And Isabel sighed, partly at the memory of the imaginary being for whom she had taken James, and partly at the future prospect, the narrow sphere, the choice between solitude and dull society, the homely toils that must increase, worn-out garments, perpetual alphabets, children always whining, and James always irritated, thinking her remiss, and coming in with that furrow on his forehead, and his hair standing up wildly.  She shrank from the contemplation, took her letter-case on her knee, moved close to the fire to profit by the light, stirred up a clear flame, and proceeded with the benevolent hermit, who came to the rescue when Sir Hubert was at the last gasp, and Adeline had received his beautiful resigned words.  The hermit had transported him into his hut, and comforted Adeline, and was beginning a consolatory harangue, making revelations that were to set everything right, when just as he had gone as far as ’My son, know that I did not always wear this amice,’ there was a tap at the door, and she saw Fitzjocelyn, who had been at Oakstead for the last few weeks, attending to some matters connected with his constituency.

‘Ah! is it you?’ she said, her lap too full of papers for her to rise.  ‘I did not know you were come home.’

’I came yesterday; and what company do you think I had in the train as far as Estminster?’

‘Ah, I can guess!  How does Louisa look?’

’Rather languid; but Estminster is to work wonders.  She declares that Northwold is her best cure, and I am speculating whether she will prevail.  I think Lady Conway dreads your example.’

‘Mamma does not allow for the force of imagination,’ said Isabel, not exactly knowing what prompted either the words or the sigh.

’I am come to ask if you will kindly give me a dinner.  My father is gone to the book-club meeting, so I thought we would try to revive old times,’ he said, smiling, but sadly, for the present scene was little like the No. 5 of old times.

‘We shall be delighted,’ said Isabel, with alacrity, relieved at avoiding a tete-it-tete with her husband at present, and refreshed by the sight of one belonging to her former life, and external to her present round of monotonous detail.  ’Fortunately, it is not a lecture night and James will be very glad.’

I suppose he ia not come in from school?’

‘Yea, he is.  I think he is in the study.  I will let him know,’ she said, with her hand on the bell.

‘I will go to him,’ said Louis, departing out of consideration that she might wish for space to attend to dinner, room, and dress.  The two last were scarcely in such a state as he had been used to see at No. 5:  books were on the sofa, the table-cover hung awry; the Dresden Shepherd’s hat was grimed, and his damsel’s sprigged gown hemmed with dust; there were no flowers in the vases, which his aunt had never left unsupplied; and Isabel, though she could not be otherwise than handsome and refined, had her crape rumpled, and the heavy folds of her dark hair looking quite ready for the evening toilette; and, as she sat on her low seat by the fire, the whole had an indescribable air of comfort passing into listless indulgence.