Of Doctor Bryerly, though staying in the house, we saw almost nothing, except for an hour or so at tea-time.  He breakfasted very early, and dined solitarily, and at uncertain hours, as business permitted.

The second evening of his visit, Cousin Monica took occasion to introduce the subject of his visit to Bartram-Haugh.

‘You saw him, of course?’ said Lady Knollys.

’Yes, he saw me; he was not well.  On hearing who I was, he asked me to go to his room, where he sat in a silk dressing-gown and slippers.’

‘About business principally,’ said Cousin Monica, laconically.

’That was despatched in very few words; for he was quite resolved, and placed his refusal upon grounds which it was difficult to dispute.  But difficult or no, mind you, he intimated that he would hear nothing more on the subject—­so that was closed.’

‘Well; and what is his religion now?’ inquired she, irreverently.

’We had some interesting conversation on the subject.  He leans much to what we call the doctrine of correspondents.  He is read rather deeply in the writings of Swedenborg, and seemed anxious to discuss some points with one who professes to be his follower.  To say truth, I did not expect to find him either so well read or so deeply interested in the subject.’

‘Was he angry when it was proposed that he should vacate the guardianship?’

’Not at all.  Contrariwise, he said he had at first been so minded himself.  His years, his habits, and something of the unfitness of the situation, the remoteness of Bartram-Haugh from good teachers, and all that, had struck him, and nearly determined him against accepting the office.  But then came the views which I stated in my letter, and they governed him; and nothing could shake them, he said, or induce him to re-open the question in his own mind.’

All the time Doctor Bryerly was relating his conference with the head of the family at Bartram-Haugh my cousin commented on the narrative with a variety of little ‘pishes’ and sneers, which I thought showed more of vexation than contempt.

I was glad to hear all that Doctor Bryerly related.  It gave me a kind of confidence; and I experienced a momentary reaction.  After all, could Bartram-Haugh be more lonely than I had found Knowl?  Was I not sure of the society of my Cousin Millicent, who was about my own age?  Was it not quite possible that my sojourn in Derbyshire might turn out a happy though very quiet remembrance through all my after-life?  Why should it not?  What time or place would be happy if we gave ourselves over to dismal imaginations?

So the summons reached me from Uncle Silas.  The hours at Knowl were numbered.

The evening before I departed I visited the full-length portrait of Uncle Silas, and studied it for the last time carefully, with deep interest, for many minutes; but with results vaguer than ever.