. Eval’s beautiful estate in Cornwall, where they intended to remain a month ere they went to London, about the same time as Mr. Hamilton’s family.  That month was a quiet one at Oakwood; all their guests had departed, and, except occasional visits from Arthur Myrvin and St. Eval, their solitude was uninterrupted.

St. Eval’s estate was situated a few miles inland from the banks of the Tamar, one of the most beautiful spots bordering that most beautiful river.  He was wont leisurely to sail down the stream to Plymouth, and thence to Oakwood, declaring the distance was a mere trifle; but nevertheless it was sufficiently long for Mr. Hamilton sometimes to marvel at the taste of his noble friend, which led him often twice and regularly once a week to spend a few hours, never more, at Oakwood, when he knew they should so soon meet in London.  St. Eval did not solve the mystery, but continued his visits, bringing cheerfulness and pleasure whenever he appeared, and bidding hope glow unconsciously in each parent’s heart, though had they looked for its foundation, they would have found nothing in the young Earl’s manner to justify its encouragement.

In March Mr. Hamilton’s family once more sought their residence in Berkeley Square, about a week after the Marquis of Malvern’s arrival; and this season, the feelings of the sisters, relative to the gaieties in which they were now both to mingle, were more equal.  The bright hues with which Caroline had before regarded them had faded—­too soon and too painfully, indeed.