an awful mingling of chime and toll.  When he thought about it afterwards, he seemed to have been a year in crossing the hall with Mrs. Elton on his arm.  But as if divining his thoughts —­ just as they passed through the dining-room door, Euphra looked round at him, almost over Funkelstein’s shoulder, and, without putting into her face the least expression discernible by either of the others following, contrived to banish for the time all Hugh’s despair, and to convince him that he had nothing to fear from Funkelstein.  How it was done Hugh himself could not tell.  He could not even recall the look.  He only knew that he had been as miserable as one waking in his coffin, and that now he was out in the sunny air.

During dinner, Funkelstein paid no very particular attention to Euphrasia, but was remarkably polite to Lady Emily.  She seemed hardly to know how to receive his attentions, but to regard him as a strange animal, which she did not know how to treat, and of which she was a little afraid.  Mrs. Elton, on the contrary, appeared to be delighted with his behaviour and conversation; for, without showing the least originality, he yet had seen so much, and knew so well how to bring out what he had seen, that he was a most interesting companion.  Hugh took little share in the conversation beyond listening as well as he could, to prevent himself from gazing too much at Euphra.

“Had Mr. Sutherland and you been old acquaintances then, Herr von Funkelstein?” asked Mr. Arnold, reverting to the conversation which had been interrupted by the announcement of dinner.

“Not at all.  We met quite accidentally, and introduced ourselves.  I believe a thunderstorm and a lecture on biology were the mediating parties between us.  Was it not so, Mr. Sutherland?”

“I beg your pardon,” stammered Hugh.  But Mr. Arnold interposed: 

“A lecture on what, did you say?”

“On biology.”

Mr. Arnold looked posed.  He did not like to say he did not know what the word meant; for, like many more ignorant men, he thought such a confession humiliating.  Von Funkelstein hastened to his relief.

“It would be rather surprising if you were acquainted with the subject, Mr. Arnold.  I fear to explain it to you, lest both Mr. Sutherland and myself should sink irrecoverably in your estimation.  But young men want to know all that is going on.”

Herr Funkelstein was not exactly what one would call a young man; but, as he chose to do so himself, there was no one to dispute the classification.

“Oh! of course,” replied Mr. Arnold; “quite right.  What, then, pray, is biology?”

“A science, falsely so called,” said Hugh, who, waking up a little, wanted to join in the conversation.

“What does the word mean?” said Mr. Arnold.

Von Funkelstein answered at once: 

“The science of life.  But I must say, the name, as now applied, is no indication of the thing signified.”