About midday, then, she saw the domestic party returning—­that party, which now consisted of her two brothers, the admiral, Jack Pringle, and Mr. Chillingworth.  As for Mr. Marchdale, he had given them a polite adieu on the confines of the grounds of Bannerworth Hall, stating, that although he had felt it to be his duty to come forward and second Henry Bannerworth in the duel with the vampyre, yet that circumstance by no means obliterated from his memory the insults he had received from Admiral Bell, and, therefore, he declined going to Bannerworth Hall, and bade them a very good morning.

To all this, Admiral Bell replied that he might go and be d——­d, if he liked, and that he considered him a swab and a humbug, and appealed to Jack Pringle whether he, Jack, ever saw such a sanctified looking prig in his life.

“Ay, ay,” says Jack.

This answer, of course, produced the usual contention, which lasted them until they got fairly in the house, where they swore at each other to an extent that was enough to make any one’s hair stand on end, until Henry and Mr. Chillingworth interfered, and really begged that they would postpone the discussion until some more fitting opportunity.

The whole of the circumstances were then related to Flora; who, while she blamed her brother much for fighting the duel with the vampyre, found in the conduct of that mysterious individual, as regarded the encounter, yet another reason for believing him to be strictly sincere in his desire to save her from the consequences of his future visits.

Her desire to leave Bannerworth Hall consequently became more and more intense, and as the admiral really now considered himself the master of the house, they offered no amount of opposition to the subject, but merely said,—­

“My dear Flora, Admiral Bell shall decide in all these matters, now.  We know that he is our sincere friend; and that whatever he says we ought to do, will be dictated by the best possible feelings towards us.”

“Then I appeal to you, sir,” said Flora, turning to the admiral.

“Very good,” replied the old man; “then I say—­”

“Nay, admiral,” interrupted Mr. Chillingworth; “you promised me, but a short time since, that you would come to no decision whatever upon this question, until you had heard some particulars which I have to relate to you, which, in my humble opinion, will sway your judgment.”

“And so I did,” cried the admiral; “but I had forgotten all about it.  Flora, my dear, I’ll be with you in an hour or two.  My friend, the doctor, here, has got some sow by the ear, and fancies it’s the right one; however, I’ll hear what he has got to say, first, before we come to a conclusion.  So, come along, Mr. Chillingworth, and let’s have it out at once.”

“Flora,” said Henry, when the admiral had left the room, “I can see that you wish to leave the Hall.”

“I do, brother; but not to go far—­I wish rather to hide from Varney than to make myself inaccessible by distance.”