“A compliment to wives, certainly!” said Grace Markland, with a rather proud toss of her head.  “One of your lords of creation would find different stuff in me.  But I’m not satisfied with Edward’s goings on, if you are, Agnes.  It’s my opinion that your Mr. Lee Lyon is at the bottom of all this.”

A slight shade dimmed the face of Mrs. Markland.  She did not reply; but looked, with a more earnest expression, at her sister-in-law.

“Yes—­your Mr. Lee Lyon.”  Grace was warming again.  “He’s one of your men that cast shadows wherever they go.  I felt it the moment his foot crossed our threshold—­didn’t you?”

Grace gave thought and words to what, with Mrs. Markland, had only been a vague impression.  She had felt the shadow of his presence without really perceiving from whence the shadow came.  Pausing only a moment for an answer to her query, Grace went on:—­

“Mr. Lyon is at the bottom of all this, take my word for it; and if he doesn’t get Edward into trouble before he’s done with him, my name’s not Grace Markland.”

“Trouble!  What do you mean, Grace?” Another shade of anxiety flitted over the countenance of Mrs. Markland.

“Don’t you suppose that Edward’s going to town every day has something to do with this Mr. Lyon?”

“Mr. Lyon went South nearly two weeks ago,” was answered.

“That doesn’t signify.  He’s a schemer and an adventurer—­I could see it in every lineament of his face—­and, there’s not a shadow of doubt in my mind, has got Edward interested in some of his doings.  Why, isn’t it as plain as daylight?  Were not he and Edward all-absorbed about something while he was here?  Didn’t he remain a week when he had to be urged, at first, to stay a single day?  And hasn’t Edward been a different man since he left, from what he was before he came?”

“Your imagination is too active, Grace,” Mrs. Markland replied, with a faint smile.  “I don’t see any necessary connection between Mr. Lyon and the business that requires Edward’s attention in the city.  The truth is, Edward has grown weary of an idle life, and I shall not at all regret his attention to some pursuit that will occupy his thoughts.  No man, with his mental and bodily powers in full vigour, should be inactive.”

“That will altogether depend on the direction his mind takes,” said Grace.

“Of course.  And I do not see any good reason you have for intimating that in the present case the right direction has not been taken.”  There was just perceptible a touch of indignation in the voice of Mrs. Markland, which, being perceived by Grace, brought the sententious remark,—­

“Fore-warned, fore-armed.  If my suspicion is baseless, no one is injured.”

Just then, Fanny, the oldest daughter, returned from a short walk, and passed her mother and aunt on the portico, without looking up or speaking.  There was an air of absent-mindedness about her.