Apparently, considering the duration of the conference of his Clara and Vernon, his cousin required strong persuasion to accept the present.

CHAPTER XV

THE PETITION FOR A RELEASE

Neither Clara nor Vernon appeared at the mid-day table.  Dr. Middleton talked with Miss Dale on classical matters, like a good-natured giant giving a child the jump from stone to stone across a brawling mountain ford, so that an unedified audience might really suppose, upon seeing her over the difficulty, she had done something for herself.  Sir Willoughby was proud of her, and therefore anxious to settle her business while he was in the humour to lose her.  He hoped to finish it by shooting a word or two at Vernon before dinner.  Clara’s petition to be set free, released from him, had vaguely frightened even more than it offended his pride.

Miss Isabel quitted the room.

She came back, saying:  “They decline to lunch.”

“Then we may rise,” remarked Sir Willoughby.

“She was weeping,” Miss Isabel murmured to him.

“Girlish enough,” he said.

The two elderly ladies went away together.  Miss Dale, pursuing her theme with the Rev. Doctor, was invited by him to a course in the library.  Sir Willoughby walked up and down the lawn, taking a glance at the West-room as he swung round on the turn of his leg.  Growing impatient, he looked in at the window and found the room vacant.

Nothing was to be seen of Clara and Vernon during the afternoon.  Near the dinner-hour the ladies were informed by Miss Middleton’s maid that her mistress was lying down on her bed, too unwell with headache to be present.  Young Crossjay brought a message from Vernon (delayed by birds’ eggs in the delivery), to say that he was off over the hills, and thought of dining with Dr. Corney.

Sir Willoughby despatched condolences to his bride.  He was not well able to employ his mind on its customary topic, being, like the dome of a bell, a man of so pervading a ring within himself concerning himself, that the recollection of a doubtful speech or unpleasant circumstance touching him closely deranged his inward peace; and as dubious and unpleasant things will often occur, he had great need of a worshipper, and was often compelled to appeal to her for signs of antidotal idolatry.  In this instance, when the need of a worshipper was sharply felt, he obtained no signs at all.  The Rev. Doctor had fascinated Miss Dale; so that, both within and without, Sir Willoughby was uncomforted.  His themes in public were those of an English gentleman; horses, dogs, game, sport, intrigue, scandal, politics, wines, the manly themes; with a condescension to ladies’ tattle, and approbation of a racy anecdote.  What interest could he possibly take in the Athenian Theatre and the girl whose flute-playing behind the scenes, imitating the nightingale, enraptured a Greek audience!  He would have suspected a motive in Miss Dale’s eager attentiveness, if the motive could have been conceived.  Besides, the ancients were not decorous; they did not, as we make our moderns do, write for ladies.  He ventured at the dinner-table to interrupt Dr. Middleton once:—­